Technical
Official Number: 136225
Yard Number: 168
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 227
Net Tonnage: 93
Length: 112.2 ft
Breadth: 22.6 ft
Depth: 12.5 ft
Built: Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
History
1.1915: Completed by Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Goole (Yd.No.168) for Eastern Fishing Co Ltd, Hull as COMMANDER HOLBROOK.
18.1.1915: Registered at Hull (H223). Hugh G. Chapman designated manager.
29.5.1917: Requisitioned for Fishery Reserve.
By 11.8.1917: Fitted 1-6pdr LA.
1919: Released (Hugh G. Chapman, manager).
1923: Owners restyled Eastern Fishing Co (1923) Ltd, Hull. Hugh G. Chapman designated manager.
25.7.1939: Insured value £2,900.
25.8.1939: Insured value increased to £3,900.
11.6.1940: At Hull last landing before requisitioning. Iceland trip, 18 days – 922kits £1,884 gross.
11.6.1940: Requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary patrol vessel .
12.6.1940: Hire rate £62.8.6d/month.
12.6.1940 – 4.1941: Based Ramsgate – Dover Patrol.
2.12.1940: Ty.Sk. W. H. Thundercliffe RNR appointed CO.
3.1941: At London repairs.
5.1941: Based Dover – Patrol.
6.1941 – 7.1941: Based Lowestoft – Patrol.
7.1941: Repairs Lowestoft.
8.1941 – 11.1941: Based Lowestoft with M/S7.
1.8.1941: Chief Sk. Albert Stanley Victor Jones RNR appointed CO.
12.11.1941: On patrol off the Norfolk coast (Chief Sk. A. S. V. Jones RNR) in company with HMT FRANCOLIN (Sk. Lieut. J. L. Dinwoodie RNR). When some two miles off Happisburgh Lighthouse attacked by Dornier 217 E-2, engaged when running in to attack and damaged aircraft which released bomb and then struck mast of FRANCOLIN crashing into sea; no survivors. FRANCOLIN struck by bomb and foundered with loss of one crew member.
12.1941 – 6.1942: At Hull fitted out as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.111).
8.5.1942: Sk. G. H. Smith RNR appointed CO.
7.1942 – 6.1943: Based Dover (Ungrouped) as a minesweeper.
7.1942: At Port Edgar.
7.1943 – 3.1944: Based Belfast (LL sweeps).
7.1.1944: Sk. J. Ball appointed CO.
4.1944 – 4.1945: Based London (LL sweeps).
21.8.1944: Sk. S. S. Young RNR appointed CO.
1945: Reclassed at South Shields.
11.1945: Returned to owner at Hull.
30.11.1945: Insured value £16,000; for 1946 same.
By 31 8.1946: Sold to Argosy Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood. William Stevenson, St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea designated manager.
1946: Transferred to fish out of Fleetwood.
By 31.8.1948: Sold to Odafoam Ltd, Liverpool. William Stevenson, St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea designated manager.
27.9.1949: One of five trawlers that went aground in the Wyre Channel in thick fog when outward for the fishing grounds. Refloated next tide and proceeded.
14.10.1949: Landed 137 kits, £438 gross.
3.1950: Sold to Alexander Hay, Grampian Fishing Co Ltd & Port? Small? Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen.
6.1950: Hull registry closed.
6.6.1950: Registered at Aberdeen (A659).
1.7.1950: Registered at Aberdeen as EPHRATAH (A659) (MoT Minute RG No.1154/50 dated 10.6.1950).
1960: Sold to BISCO (£2610) and allocated to Shipbreaking Industries Ltd for breaking up at Charlestown, Fife (Contract No.90E).
22.11.1960: Delivered Charlestown from Aberdeen under own power.
28.3.1962: Breaking up commenced.
16.5.1962: Aberdeen registry closed “Vessel broken up”.
Click to enlarge image
HMT Commander Holbrook
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence
S.T. Commander Holbrook H223
Picture courtesy of The Osta Collection
Changelog
20/05/2012: Page published. 7 updates since then.
31/08/2019: Updated information and added an image.
19/01/2021: Updated ownership details.