S.T. Red Lancer LO442

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 163938
Yard Number: 592
Completed: 1934
Gross Tonnage: 390
Net Tonnage: 149
Length: 151.9 ft
Breadth: 25.6 ft
Depth: 13.6 ft
Built: Cook Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Engine: 117nhp T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Speed: 11.6 knots

History

31.7.1934: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.592) for Jutland Amalgamated Trawlers Ltd, Hull as LADY MADELEINE.
25.8.1934: Registered at Hull (H85). 30.8.1934: Completed. Edward Cargill designated manager.
18.1.1939: Last landing at Hull before sale. Iceland trip – 23 days 766 kits £919 gross.
27.1.1939: Sold to The Admiralty (£18,333).
27.2.1939: Hull registry closed. Fitted out as a “Gem” class anti-submarine trawler (1-4”, 2-MG, 25DCs). Renamed HMS MOONSTONE (P.No.T.90).
19.6.1940: On patrol in the Red Sea (Bosun William Moorman), captured the Italian submarine GALILEO GALELEI; towed to Aden by HMS KANDAHAR (P.No.F28). After repair submarine was commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS EUROPA.
By 1945: 1-4”.2-MG, 25DCs.
1946: Laid up at Milford Haven on Disposal List (SORF, Pembroke Dock).
4.1946: Sold to Iago Steam Trawler Co Ltd, Fleetwood. Capt. E. D. W. Lawford DSO designated manager.
1946-47: Restored at Barrow.
1.1947: Registered at London as RED LANCER (LO442).
17.12.1945: At about 3.00am coming down the Minch homewards steam trawler WILLIAM CALE (LO46) (Sk.Harry Farrer (55)) in a severe northerly gale and heavy seas, when about five miles off Stornoway, bridle wire of trawl washed overboard and fouled propeller. Tried to clear the wire which had made it impossible to move ahead or astern, but without success and wire chopped away. A sea anchor was made up with the trawl boards but after a while this was carried away and the vessel was blown before the gale to a position some seven miles off Rubn’ Re Light (Rubha Reidh), Wester Ross. Homeward from the Icelandic grounds (Sk. John Tomlinson (42)) responded to the distress signals, changed course and made for the casualties position. Closing the casualty it was obvious that little could be done until daybreak when, in a northerly wind of hurricane force and heavy seas (glass below 27), attempts were made to get a line onboard by rocket, but the lines all broke and eventually all rockets were expended. At about 10.00am the Stornoway lifeboat, WILLIAM & HARRIET, alerted by the Coastguard at 6.00am, and launched at 7.00am in winds of over 90mph, arrived at the position and stood by. At 2.15pm the coastguard reported that a small fishing boat DELIGHT was drifting ashore in Gruinard Bay near Laid, between Loch Broom and Loch Ewe. Wester Ross and the lifeboat left the scene to go to her assistance. The company trawler RED CHARGER (LO460) sheltering in Stornoway was alerted to assist, but her services were not required. Skilfully manoeuvring his vessel as close to the casualty as possible, Sk. Tomlinson succeeded in floating a line across on corks and this time the tow rope held.
18.12.1945: At 1.30am, twenty-two hours after fouling her propeller, the trawler was brought to anchor in Branahuie Bay, Lewis. At about 9.30am they came into Stornoway and the trawler was beached for removal of the wire from her shaft and propeller.
1.1947: Converted at Barrow-in-Furness for burning oil fuel, F.P. above 150° F.
7.1963: Company taken over by Boston Deep Sea Fisheries Ltd, Fleetwood.
17.1.1964: Iago Steam Trawler Co Ltd office closed.
1.1964: Sold to Lacmots Ltd, Glasson Dock for breaking up.
27.1.1964: Delivered Glasson Dock.
1964: London registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

HMT Moonstone

HMT Moonstone
Picture courtesy of The Imperial War Museum

HMT Moonstone

HMT Moonstone
Picture courtesy of The Imperial War Museum

HMT Moonstone

HMT Moonstone
Picture courtesy of The Imperial War Museum

Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei
Picture courtesy of The Imperial War Museum

Gallileo Galilei

HMS Kandahar towing Gallileo Galilei
Picture courtesy of The Imperial War Museum

S.T. Red-Lancer LO442

S.T. Red-Lancer LO442
Picture courtesy of The Stephen Myerscough Collection

S.T. Red Lancer LO442 inboard of Red Rose

S.T. Red Lancer LO442 inboard of Red Rose.
Picture courtesy of The Harold Beswick Collection

S.T. Red Lancer LO442

S.T. Red Lancer LO442
Pre-radar. Picture courtesy of The Phillip Dell Collection

S.T. Red Lancer LO442

S.T. Red Lancer LO442
Picture courtesy of the JJ collection

Changelog
10/01/2009: Page published. 7 updates since then.
10/04/2015: Three pictures added.
20/03/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from images.
28/09/2019: Updated information and added an image.
05/06/2021: Updated information.