Technical
Official Number: 165352
Yard Number: 554
Completed: 1936
Gross Tonnage: 655
Net Tonnage: 251
Length: 188.1 ft
Breadth: 28.1 ft
Depth: 15.5 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl & LP turbine with DR gearing & hydraulic coupling by Deutsche Schiffs und Maschinenbau AG Seebeck, Wesermünde.
Built: Deutsche Schiffs und Maschinenbau AG Seebeck, Wesermünde
History
1936: Ordered by Leverhulme Ltd, London to absorb frozen credits in Germany.
11.1936: Completed by Deutsche Schiff und Maschinenbau AG Seebeck, Wesermünde (Yd.No.554) for MacLine Ltd, London (Leverhulme Ltd) as NORTHERN CHIEF.
11.11.1936: Registered at London (LO165). Fishing out of Fleetwood. Edward D. W. Lawford designated manager.
8.12.1936: First landing at Fleetwood, 1,950 boxes £1,443 gross.
29.7.1937: At Wyre Light whilst awaiting the signal to proceed into dock, struck steam trawler COLLENA (FD115) (Sk. H. Chard) amidships on the port side causing extensive damage to wheelhouse and bulwarks.
30.9.1937: Last landing at Fleetwood, 1,080 boxes £665 gross.
9.10.1937: Sold to Northern Trawlers Ltd, London. H. Markham Cook, Grimsby designated manager.
28.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a patrol/armed boarding vessel (1-4”) (P.No.4.34) (Hire rate £425.15.0d/month).
6.1940: Based Kirkwall as armed boarding vessel (Lieut. H. Kirkwood RN).
1941: Based Kirkwall (Lieut. N. L. Knight RNR).
27.8.1941: In North Atlantic south of Iceland. At around 10.00pm in position 62 15N 18 5W, first Allied vessel to respond to radio message from aircraft and find the disabled U.boat (U570), damaged earlier by a Hudson of 269 Sqdr (Sdr Leader J. H. Thomson). Surrendered to aircraft, believing the submarine to be severely damaged and chlorine gas present. During the night joined by HM Trawler KINGSTON AGATE (P.No.FY212) (H489) (Lieut. Henry Owen L’Estrange RNR), HMS BURWELL (P.No.H94), (Lt Cdr. Sidney R.J. Woods RNR) Canadian destroyer HMCS NIAGARA (P.No.I57) (Ty Lieut. Thomas Philip Ryan RCNR) and two A/S Whalers.
28.8.1941: At daybreak U570 attacked by Norwegian Northrop N-3PB1 unaware that U.boat had surrendered. Called off by BURWELL. In worsening weather difficult to attach tow, mistakenly thinking that the Germans were not co-operating, BURWELL C.O. ordered a burst of machine gun fire, unfortunately wounding five of the U.boat crew. KINGSTON AGATE to windward, drifted a Carley-float down and an officer and three naval ratings put onboard; German officers and wounded transferred to KINGSTON AGATE. Throrough search but Enigma machine had been jettisoned; useful code books taken. Tow secured by KINGSTON AGATE and remaining U.boat crew taken off by HMCS NIAGARA which came alongside. Tow commenced for Iceland.
29.8.1940: Arrived Þorlákshöfn, southern Iceland, but in view of uncertainty of U.boat condition, beached.*
1.1942: Attached Northern Patrol, at Grimsby refitting.
3.1942: Transferred on loan to US Navy (RN crew) operating East Coast USA.
10.1942: Returned to Royal Navy and operated in South Atlantic based at Cape Town.
5.2.1946: Returned after survey and restoration at Birkenhead (William A. Bennett, manager).
12.1946: London registry closed.
12.1946: Registered at Grimsby (GY445).
2.1947: Sold to H/F Gylfi, Vatneyri, Iceland.
1947: Remeasured 625g 251n.
2.1947: Grimsby registry closed.
2.1947: Registered at Patreksfirdi as GYLFI (BA77)
1950: Sold to Ludwig Janssen & Co, Wesermünde. Registered at Bremerhaven as ISLAND (BX536).
1950: Remeasured 638g 235n.
1957: Sold to W. Ritscher, Hamburg for breaking up.
15.7.1957: Delivered Hamburg.
Note: Lieutenant Henry Owen L’Estrange RNR, from Co. Sligo was subsequently awarded the DSC for his part in the salvage of U570.
– U570 was surveyed by Lt. Colvin and found to be capable of repair. Refloated, spent three weeks in Hvalfjörður under repair and trials. One G7a torpedo was off-loaded and later sent to the USA. 29.9.1941: Sailed for Barrow in Furness (Lieut. George R. Colvin RN) with prize crew escorted by HMS SALADIN (P.No.H54) (Lt. Cdr Laurence J. Dover RN) and HM Trawler KINGSTON AGATE.
3.10.1940: Arrived Barrow for full inspection.
5.10.1941 Commissioned in Royal Navy as HM Submarine GRAPH (P.No.46).
21.6.1943 De-commissioned.
20 3.1944. Stranded west coast of Islay on passage to be broken up. Broken up in situ in 1961.
Click to enlarge images
S.T. Gylfi BA77
Picture courtesy of the JJ Collection
S.T. Island BX536
Picture courtesy of the JJ Collection
Changelog
01/01/2009: Page published. 8 updates since then.
18/11/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
03/01/19: Updated the history.