Technical
Official Number: 165357
Yard Number: 555
Completed: June 1936
Gross Tonnage: 655
Net Tonnage: 243
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.
6.1936: Completed by Deutsche Schiff und Maschinenbau AG Seebeck, Wesermünde (Yd.No.555) for MacLine Ltd, London (Leverhulme Ltd) as NORTHERN REWARD. 19.11.1936: Registered at London (LO168). Operating out of Fleetwood. Edward D. W. Lawford designated manager.
19.11.1936: Arrived Fleetwood from Germany.
11.12.1936: First landing at Fleetwood, 550 boxes £820 gross.
6.3.1937: On an Iceland trip, fishing some 12 miles WNW off Utskalar (Sk.George D. Barker). At about 10.30 pm. picked up distress call from Grimsby steam trawler FAVORITA (GY1039) (Sk. Thomas William Norris) aground on Utskalar Reef (Skagi Reef) off Reykjavik. Hauled gear and steamed to towards given position. At about midnight, reached a position about 11/2 miles from FAVORITA and requested to lower a lifeboat as their own boat was damaged. In a nasty swell launched boat to go to her assistance. After the boat, with six crew, was in the water a crew member James Alfred Robinson (40), Grimsby was noticed foul of the after davit arm and the guardrail, he was released and taken to the after cabin but found to be dead.
7.3.1937: Eight survivors taken off by ship’s boat and remainder transferred by an Icelandic motor boat to ship. At 3.29 am. Informed Wick Radio “Re FAVORITA: all hands safe aboard NORTHERN REWARD. FAVORITA still ashore.” At 9.00am. landed survivors at Reykjavik.
14.9.1937: Last landing at Fleetwood, 400 boxes £617 gross.
10.1937: Sold to Northern Trawlers Ltd, London. H. Markham Cook, Grimsby designated manager.
1.9.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a patrol vessel (1-4”) (P.No.4.85) (Hire rate £425.15.0d/month).
5.9.1939: Lt Cdr. David Tod RN (rtd) appointed C.O.
23.3.1940: On contraband control between UK and Iceland spotted U-boat (U.38) on surface, engaged with 4” and gave chase but outrun by the submarine.
19.6.1940: Lt Cdr. Eric Arthur Divers RNR appointed C.O.
1940: Fitted out for anti-submarine duties (DC, ASDIC).
1.10.1940: Lieut. Charles Napier Stewart RNR appointed C.O. 1941: Operating in Northern Patrol Group based at Kirkwall.
7.3.1941: Returning from patrol in bad weather engaged submarine north of Rockall with depth charges; U-boat (U.47) was later reported missing in this position.
6.3.1942: Ty Act Lt Cdr. John Dobson RNR appointed C.O.
3.1942: Transferred on loan to US Navy.
21.8.1942: Ty/Lieut. The Hon George Charles Spencer RNVR appointed C.O.
15.9.1942: Ty/Lieut. Bryan Humfrey Craig Rogers RNVR appointed Co.
10.1942: Returned to Royal Navy.
28.12.1942: Lieut. John Dodworth Weaver RNVR appointed C.O. Ty/Liet. James Mackenzie RNR appointed C.0.
1944: Assigned to Operation Neptune – Normandy landings.
23.5.1944: Convoy escort duties in British waters and across the Channel in support of landings.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
2.9.1944: Ty/Lieut. Albert J. Woods RNVR appointed C.O.
10.11.1944: Escorting convoy UR-142 (New York, – Loch Ewe – Reykjavik) At 1207 when off Utskalar (Skagi), SW Iceland, attacked by U-boat (U.300 – Fritz Hein) and London registered steam tanker SHIRVAN (6017grt/1925) (Capt. Edward Fermor Pattenden) torpedoed and sunk – 18 dead 27 survivors. The Icelandic steamer GODAFOSS (1542grt/1921)(Capt. Sigurður Gíslason) against orders, stopped and picked up nineteen survivors. At 1459 GODAFOSS was sunk by torpedoes from U.300 – 25 dead 19 survivors. Survivors picked up by NORTHERN REWARD * and HMNoS HONNINGSVAAG (P.No.4.277) and landed at Reykjavik.
1945: Employed as ocean escort.
28.3.1945: Ty/Lieut. John E. Purvess RNR appointed C.O.
1945: Employed as ocean escort.
28.1.1946: Returned to owner.
12.1946: London registry closed.
12.1946: Registered at Grimsby (GY431).
3.1947: Remeasured 625g 251n.
3.1947: Sold to H/F Vördur, Vatneyri, Iceland.
3.1947: Grimsby registry closed.
3.1947: Registered at Vatneyri as VÖRDUR II. (BA142).
1947: Registered at Vatneyri as VÖRDUR (BA142).
29.1.1950: Bound for England to land her catch, foundered 170 miles off the south coast of Iceland. Five crew lost and remainder picked up by a homeward bound Icelandic trawler.
Note * – Ldg Sea. D. Ledgerwood was awarded the BEM for his part in the rescue of the GODAFOSS survivors.
Click to enlarge image
S.T.Northern Reward LO168
Picture courtesy of The John Blant Collection
S.T. Northern Reward LO168
Picture courtesy of The Billy Worrall Collection
Northern Reward LO168
Skipper George D Barker
Picture courtesy of Andrew McInnes
JamesRobinson
Picture courtesy of The John Blant Collection
Changelog
01/01/2009: Page published. 4 revisions since then.
05/07/2014: Information updated.
23/07/2015: Picture added.
25/11/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
30/12/2020: Added image and updated history.
05/01/2021: Updated history.
22/02/2022: Added an image.