Technical

Official Number: 162175
Yard Number: 541
Completed: 1930
Gross Tonnage: 365
Net Tonnage: 149
Length: 140.3 ft
Breadth: 24.6 ft
Depth: 13.3 ft
Engine: 96nhp T.3-cyl by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Speed: 11 knots
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley

History

27.09.1929: The board of Kingston Steam Trawling Co Ltd decided to build two distant water trawlers to a design submitted by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd.
18.12.1929: Contracts signed with the shipyard to build the ships at a cost of £14,975 each, this included C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd price to make the engine and boiler. (C. D. Holmes had become major shareholders in Cook, Welton & Gemmell so separate contracts involving the two companies were discontinued).
The names chosen were KINGSTON OLIVINE and KINGSTON CORAL. In the tender the shipyard included the option to build additional vessels to this design at the same price. This option was exercised and an additional vessel was ordered but due to amendments, a price of £15,050 was agreed. The name chosen was KINGSTON CYANITE.
Total cost with amendments, fishing gear and other equipment £16,970.12s 6d
15.5.1930: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.541) for Kingston Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as KINGSTON CYANITE (named by Mrs J. Flint, wife of skipper).
10.6.1930: Registered at Hull (H237).
12.6.1930: Completed trials and accepted (John William Lown, manager).
14.6.1930: Sailed on first trip to Icelandic grounds (Sk. J. Flint).
3.7.1930: At Hull landed 836 kits grossed £575 (depressed market).
9.1935: As a result of the Abyssinian crisis and failure of British diplomacy, the Government
authorised The Admiralty to procure twenty modern trawlers for conversion to minor war vessels.
4.10.1935: Sailed Hull for Icelandic grounds (Sk. J. Flint).
16.10.1935: The Admiralty requested a list of vessels in Kingston’s fleet including cost and earnings and from this list KINGSTON CORAL and KINGSTON CYANITE were chosen; an offer of £11,000 per vessel was accepted.
28.10.1935: At Hull landed last trip 687 kits grossed £586.
1.11.1935: In conducting Admiralty trials some faults were discovered.
13.11.1935: Trials completed successfully and accepted.
25.11.1935: Sold to The Admiralty. Price revised to £10,900.
29.11.1935: Hull registry closed. Fitted out as a “Berberis” class minesweeper (1-12pdr AA, 2- MGs (2 x 1)). Renamed HMS LAUREL (P.No.T.29).
1.1940: Based Grimsby M/S Group 92 (Sk. F. G. Blockwell RNR).
1.1942: Based Gibraltar M/S Group 92 (Ty/Sk. T. W. Morgan RNR).
3.1944: Fitted out as wreck dispersal vessel (P.No.4.417) and assigned to Operation Neptune – Normandy landings.
5.1944: Held in readiness at Port Talbot.
22.6.1944: Sailed Thames for Solent.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended. Employed on wreck dispersal/recovery.
1947: Sold to Granton Trawling Co Ltd, Newhaven, Edinburgh (William Carnie, Jnr, manager). Registered at Granton as STRATHYRE (GN46).
1.1948: Special Survey at Leith.
6.1948: Restored and reclassed as a Steam Trawler at Leith.
1951: Sold to The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood.
1951: Granton registry closed.
1951: Registered at Fleetwood as PATRICIA HAGUE (FD58).
21.5.1955: Sold to BISCO and allocated to West of Scotland Shipbreaking Co Ltd, Troon.
23.5.1955: Delivered Troon Harbour from Fleetwood under own power (draughts 5’2”/15’6”).
26.5.1955: Breaking commenced.
15.6.1955: Beached (draughts 7’3”/5’6”).
22.6.1955: Rebeached.
23.6.1955: Rebeached.
8.9.1955: Breaking completed.
1.1956: Fleetwood registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

HMT Laurel
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

HMT Laurel
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

S.T. Patricia Hague FD58
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

03/03/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
25/05/2017: Added image and removed FMHT watermarks.