Category Archives: Wartime Visitors

S.T. Graaf van Vlaaderen O92

Wartime Visitor

© Mike Thompson for FMHT with additional material by Maurice Voss

Technical

Official Number: 149020
Yard Number: 977
Completed: 1925
As built: 338g 137n 138.8 x 23.8 x 13.3 feet
Gross Tonnage: 338
Net Tonnage: 137
Length: 138.8 ft
Breadth: 23.8 ft
Depth: 13.3 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby

History

6.8.1925: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.977) for Pickering & Haldane’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as LORD MOUNTBATTEN.
29.9.1925: Registered at Hull (H225) (O.N.149020).
6.10.1925: Completed John McCann & Edward Cartwright, managers).
7. 1938: Sold to Pêcheries à Vapeur, Soc. Anon, Ostend (John Bauwens, manager).
1938: Re measured 46,50 x 7,50 metres – 324.40Bgrt 113n.
16.7.1938: Hull registry closed.
21.7.1938: Arrived at Ostend in company with LORD WEIR (H280) (PRINCE DE LIÈGE (O83)).
27.7.1938: Registered at Ostend as GRAAF VAN VLAARDEREN (O92).
6.1940: At Dartmouth requisitioned by Belgian Marine Corporation for evacuation at Dunkirk (Did not participate).
18.6.1940: Took part in evacuation of Cherbourg (Sk. Charles Vermeersch). Sailed for Plymouth.
6.1940: Transferred to Belgian Economic Mission, London. Fishing from Fleetwood.
16.9.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence vessel (P.No.Z.239). South Atlantic Command Based Durban.
2.2.1946: Returned to owner.
10.1946: At Antwerp rebuilt with new bow section 148.2 feet – 375.36Bgrt 137n.
16.10.1946: Returned to service after rebuild.
8.11.1950: Sailed for Hemiksem for conversion to a motor trawler.
1951: Re engined by St. Pieterswerf, Hemiksem with 4 stroke 6-cyl Carels oil engine 755bhp by Société d’Electricité et de Mécaniques (Engine No.9657.62). Re measured 391.89 Bgrt 159.82n
27.10.1951: Returned to service.
13.4.1965: Ostend registry closed.
3.1965: Sold to Brugse Scheepssloperij, Bruges for breaking up.
23.9.1966: Delivered Bruges.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Lord Mountbatten H225

S.T. Lord Mountbatten H225
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Graaf van Vlaaderen O92

S.T. Graaf van Vlaaderen O92
Picture from the Internet

GRAAF van VLAARDEREN O92

GRAAF van VLAARDEREN O92
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
23/08/2010: Page published. 2 revisions since then.
25/08/2014: Added 3 pictures.
17/09/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
16/12/2020: Updated history.

S.T. Van Orley O299 (Wartime Visitor)

© Mike Thompson with additional material by Maurice Voss

Technical

Official Number: 160047
Yard Number: 485
Completed: 1927
Gross Tonnage: 352
Net Tonnage: 146
Length: 140.3 ft
Breadth: 24.0 ft
Depth: 12.9 ft
Engine: 96nhp T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Speed: 10.9 knots

History

26.10.1926: The board of Kingston Steam Trawling Co Ltd decided to build four more distant water trawlers to the same design as ANDALUSITE by Cook, Welton & Gemmell (Yd.No.461). Contracts were signed with the shipyard to build the ships at a cost of £9,125 each and with C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd to make the engines and boilers at £6,300 each unit. Total cost £15,425 per vessel. The names chosen for the new vessels were KINGSTON GARNET, KINGSTON EMERALD, KINGSTON TOPAZ and KINGSTON ONYX.
Total cost fitted out with fishing gear and other equipment £17,097.16.10d (winch £465)
30.4.1927: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.485) for Kingston Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as KINGSTON GARNET.
2.6.1927: Registered at Hull (H342) (Official Number: 160047).
22.6.1927: Completed trials and accepted (John W. Lown, manager).
25.6.1927: Sailed on first Icelandic trip.
13.7.1927: Landed 1113 kits grossed £377 (big landings, depressed market).
1938: Laid up with Special Survey due and offered for sale.
11.3.1939: Sold to N.V. Motorvisscherij, Ostend for £3,800 with Special Survey due.
16.3.1939: Hull registry closed.
1939: Re measured 42,76 x 7,32 x 3,93 metres – 336.45Brt 128.96n.
4.1939: Registered at Ostend as VAN ORLEY (O299).
5.1940: Escaped to England.
18.5.1940: Arrived Fleetwood. Transferred to Belgian Economic Mission, London. Fishing from Fleetwood.
8.2.1941: At Fleetwood. Requisitioned for war service as an anti submarine trawler.
5.1941: Fitting out at Liverpool in Huskisson Dock Branch No.2.
1/4.5.1941: ‘The May Blitz’ on Merseyside.
3/4.5.1941: Part destroyed as a result of the explosion of ammunition ship MALAKAND (7649g/1919) also in Huskisson Dock.
11.1941: Salved, declared a CTL and broken up.

Click to enlarge images

Huskisson Dock

Huskisson Dock
After the explosion

Huskisson Dock

Huskisson Dock

Changelog

15/08/2010: Page published. 3 updates since then.
15/09/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.

S.T. Nautilus O160

Wartime Visitor
Additional information courtesy of Mike Thompson and Maurice Voss

Technical

Official Number: 149080
Yard Number: 483
Completed: 1926
Gross Tonnage: 352
Net Tonnage: 147
Length: 140.3 ft
Breadth: 24.0 ft
Depth: 12.9 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 96nhp T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Speed: 11 knots

History

12.01.1926 The board of Kingston Steam Trawling Co Ltd decided to build two more distant water trawlers to the same design as the Andalusite built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd (Yd.No.461). Contracts were signed with the shipyard to build the ships at a cost of £8,450 each and with Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd to make the engines and boilers at £6,130 each unit. Total cost £14,625 per vessel. A decision was made to add the Kingston prefix to the existing nomenclature. The names chosen were, KINGSTON DIAMOND and KINGSTON PEARL. The short lived General Strike of May 1926 and continuing Miner’s Strike led to delays in the completion of both vessels.
Total cost fitted out with fishing gear and other equipment £16,286.4.2d (winch £465)

17.4.1926: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.484) for Kingston Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as KINGSTON PEARL.
3.6.1926: Registered at Hull (H296) (O.N.149083).
12.8.1926: Completed trials and accepted (John W. Lown, manager).
17.8.1926: Sailed on first trip to Iceland.
9.9.1926: Landed 849 kits grossed £1,108.
14.5.1927: Grounded whilst entering Trongisvagsfjordur, Suderoy, Færoe Islands. Refloated and leaking badly but with pumps coping sailed for Hull.
17.5.1927: Landed and slipped. On survey bottom plating found to be extensively damaged and internals set up.
31.5.1927: Unslipped, repairs completed.
1938: Laid up with Special Survey due and offered for sale.
20.3.1939: Sold to Soc. Anon Armement Ostendais, Ostend, Belgium for £3,635 without fishing gear and fishroom boards.
20.3.1939 Hull registry closed.
4.1939: Re measured 336.45Brt 129.48n 42,76 x 7,31 x 3,93 metres.
12.4.1939: Registered at Ostend as NAUTILUS (O160).
16.09.1939: With Belgian trawler EDUOARD van VLAANDEREN (O262) (324Bgt/1926) picked up twenty crew of British steamer TRURO (974grt/1922) (Capt John C Egner) stopped by U-boat (U.36) 150 miles E of Kinnaird Head, crew ordered into lifeboats and sunk with torpedo.
17.09.1939: Survivors landed at Aberdeen.
5.1940: Escaped to England.
18.5.1940 Arrived at Fleetwood. Transferred to Belgian Economic Mission, London. Fishing from Fleetwood.
17.2.1941: Requisitioned for war service on miscellaneous Naval duties. Renamed JAY.
11.1941: To deploy to East Indian Station.
1.1942: At Freetown, Sierra Leone.
8.2.1942: Arrived Walvis Bay, South Africa onward for Cape Town.
11.2.1942: At Cape Town. To operate as a controlled minelayer (P.No.M02(?).
16.4.1942: Sailed Cape Town for Mauritius.
25.4.1942: Arrived Mauritius. Base ship HMS MANCHESTER CITY (P.No.M17).
27.5.1942: In company with Manchester City sailed for Diego Suarez.
30.5.1942: Arrived Diego Suarez.
5.1943: Controlled minefield laid and in operation.
8.1943: At Colombo, Ceylon.
17.9.1943: Sailed Colombo for Trincomalee, but returned with machinery problem.
25.9.1943: Sailed Colombo for Trincomalee.
21.10.1943: Sailed Trincomalee for Colombo.
23.10.1943: Arrived Colombo.
4.12.1943: Sailed Colombo for Trincomalee.
7.12.1943: Arrived Trincomalee.
12.1944: Renamed SANDMARTIN.
12.2.1946: Returned to owner. Reverted to NAUTILUS (O160).
10.1946: With surveys outstanding carried out Special Survey at Antwerp. Re classed as a Steam Trawler.
12.11.1946: Returned to service (Sk Theodore Asseloos).
21.12.1946: Homeward from Iceland, cook Arthur-Henri Dehhondy died.
29.10.1949: Chartered by “Weser” Hochseefischerei-und Fischhandels GmbH, Bremerhaven.
28.10.1949: Sailed for Bremerhaven with a Belgian skipper.
8.1950: Returned to owner.
9.1950: Sold to Government of Poland, Warsaw (Ministry of Industry & Commerce) (“Dalmor” Przedsiobiorstwo Polowow DalekomorskichSp.z.ogr.odp, Gdynia, managers).
16.9.1950: Ostend registry closed.
9.1950: Ostend registry closed.
6.10.1950: Registered at Gdynia as PERSEUSZ (GDY111).
2/3.6.1952: During night stranded off Swinemünde in position 54.01,30N 14.20E. Wreck subsequently broken up in situ. Gdynia registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Nautilus O160

S.T. Nautilus O160
Picture courtesy of The Jan Harteveld Collection

Changelog

14/08/2010: Page published. 4 updates since then.
10/09/2015: Picture added.
14/09/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
19/06/2021: Updated history.

S.T. John Morrice A786

Wartime Visitor

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4417
Official Number: 144316
Yard Number: 644
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 203
Net Tonnage: 88
Length: 115.4 ft
Breadth: 22.1 ft
Depth: 12.1 ft
Engine: 430ihp T.3-cyl by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

9.10.1918: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.644) (“Strath” Class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS BARCLAY (Ad.No.4417).
31.10.1918: Completed unarmed.
7.1.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) as THOMAS BARCLAY O.N.144316.
1920: Allocated to the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
13.8.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
8.1920: At Wivenoe completed fitting out for fishing under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100A1 Stm Trawler at Wivenhoe.
24.08.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part IV) (LO444). Laid up.
11.1921: Sold to Harry Alexander Holmes, Aberdeen.
7.11.1921: London registry closed.
22.11.1921: Registered at Aberdeen (A786).
30.12.1921: Registered at Aberdeen as JOHN MORRICE (A786) (BoT Minute No.36595 dated 23.12.1921).
30.1.1929: Sold to George Dow Taylor, Alexander Malcolm Morrice, Margaret Morrice, John Morrice & Mary Morrice, Aberdeen (Alexander M. Morrice, managing owner).
28.5.1937: Landed at Fleetwood 240 boxes ‘rock lined’, £345 gross.
27.6.1938: Sold to George D. Taylor, Alexander Malcolm Morrice, John Morrice, Mary Jane Hardie Morrice, James Johnstone & William Davidson, Aberdeen (H. A. Holmes, manager).
28.3.1940: Sold to North Star Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen (John A. Harrow, manager).
1940: Fishing from Fleetwood.
9.3.1940: Fishing 12 miles NW of Tory Island, Co. Donegal in company with ALVIS (H52); FLYING ADMIRAL (H66); PELAGOS (GN55) and SEDOCK (SN12) and reported with the Irish trawler LEUKOS (D86) also in the vicinity. Group approached by U-boat (U.38) which fired a single round at a trawler, hitting her in the engineroom and sinking her. Although no conclusive evidence confirms, the trawler probably was the LEUKOS; all eleven crew lost*.
6.1940: Slipped at Fleetwood.
1942: Returned to Aberdeen.
9.2.1946: Sold to The River Ness Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen (George Craig, manager).
7.9.1955: Company re-styled River Ness Fishing Co (1955) Ltd.
23.2.1959: Sold to John Lewis & Sons Ltd, Aberdeen for breaking up at Montrose.
9.1959: Sold to Atlantic Rhederei F. & W. Joch, Hamburg.
4.10.1959: Delivered Hamburg for breaking up.
8.10.1959: Aberdeen registry closed “ Vessel sold to foreigners (German subjects)”.

Lost* – Sk. James P. Thomason (28), Fleetwood & Dublin; William Donnelly, Blackpool, Mate; P. J. Scanlon, Cleethorpes, Bosun; Alexander McLeod, Stornoway, Ch Eng; Bernard Smith (23), Dublin, 2nd Eng; Thomas Mulligan, Fleetwood & Dublin & Anthony Pill, Fleetwood & Dublin, deckhands; Michael Cullen (17), Dublin, fireman; Patricio McCarthy (42) Dublin, cook; James Hawkins (17) Fleetwood & Dublin & Robert Sumler (16), Fleetwood & Dublin, apprentices

Click to enlarge image

S.T. John Morrice A786

S.T. John Morrice A786
Picture courtesy of The Tony Frith Collection

S.T. John Morrice A786

S.T. John Morrice A786
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T John Morrice A786

S.T John Morrice A786 at the breakers.
Picture courtesy the Walter L Hume Collection

Changelog

12/08/2010: Page published. 8 updates since then.
11/09/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
27/02/2021: Updated history and technical details.

S.T. Duchesse de Brabant O80

Wartime visitor

Technical

Official Number: 148383
Yard Number: 935
Completed: 1924
Gross Tonnage: 338
Net Tonnage: 137
Length: 138.8 ft
Breadth: 23.8 ft
Depth: 13.3 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

20.5.1924: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.935) for Pickering & Haldane’s Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull as LORD BALFOUR of BURLEIGH.
31.7.1924: Registered at Hull (H36) (O.N.148383).
31.7.1924: Completed (John McCann & Edward Cartwright, managers).
1928: Albert Turgoose & James Clark appointed managers.
7.1937: Sold to Pêcheries à Vapeur S.A., Ostend (John Bauwens, manager).
9.7.1937: Hull registry closed.
9.7.1937: Registered at Ostend as DUCHESSE de BRABANT (O80).
1939: Landing at Fleetwood.
1940: Transferred to Belgian Economic Mission, London.
7.7.1940: Requisitioned for war service on miscellaneous Naval duties (P.No.FY.341).
1.1941: Based Tobermory (Sk. C. R. Radford RNR) as Local defence trawler.
7.1941: Based Reykjavik as Local defence trawler.
1.1942: Remains at Reykjavik (Sk. B. Truefitt RNR).
24.11.1945: Returned to owner.
1946: Lengthened by 2,70 metres to 45,00 metres with bow and stern rebuilt – 324,40Brt 112,64n.
4.1946: Completed Special Survey at Antwerp. Re classed as a Steam Trawler.
1947: New engine fitted – 480hp.
27.10.1952: Ostend registry closed.
29.12.1952: Sold to Soc. Générale Hellénique de Pêch, S.A., Athens (c/o John Livanos & Sons Ltd, London).
12.1952: Registered at Piraeus as ARGONAFTIS.
1955: Laid up at Piraeus. Surveys overdue.
1956: Sold to N. Lampiris, Piraeus. Registered as a cargo vessel at Piraeus as GEORGIS L.
9.5.1956: Sailed Suda Bay, Crete for Venice, Italy. Missing presumed foundered. Piraeus registry closed.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Duchess de Brabant O80

S.T. Duchess de Brabant O80
Picture courtesy of Emiel Rycx

S.T. Duchess de Brabant O80

S.T. Duchess de Brabant O80
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
11/08/2021: Page published. 4 updates since then.
10/09/2015: Picture added.
10/09/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from images.
10/09/2021: Updated History.