Tag Archives: Castle

S.T. Thomas Crofton FD400

Additional information courtesy of Gary Hicks Plymouth Merchant Ships and David Slinger

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3661
Official Number: 143853
Yard Number: 341
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 276.29
Net Tonnage: 124.66
Length: 125.0 ft
Breadth: 23.3 ft
Depth: 13.5 ft
Built: Bow, McLachlan & Co Ltd, Paisley
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Fawcett, Preston & Co Ltd, Liverpool
Boiler: Dunsmuir & Jackson Ltd, Govan

History

18.6.1917: Launched by Bow, McLachlan & Co Ltd, Paisley (Yd.No.341) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS CROFTON (Ad.No.3661).
12.7.1917: Completed (1 – 12pdr, hydrophone).
20.11.1919: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) as THOMAS CROFTON O.N.143853.
4.5.1920: Sold by auction at Milford to Herbert Ford (64/64), Birmingham for £8,500.
7.1920: London registry closed.
15.7.1920: Registered at Plymouth (Part IV) (PH174).
23.7.1920: John Maxwell Jones, Plymouth designated manager.
20.1.1921: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (A).
16.10.1921: Mortgage (A) discharged.
24.10.1921: Sold to Crofton Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
16.12.1921: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Barclays Bank Ltd, London (B).
17.12.1921: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Herbert Ford, Birmingham for the sum of £5,000 with interest at 6% (C).
17.12.1921: Mortgage (C) transferred to Barclays Bank Ltd, London.
24.12.1921: Jules Henri Nierinck, Blackpool designated manager.
20.2.1922: Plymouth registry closed.
21.2.1922: Registered at Fleetwood (FD400).
1924: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Grimsby.
9.3.1925: Registered at Fleetwood as REVESBY (FD400). Fred Parkes, Boston designated manager. Fishing out of Fleetwood.
24.6.1928: Crewed by a Faroese skipper and pilot and a mixed Fleetwood/Faroese crew. Arrived Fleetwood from a thirty-two day Greenland halibut lining trip and landed forty head of mixed halibut and about a ton of salted cod caught on the Iceland grounds. First trip by a Fleetwood vessel to these grounds and suffered a financial loss.
26.6.1928: Despite a loss on the previous Greenland trip, coaled (230 tons) & iced in preparation for a another trip. Sailed on the evening tide on the 2,000 mile voyage. Included in the crew of sixteen are four Fleetwood men, Sk. George Carrol, flag skipper; Leo Malley, Ch Eng; Ernest Rogerson, 2nd Eng; and J. McSweeney, cook, the rest are Faroese.
25.7.1928: Arrived Fleetwood from Greenland and landed 1,800 head of halibut, 700 stone of cod and 3 tons of salt cod caught in only four days fishing.
1929: Sold to John McR Knight, Hakin; James C. Ward; George Knight & Morgan W. Howells, Milford Haven.
17.7.1929: Fleetwood registry closed.
18.7.1929: Registered at Milford (M28). John McR Knight, Hakin designated manager.
1931: Sold to Harry E. Rees, Milford Haven. Harry E. Rees designated managing owner.
20.10.1933: Sold to Morgan W. Howells, Milford Haven.
9.11.1933: Registered at Milford as GWMAHO (M28).
3.2.1936: Morgan W. Howells died.
23.10.1936: Sold to Gwenllian Howells & Charles E. Morris, Milford Haven.
4.11.1936: James Gwyther designated manager.
26.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence vessel (P.No.Z.135)(Hire rate £80.10.0d/month).
23.11.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T.
2.2.1946: Milford registry closed.
1951: Sold to BISCO and allocated to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, Sheffield for breaking up.
4.8.1951: Arrived at Briton Ferry.

(Thomas Crofton, Private, Marine, age 29, b. Dublin – VICTORY (ML19))

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
11/01/2014: Information updated.
30/03/2019: Information updated.

S.T. Thomas Altoft H132

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4300
Official Number: 144027
Yard Number: 416
Completed: 1920
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 ft.
Gross Tonnage: 290
Net Tonnage: 126
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.6 ft
Depth: 13.5 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull

History

2.6.1919: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.416) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as THOMAS ALTOFT (Ad.No.4300).
1919: Sold to Iago Steam Trawlers Ltd, Milford Haven (Edward W. D. Lawford, manager).
12.1919: Completed as a fishing vessel.
7.1.1920: Delivered.
9.1.1920: Registered at Hull (Part I & IV) as THOMAS ALTOFT O.N.144027 (H132).
12.3.1920: While off the Irish coast, with tug FLYING FOAM (217grt/1917), rendered assistance to French steamer La SALLE (2697grt/1919) disabled having lost rudder.
28.4.1921: Awarded £950 salvage money by the Admiralty Court (FLYING FOAM awarded £100).
28.11.1922: Sold to Albion Steam Fishing Co, Hull (George H. Brown, manager).
1937: W. Holroyd appointed manager.
7.2.1939: Sold to Mills Steam Ship Co Ltd, London (Brand & Curzon Ltd, Milford Haven, managers).
25.7.1939: Insured value £5,000.
30.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.552)(Hire rate £94.5.0d/month). Based Aberdeen with 41st M/S Group.
15.1.1942: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood for £8,625.
22.4.1946: Returned to owner.
6.11.1947: Sailed Fleetwood for West of Scotland grounds (Sk. Charles Walter); fourteen crew.
8.11.1947: After making two hauls off Barra Head left grounds at approx 11.00 a.m. because of SW gale and poor visibility, with the intention of fishing at Butt of Lewis ground. At approx 10.20 p.m. stranded on rocks off Eilean Glas, Harris.
9.11.1947: Steam trawler FLANDERS (FD165)(Sk. Thomas W. Kirby MBE*) responded to wireless calls and Sk. Kirby, with great seamanship, took his vessel in between the rocks to allow crewmen to jump from the forecastle head; this was repeated five times and by approx. 3.00 a.m. all fifteen men had been taken off.
1948: Declared a CTL.
25.8.1948: The BOT Formal Investigation (No.S.407) found that the stranding and subsequent loss was due to the failure of Sk. Walter to put navigation in charge of a certificated officer and to the ignorance of the deckhands left in charge. Sk. Walters ticket was suspended for nine months.
Note* In 1948, Skipper Kirby was awarded an inscribed silver bowl for his exceptional services in the rescue of the crew members).

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Thomas Altoft H132

S.T. Thomas Altoft H132
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 4 updates since then.
11/04/2021: Updated history and technical details.

S.T. Tenedos FD277

Additional information courtesy of Barry Johnson Milford Trawlers

Technical

Official Number: 139639
Yard Number: 412
Completed: 1919
Gross Tonnage: 290
Net Tonnage: 127
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 11.6 ft
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley

History

2.4.1919: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.412) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as DOMINICK ADDISON (Ad.No.4296).
18.11.1919: Completed as a fishing vessel.
21.11.1919: Sold to Tucker, Tippett & Co Ltd, Cardiff (James C. Tippett, manager).
21.11.1919: Registered at Cardiff as TENEDOS (CF64).
20.1.1923: First landing at Milford.
8.1928: Sold to Morgan Watkin Howells (16/64); James Frederick Gwyther (16/64); George Knight (16/64) and Harry Eastoe Rees (16/64), all Milford Haven. Harry Eastoe Rees designated managing owner.
7.1929: Cardiff registry closed.
30.7.1929: Registered at Milford (M24).
23.10.1933: Sold to Harry Eastoe Rees (64/64), Milford Haven Designated managing owner.
21.7.1939: Fishing on the West of Ireland grounds in company with several Swansea and Milford trawlers. At 7.07 pm Valentia WT Station received message via steam trawler CLYNE CASTLE (SA1), “Steam trawler NEATH CASTLE (SA65) struck Sybil Head (Co. Kerry), in sinking condition making for sandy beach in Blaskets Sound”. At 9.50 pm TENEDOS reported to Valentia WT Station that NEATH CASTLE had foundered and they had boat alongside. At 9.59 pm reported that all crew safe onboard.
28.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.517)(Hire rate £90.12.6d/month). Renamed GADFLY.
8.11.1945: Sold to John Charles Llewellin (17/65); Joseph Leslie Yolland (17/64); John Yolland Jnr (17/64), all Haverfordwest & Thomas S. Yolland, Swansea (John C. Llewelin, manager). 9.1945: Returned after survey and restoration at Milford Haven. Reverted to TENEDOS (M24).
1.1.1946: Messrs Yolland & Llewellin partnership dissolved.
15.1.1946: Sold to Joseph Leslie Yolland; Thomas Steward Yolland and John Yolland Jnr, all Milford Haven. John Yolland Jnr designated managing owner.
11.7.1946: Sold to Yolland Brothers Ltd (64/64), Milford Haven.
23.6.1948: Last landing at Milford.
8.7.1948: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood for £13,132.
16.7.1948: Milford registry closed.
7.1948: Registered at Fleetwood (FD277).
11.1951: Sold to Japan Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby for £7,500.
11.1951: Fleetwood registry closed.
11.1951: Registered at Grimsby (GY195). Charles Taylor appointed manager.
2.1952: Registered at Grimsby as HONDO (GY195).
24.11.1960: Sold to Van den Bossche, Boom for breaking up.
(Dominick (aka Dominic) Addison, age 22, b. Toulon, France – ROYAL SOVEREIGN (SB307). 1847 – Awarded Naval General Service Medal for Battle of Trafalgar and capture of Java (1811). Lived to take his pension).
Click to enlarge images

S.T. Tenedos FD277

S.T. Tenedos FD277
Picture courtesy of The Fred Baker Collection

S.T. Gadfly

S.T. Gadfly
Picture courtesy of Peter Green

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
19/02/2015: Updated information.
17/07/2017: Removed FMHT watermark.

S.T. Tamora H853

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4220
Official Number: 144557
Yard Number: 205
Completed: 1920
Gross Tonnage: 275
Net Tonnage: 113
Length: 125.3 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd, Newcastle
Built: C. Rennoldson & Co Ltd, South Shields

History

30.8.1919: Launched by C. Rennoldson & Co Ltd, South Shields (Yd.No.205) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as WILLIAM LOFT (Ad.No.4220).
1920: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
13.05.1920: Completed as a fishing vessel ex fishing gear and fitted out for fishing under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100A1 Stm Trawler at South Shields.
13.08.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
24.08.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I & IV) as WILLIAM LOFT O.N.144557 (LO456). Laid up on River Tyne.
01.1921: Not to proceed to Chatham as originally ordered but remain laid up.
01.1922: Scheme abandoned, the necessary working capital of £100,000 having not been subscribed. Continued in lay up.
11.1923: Sold to Hull Northern Fishing Co Ltd, Hull. W. R. Nowell designated manager.
15.11.1923: London registry closed.
17.11.1923: Registered at Hull (H853).
20.12.1923: Registered at Hull as TAMORA (H853).
Pre 1930: Managers became Hellyer Bros Ltd, Hull.
1930: Sold to Henderson’s Trawling Co Ltd, Hull. George Altoft, designated manager.
1933: John Henderson designated manager.
25.7.1939: Insured value £5,300.
31.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.643)(Hire rate £89.7.6d/month).
9.1.1940: Off Gt Yarmouth, took in tow Trinity House vessel RECULVER (683grt/1934 damaged by German air attack while returning from relief of Cockle Light Ship. Passed tow to Trinity House vessel PATRICIA (1116grt/1938) for delivery to Yarmouth.
3.9.1941: Sold to The City Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull for £8200. Geoffrey Edwards Marr, Fleetwood designated manager.
1/2.1946: Restored and surveyed at North Shields.
3.1946: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
10.6.1947: Sold to Dublin Trawling, Ice & Cold Storage Co Ltd, Dublin for £18500. Hull registry closed. Registered at Dublin (D303). Michael J. McCabe designated manager.
Late 1952: Laid up in Fleetwood (J. Marr & Son Ltd, agent).
1953: Offered for sale.
Early 1954: Sold for breaking up. Dublin registry closed.
(William Loft, OS (prest), age 24, b. Worcester, Worcestershire – VICTORY (SB265))

Click to enlarge image

HMT Tamora

HMT Tamora
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

Changelog
08/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
11/02/2017: Information updated.
02/05/2018: Removed FMHT watermark from image.

S.T. Seville FD135

Technical

Official Number: 148224
Yard Number: ??
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 271
Net Tonnage: 122
Length: 125.7 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Built: Kingston Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Kingston, Ontario
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by National Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Goderich, Ontario.

History

1.1917: Ordered.
1918: Launched by Kingston Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Kingston, Ontario (Yd.No. – ) (Canadian “Castle” – T.R.” class) for The Admiralty (paid for and built under direction of RCN) as TR.20.
31.8.1918: Completed by Collingwood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Collingwood, Ontario (Yd. No.-) and commissioned in the Royal Canadian Navy (1-12pdr).
14.1.1919: Paid off and laid up.
1920: Accepted offer of Rose Street Foundry & Engineering Co Ltd, Inverness (Captain D. J. Munro as agent) to bring drifters with trawlers as escorts to UK for lay-up in Muirtown Basin, Caledonian Canal, Inverness prior to sale and possible refit for classification as steam trawlers (The Rose Street Foundry & Engineering Co Ltd letter dated 12 April 1920).
1921: Brought over at The Admiralty’s expense.
1.1926: Still laid up.
2.1926: Rejected offer for all remaining trawlers at £2,000 each (B. Allenby, Aberdeen letter dated 10 Feb 1926).
8.1926: Sold “as is” to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Grimsby (Fred Parkes, Blackpool, manager).
22.9.1926: Registered at Fleetwood as SEVILLE (FD135).
1928: Sold to Red Funnel Fisheries Ltd, Sydney, NSW.
3.9.1928: Registered at Fleetwood as DURRAWEEN (FD135).
15.9.1928: Sailed Fleetwood for Sydney in company with GOOLGWAI (FD117).
12.1928: Arrived Sydney, NSW after 92 day passage, which included stranding when calling at the Cocos Islands, Indian Ocean.
29.12.1928: Fleetwood registry closed.
1930: Registered at Sydney, NSW.
1933: Owners re-styled Red Funnel Trawlers Ltd, Sydney, NSW.
28.12.1937: In collision with steamer WANGANELLA (9576grt/1932) near Montague Island, NSW. Sustained damage to bows, but with WANGANELLA, damaged amidships, proceeded to Sydney; no casualties.
29.7.1940: Requisitioned for war service by Royal Australian Navy and fitted out at Williamstown as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, 1-20mm Oerlikon, 1-0.303 Vickers MG) (P.No.FY.93).
1940: Based Port Melbourne, Vic with M/S Group 54.
11.1940: Sweeping in Bass Strait with others swept 43 mines mines off Wilson’s Promontary (laid by German auxiliary cruiser PENGUIN and auxiliary minelayer PASSAT).
8.1944: Joined TU 70.5.2 surveying Torres Strait.
1.11.1945: Paid off and laid up.
10.1946: Returned after survey and restoration at Sydney.
1952: Sold for breaking up at Blackwattle Bay, Sydney, NSW.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Seville FD135

S.T. Seville FD135
Picture (as TR20) courtesy of Ronnie Bell

S.T. Seville FD135

S.T. Seville FD135
Picture (as TR20) courtesy of Ronnie Bell

S.T. Durraween

S.T. Durraween

Changelog
04/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
27/04/2014: Updated information.
28/05/2018: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.