S.T. Royal Marine FD63

Additional information courtesy of Bil Blow and David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 181282
Yard Number: 683
Completed: July 29 1941
Gross Tonnage: 510
Net Tonnage: 160
Length: 167.7 ft
Breadth: 28.1 ft
Depth: 14.1 ft
Engine: 970ihp T.3-cyl by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Boiler: Central Marine Engine Works, West Hartlepool
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Speed: 11 knots

History

20.11.1940: Ordered.
1.4.1941: Laid down.
29.7.1941: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.683) (“Hill” class) for The Admiralty as HMS BUTSER (P.No.T219)
16.1.1942: Completed (1-12pdr HA, 4-MG, 1-20mm, DC).
1941: Home Fleet.
1942: To Freetown, 2nd A/S Group.
1945: Armament increased (2-20mm).
1946: Laid up at Rosyth on Disposal List (SORF, Rosyth).
10.4.1946: Sold to Devon Fishing Co Ltd, Hull for the sum of £27,750 with estimated cost of conversion at £30,000.
11.1946: Converted to a fishing vessel by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields. Remeasured 538.20g 210.40n.
11.1946: Converted for burning oil fuel, F.P. above 150° F.
1946: Engine re-rated 1050ihp.
25.11.1946: Registered at Hull (Part I & IV) as BALTHAZAR O.N.181282 (H359). Mark Hellyer & Graham Hellyer designated managers.
11.1.1952: Sold to The Loyal Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby. Albert Wright Butt designated manager.
1.1952: Hull registry closed.
21.1.1952: Registered at Grimsby (GY213).
7.2.1952: Registered at Grimsby as ROYAL MARINE (GY213) (MoT Minute R.G.No.1016/52 dated 28.1.1952).
7.5.1952: Arrived Harstad, northern Norway having been arrested for alleged fishing inside territorial waters (Sk. Charles Major).
14.5.1952: At court in Harstad, fined £8175, which included confiscation of catch, gear, ship value and legal costs, for allegedly fishing in Norwegian waters.
10.2.1954: At appeal disagreement between judge and jury.
7.4.1960: Sold to Wyre Trawlers Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood (Associated Fisheries Group).
9.4.1960: Grimsby registry closed.
9.4.1960: On passage Grimsby – Fleetwood, developed engine trouble off West Coast of Scotland. Distress answered by steam trawler WYRE MARINER (FD34) (Sk Percy Bedford) outwards for Bear Island grounds. Closed, connected and commenced tow for Fleetwood.
11.4.1960: Delivered Fleetwood after 250 mile tow, transferred to tugs BISPHAM (21grt/1938) and LANDY II (66grt/1949) and brought into dock.
4.1960: Registered at Fleetwood (FD63).
21.4.1960: Leslie Wheildon designated manager.
17.8.1960: First landing at Fleetwood, Iceland 21 days, 910 kits, £5.500 gross.
25.7.1963: Abandoned by crew south of Mull of Galloway after fire broke out in boiler room. Taken in tow by WYRE CONQUEROR (FD187) and returned to Fleetwood but damaged beyond economical repair. Laid up.
9.1963: Sold to West of Scotland Shipbreaking Co Ltd, Troon for breaking up.
22.10.1963: Left Fleetwood for Troon under tow.
24.10.1963: Delivered Troon Harbour (draughts 8’3”/16’9”).
11.6.1964: Breaking commenced.
8.9.1964: Re-berthed.
2.10.1964: Beached (draughts 7’0”/10’0”).
27.10.1964: Re-beached.
17.11.1964: Re-beached.
15.12.1964: Breaking completed.
21.4.1965: Fleetwood registry closed “Vessel broken up”.

Click to enlarge images

HMT Butser

HMT Butser
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

HMS Butser T219

HMS Butser T219
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

S.T. Royal Marine FD63 as HMT Butser

HMT Butser
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

S.T. Royal Marine FD63

S.T. Royal Marine FD63
Picture from the Internet.

S.T. Balthazar H359

S.T. Balthazar H359
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Royal Marine FD63

S.T. Royal Marine GY213
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Royal Marine FD63

S.T. Royal Marine GY213
Picture courtesy of The JJ Collection

S.T. Royal Marine GY213

S.T. Royal Marine GY213
Picture courtesy of The Billy Worrall Collection

S.T. Royal Marine FD63

S.T. Royal Marine FD63
Picture courtesy of The Peter Hearn Collection

S.T. Royal Marine FD63

S.T. Royal Marine FD63 on fire
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

S.T. Royal Marine FD63

S.T. Royal Marine FD63
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
24/01/2009; Page published. 8 updates since then.
11/03/2017: Removed disputed image.
20/02/2018: Added an image.
03/08/2018: Removed FMHT watermark and updated information.
21/04/2019: Added an image.
26/09/2019: Updated information and added an image.