S.T. Red Gauntlet (2) LO33 : The Bosun's Watch

S.T. Red Gauntlet (2) LO33

Technical

Official Number: 163160
Yard Number: 578
Completed: 1933
Gross Tonnage: 422
Net Tonnage: 162
Length: 154.6 ft
Breadth: 25.6 ft
Depth: 13.9 ft
Engine: 111NHP T.3-cyl by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Speed: 11.4 knots

History

6.9.1933: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.578) for Hellyer Bros. Ltd, Hull as ARAB.
7.10.1933: Registered at Hull (H516).
12.10.1933: Completed.
11.1935: Sold to The Admiralty.
14.11.1939: Hull registry closed. Fitted out as a “Tree” class minesweeper. Renamed HMS CEDAR (P.No.T.01).
23.5.1944: Assigned to Operation Neptune – Normandy landings (PLUTO project).
6.1944: Carried PLUTO (Pipe Line Under The Sea) reconnaissance party to beach head.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
7.1946: Sold to Iago Steam Trawler Co Ltd, Fleetwood (Cdr. E. D. W. Lawford DSO, manager). Renamed RED GAUNTLET (LO33).
26.7.1947: Sailed Fleetwood for Spitzbergen/Bear Island grounds with a crew of twenty (Sk. William H. Hicks).
10.8.1947: After fishing to the W of the southern tip of Spitzbergen decided to move grounds and about 12.00 noon set course for grounds between Bear Island and Hope Island – little wind and smooth sea. At about about 2.30 p.m. a rock was observed to port and the land was visible but ahead was a fog bank. At about 3.15 p.m. stranded on the southern tip of the rocks S of Sorkapp. Vessel pounded and filled, lifeboat launched and all crew including two Norwegian gutters abandoned the vessel but stayed in the vicinity for a while until the fog lifted and they were able to pull over to NORTHERN SPRAY (GY190) which had responded to SOS. Crew were landed at Grimsby.
19.12.1947: At the BOT Formal Investigation (No. S.406), the Court found that the loss was caused by the fault or default of the skipper, William Hicks and by fault or default of the second hand, Richard Wright. The skippers ticket was suspended for six months with £100 costs and that of the second hand for three months with £25 costs.

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