Category Archives: Steamers (Picture)

S.T. Northern Isles LO172

Technical

Official Number: 165377
Yard Number: 569
Completed: 1936
Gross Tonnage: 655
Net Tonnage: 254
Length: 188.1 ft
Breadth: 28.1 ft
Depth: 15.5 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl & LP turbine with DR gearing & hydraulic coupling by Deutsche Schiffs und Maschinenbau AG Seebeck, Wesermünde.
Built: Deutsche Schiffs und Maschinenbau AG Seebeck, Wesermünde

History

1936: Ordered by Leverhulme Ltd, London to absorb frozen credits in Germany.
12.1936: Completed by Deutsche Schiff und Maschinenbau AG Seebeck, Wesermünde (Yd.No.569) for MacLine Ltd, London (Leverhulme Ltd) as NORTHERN ISLES.
17.12.1936: Registered at London (LO172). Operating out of Fleetwood (Edward D. W. Lawford, manager).
11.1.1937: First landing at Fleetwood, 1,192 boxes grossed £692.
1/2.3.1937: Last (part) landings at Fleetwood, 1,375/800 grossed £575/£341.
3.1937: Transferred to Hull (Boyd Line Ltd, managers).
25.3.1937: Sailed Hull for White Sea grounds (Sk. Bywaters).
19.4.1937: At Hull landed 2,426 kits grossed £821.
3.9.1937: Sailed Hull for Icelandic grounds last trip before sale (Sk. Bywaters).
24.9.1937: At Hull landed 1,030 kits grossed £1,026.
9.10.1937: Sold to Northern Trawlers Ltd, London (H. Markham Cook, Grimsby, manager).
28.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a patrol vessel, later converted to A/S trawler (1-4”, AA weapons) (P.No.4.25) (Hire rate £425.15.0d/month).
5.9.1939: Lieut. Derik S. A. Hewett RNR appointed CO.
25.11.1939: Lieut. Joseph F. Twite RNR appointed CO.
6.10.1940 Lieut. Alexander G. Scott RNR appointed CO. With Northern Patrol Group.
2.1942: Ty.Lieut. John Maurice Baldry RNVR appointed CO.
25.2.1942: One of 24 A/S trawlers lent to CinC U.S.Fleet for A/S operations under U.S. Command on the East Coast of N. America.
5.10.1942: Returned to Royal Navy and and sailed Norfolk, Va for Trinidad.
11.11.1942: Sailed Trinidad but disabled and taken in tow by HMT INTEGRITY (W14).
25.11.1942: Delivered Freetown, Sierra Leone.
1943: Operated in South Atlantic based at Cape Town.
1.1944: Ty. Lieut. Arthur R. J. Tilston DSC SANF(V) appointed CO.
9.2.1944: Taken in hand at Port Elizabeth for refit afloat to be followed by docking at Simonstown.
8-17.5.1944: Docked at Simonstown.
1.8.1944: Ty. Lieut. David LeFleming Dobson RNVR appointed CO.
8.1944: Based Durban.
19.1.1945: Stranded off Durban while on loop patrol (CinC S.A. 220934/1 refers). Declared a Total Loss.
23.2.1945: Paid off. London registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

HMT Northern Isles

HMT Northern Isles
Picture courtesy of Osta

Changelog
01/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
07/10/2016: Significant information update.

S.T. Northern Chief LO165

Technical

Official Number: 165352
Yard Number: 554
Completed: 1936
Gross Tonnage: 655
Net Tonnage: 251
Length: 188.1 ft
Breadth: 28.1 ft
Depth: 15.5 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl & LP turbine with DR gearing & hydraulic coupling by Deutsche Schiffs und Maschinenbau AG Seebeck, Wesermünde.
Built: Deutsche Schiffs und Maschinenbau AG Seebeck, Wesermünde

History

1936: Ordered by Leverhulme Ltd, London to absorb frozen credits in Germany.
11.1936: Completed by Deutsche Schiff und Maschinenbau AG Seebeck, Wesermünde (Yd.No.554) for MacLine Ltd, London (Leverhulme Ltd) as NORTHERN CHIEF.
11.11.1936: Registered at London (LO165). Fishing out of Fleetwood. Edward D. W. Lawford designated manager.
8.12.1936: First landing at Fleetwood, 1,950 boxes £1,443 gross.
29.7.1937: At Wyre Light whilst awaiting the signal to proceed into dock, struck steam trawler COLLENA (FD115) (Sk. H. Chard) amidships on the port side causing extensive damage to wheelhouse and bulwarks.
30.9.1937: Last landing at Fleetwood, 1,080 boxes £665 gross.
9.10.1937: Sold to Northern Trawlers Ltd, London. H. Markham Cook, Grimsby designated manager.
28.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a patrol/armed boarding vessel (1-4”) (P.No.4.34) (Hire rate £425.15.0d/month).
6.1940: Based Kirkwall as armed boarding vessel (Lieut. H. Kirkwood RN).
1941: Based Kirkwall (Lieut. N. L. Knight RNR).
27.8.1941: In North Atlantic south of Iceland. At around 10.00pm in position 62 15N 18 5W, first Allied vessel to respond to radio message from aircraft and find the disabled U.boat (U570), damaged earlier by a Hudson of 269 Sqdr (Sdr Leader J. H. Thomson). Surrendered to aircraft, believing the submarine to be severely damaged and chlorine gas present. During the night joined by HM Trawler KINGSTON AGATE (P.No.FY212) (H489) (Lieut. Henry Owen L’Estrange RNR), HMS BURWELL (P.No.H94), (Lt Cdr. Sidney R.J. Woods RNR) Canadian destroyer HMCS NIAGARA (P.No.I57) (Ty Lieut. Thomas Philip Ryan RCNR) and two A/S Whalers.
28.8.1941: At daybreak U570 attacked by Norwegian Northrop N-3PB1 unaware that U.boat had surrendered. Called off by BURWELL. In worsening weather difficult to attach tow, mistakenly thinking that the Germans were not co-operating, BURWELL C.O. ordered a burst of machine gun fire, unfortunately wounding five of the U.boat crew. KINGSTON AGATE to windward, drifted a Carley-float down and an officer and three naval ratings put onboard; German officers and wounded transferred to KINGSTON AGATE. Throrough search but Enigma machine had been jettisoned; useful code books taken. Tow secured by KINGSTON AGATE and remaining U.boat crew taken off by HMCS NIAGARA which came alongside. Tow commenced for Iceland.
29.8.1940: Arrived Þorlákshöfn, southern Iceland, but in view of uncertainty of U.boat condition, beached.*
1.1942: Attached Northern Patrol, at Grimsby refitting.
3.1942: Transferred on loan to US Navy (RN crew) operating East Coast USA.
10.1942: Returned to Royal Navy and operated in South Atlantic based at Cape Town.
5.2.1946: Returned after survey and restoration at Birkenhead (William A. Bennett, manager).
12.1946: London registry closed.
12.1946: Registered at Grimsby (GY445).
2.1947: Sold to H/F Gylfi, Vatneyri, Iceland.
1947: Remeasured 625g 251n.
2.1947: Grimsby registry closed.
2.1947: Registered at Patreksfirdi as GYLFI (BA77)
1950: Sold to Ludwig Janssen & Co, Wesermünde. Registered at Bremerhaven as ISLAND (BX536).
1950: Remeasured 638g 235n.
1957: Sold to W. Ritscher, Hamburg for breaking up.
15.7.1957: Delivered Hamburg.

Note: Lieutenant Henry Owen L’Estrange RNR, from Co. Sligo was subsequently awarded the DSC for his part in the salvage of U570.

– U570 was surveyed by Lt. Colvin and found to be capable of repair. Refloated, spent three weeks in Hvalfjörður under repair and trials. One G7a torpedo was off-loaded and later sent to the USA. 29.9.1941: Sailed for Barrow in Furness (Lieut. George R. Colvin RN) with prize crew escorted by HMS SALADIN (P.No.H54) (Lt. Cdr Laurence J. Dover RN) and HM Trawler KINGSTON AGATE.
3.10.1940: Arrived Barrow for full inspection.
5.10.1941 Commissioned in Royal Navy as HM Submarine GRAPH (P.No.46).
21.6.1943 De-commissioned.
20 3.1944. Stranded west coast of Islay on passage to be broken up. Broken up in situ in 1961.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Gylfi BA77

S.T. Gylfi BA77
Picture courtesy of the JJ Collection

S.T. Island BX536

S.T. Island BX536
Picture courtesy of the JJ Collection

Changelog
01/01/2009: Page published. 8 updates since then.
18/11/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks from images.
03/01/19: Updated the history.

S.T. Northcoates H329

Technical

Admiralty Number: 3697
Official Number: 144573
Yard Number: 164
Completed: 1919
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Gross Tonnage: 290
Net Tonnage: 127
Length: 125.4 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Built: Cox & Co (Engineers) Ltd, Falmouth
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Cox & Co (Engineers) Ltd, Falmouth

History

Note Name to be GEORGE CORTON.
1918: Launched by Cox & Co (Engineers) Ltd, Falmouth (Yd.No.164) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as GEORGE CORTEN (Ad.No.3697).
6.2.1919: Completed and delivered.
22.05.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part I) O.N.144573. Engaged in commercial trawling.
13.08.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
09.1920: Allocated to the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
25.09.1920: Registered by The Admiralty at London (Part IV) as GEORGE CORTEN (LO467).
12.1920: At Wivenhoe fitted out for fishing under Special Survey of Lloyd’s Register and classed 100A1 Stm Trawler at Wivenhoe.
1921: Laid up at Brightlingsea.
31.10.1921: After inspection at Brightlingsea by Capt. William John Lown & Lawrence Spring (directors), purchased by Kingston Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull. Purchased at asking price £7250 (Others inspected and purchased were DANIEL DICK, ISAAC ARTHAN, JOHN BROOKER, JOHN GRAHAM & THOMAS BOUDIGE).
3.12.1921: London registry closed.
12.1921: Remeasured 277g 108n.
21.12.1921: Registered at Hull as GEORGE CORTEN (H329). Walter Scott designated manager.
30.1.1922: Registered at Hull as ZENCON (H329).
13.11.1922: Registered at Hull as ZIRCON (H329).
27.5.1935: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood for £3,800. Crewed and operated from Hull by The City Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull. Geoffrey Edwards Marr, Cleveleys designated manager.
12.11.1935: Registered at Hull as NORTHCOATES (H329). Edward Towne designated manager.
1935: Insured value £4,500.
1937: Transferred to fish out of Fleetwood.
24.8.1937: First landing at Fleetwood from Faroes, 235kits.
28.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (magnetic) (P.No.FY.548) (Hire rate £83.2.0d/month).
9.1939: Fitting out at Sheerness.
23.5.1944: Assigned as magnetic minesweeper to Operation Neptune – Normandy landings.
29.5.1944: Ordered to Plymouth
5.6.1944: Sailed Plymouth for beachhead approaches with minesweeping flotillas.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
2.12.1944: Foundered in the English Channel off Littlehampton in heavy weather while under tow after machinery failure. Wreck lies in position 50.39.68N 0.35.32W in 26 m.

(George Corton (aka Corten, Carten), Landsman (volunteer), age 32, b. Oxford, Oxfordshire – VICTORY (SB112))

Click to enlarge image

HMT Northcoates

HMT Northcoates
Picture reproduced under IWM Non-Commercial Licence

Changelog
01/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
03/11/2016: Information updated.
07/04/2019: Information updated.
28/06/2021: Updated history and technical details.

S.T. Norse FD72

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm and David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 136901
Yard Number: 409
Completed: 1915
Gross Tonnage: 297
Net Tonnage: 125
Length: 135.9 ft
Breadth: 23.1 ft
Depth: 12.4 ft
Built: J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl by Lidgerwood Ltd, Glasgow

History

1914: Launched by J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen (Yd.No.409) for The Mersey Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood as NORSE.
23.1.1915: Registered at Fleetwood (FD72). Ernest Taylor, Thornton-le-Fylde designated manager
1.1915: Completed.
2.3.1915: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, 1-7.5” A/S Howitzer) (Ad.No.1352). Fitted as Sub-divisional Leader. Based Holyhead.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
17.9.1920: Sailed Fleetwood for northern fishing grounds (Sk. Robert Wright). At 4.00pm in good weather conditions stranded on Patterson’s Rock between Sanda and Mull of Kintyre. A motor boat from shore took the crew off landing them safely at Southend.
24.9.1920: Reported vessel is in the hands of the insurance company and salvage operations are proceeding.
27.9.1920: Storm interrupted salvage attempt.
3.10.1920: Vessel had broken up and disappeared below surface.
13.10.1920: Fleetwood registry closed.

Note: To the south and east of Kintyre, just off Southend, lies tiny Sanda Island. To the east of Sanda, on the run in to the Kilbrannan Sound, is Paterson’s Rock. Completely submerged at high water the rock has trapped three vessels, one of which was the trawler NORSE, On passage between Glasgow and Northern Ireland, she ran onto the rock in the evening. A local motor boat took the crew off and landed them at Southend. The following day the NORSE was sitting high and dry on the rock at low water but was badly damaged. A tug arrived and, over the next few days, attempted to salvage the vessel. On the 27th, however, the area lived up to its fearsome reputation by brewing a vicious storm which worked the stranded trawler so badly that she began to settle in the water. By the 3rd October she had broken up and disappeared under the surface.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Norse FD72

S.T. Norse FD72
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Norse FD72

S.T. Norse FD72
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
01/01/2009: Page published. 5 updates since then.
15/11/2016: Picture added.
09/09/2018: Removed FMHT watermark and incorrect image.
18/04/2019: Added an image.
04/06/2021: Updated information.

S.T. Norina (1) – FD150

Technical

Additional information courtesy of Erling Baldorf and Helensburg Heritage Trust

Official Number: 139599
Yard Number: 668
Completed: 1916
Gross Tonnage: 270
Net Tonnage: 113
Length: 125.2 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Built: Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull

History

15.8.1916: Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby (Yd.No. 668) for Neale & West Ltd, Cardiff as KUNISHI.
5.2.1917: Completed. Wilfred Neale, Morley H. Neale & Joshua S. Neale designated joint managers.
24.4.1917: Registered at Cardiff (CF46).
7.1917: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, Hydrophone) (Ad.No.3343). Based Taranto.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Cardiff.
1920: Sold to Victor Basquet, La Rochelle. Cardiff registry closed. Registered at La Rochelle as PELICAN.
1927: Sold to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood for £5500. Joseph Arthur Marr designated manager.
15.6.1927: Registered at Fleetwood as N0RINA (FD150).
1920: Remeasured 268g 111n.
1927: Remeasured 270g 113n 12.6 ft depth of hold.
4.1927: Geoffrey Edwards Marr designated manager.
3.9.1927: Sailed Fleetwood for West of Scotland grounds.
4.9.1927: At about 4.25am in dense fog when making for Lismore Light off the south tip of Mull, stranded. Holed aft but managed to refloat at 7.30 am and proceeded to Oban for repairs.
8.9.1927: Repairs completed to satisfaction of Fleetwood Mutual Insurance Association representative. Sailed for fishing grounds.
12.9.1927: Trawl fouled propeller. Cleared and steamed for fresh grounds.
18.9.1927: Completed fishing and set course for home. In fog and drizzle stranded on the Isle of Jura, about one hours steaming from the Rubha a Mhail (Rhuvaal) light whilst making for Islay Sound.
19.9.1927: Steam trawler SARBA (FD177) intercepted a wireless message sent to steam trawler VELIA (FD49).
20.9.1927: At about 3.15am. SARBA arrived on the scene and at daybreak she was joined by VELIA. Both trawlers connected but were unsuccessful in refloating.
21.9.1927: In the morning the Glasgow tug FLYING SPRAY (217grt/1917 – 823ihp) (Mr Roger Owen) arrived, connected and after three quarters of an hour succeeded in refloating. After check for leaks sailed for Fleetwood in tow.
22.9.1927: Delivered Fleetwood on morning tide and landed 400 boxes. Slipped, repaired and returned to service.
1.4.1929: Joseph A. Marr retired to manage Dinas Steam Trawling Co Ltd.
4.1929: Geoffrey Edwards Marr designated manager.
2.1931: Stranded in Sound of Islay. Refloated, repaired and returned to service.
11.8.1933: Arrested by fishery cruiser MINNA while fishing Butt of Lewis ground.
23.11.1933: At Stornoway Sheriff Court, Sk. William Rendall Drever was charged with trawling within prohibited waters off Point Ness, Lewis; failing to exhibit regulation lights; obscuring or altering the registration numbers and failing to stop when ordered and obstructing the boarding party. He pleaded Not Guilty.
26.1.1934: Sk. William Rendall Drever was found guilty on all four counts and fined £100, £20, £15 and £50 respectively with alternative imprisonment. 1.1940: Requisitioned for war service as a boom defence vessel (P.No.Z.145) (Hire rate £78.15.0d/month). Cost of conversion £12,491. Based Loch Ewe (Glenelg).
2.10.1942: Sold to Thomas Ross Ltd, Grimsby for £9850.
23.11.1943: Compulsorily acquired by M.O.W.T. Based at Fort William (D. MacBrayne Ltd, Glasgow, agents).
6.3.1945: Operating from Fort Bannatyne. In Loch Striven laying a buoy. At approximately 11.15am. completed task and underway. At 11.20am. miniature submarine XE11 -”Lucifer” (Lieut. Aubrey “Eustace” Staples SANF); five crew all told, submerged on trials came up to 10ft and was in collision. Submarine ran along under keel until struck by propeller and pressure hull breached. Submarine sank until resting on the bottom on even keel in about 210-215 feet, First Lieutenant, Sub Lieut. Bill Morrison RNVR and Engine Room Artificer Leslie Swatton, escaped but CO and two others drowned*. Submarine subsequently raised by NORINA, bodies recovered and buried in Rothesay Cemetery.
12.1.1946: Fleetwood registry closed. Laid up. Estimated cost of re-conditioning £8,750.
5.1947: Sold to BISCO for breaking up.
1949: Still in LR. No owners listed.

XE11 crew lost – Lieutenant Aubrey “Eustace” Staples SANF, Seaman Torpedoman J. J. Carroll and Stoker E. Higgins.

Note. The escape by S/Lt Morrison and ERA Carroll from 210-215ft remains the deepest unaided ascent from a submarine and features in the Guinness Book of Records.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Norina FD150

S.T. Norina FD150
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Norina FD150

S.T. Norina FD150
Picture courtesy of The Frank Pook Collection

Changelog
01/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
12/03/2016: Picture added.
09/10/2016: Information added.
27/02/2020: Updated information.