Tag Archives: Castle

S.T. Clyth Ness FD131

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4488
Official Number: 144651
Yard Number: 318
Completed: 1920
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Gross Tonnage: 290
Net Tonnage: 127
Length: 125.4 ft
Breadth: 23.4 ft
Depth: 12.6 ft
Built: J. P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd, South Shields
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by J. P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd, South Shields

History

17.5.1920: Launched by J. P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd, South Shields (Yd.No.318) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as DANIEL DICK (Ad.No.4488).
1920: Allocated to the National Fishery Scheme for the setting up of the Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London.
14.7.1920: Registered at London (Part I) as DANIEL DICK O.N.144651.
13.08.1920: Minesweepers’ Cooperative Trawling Society Ltd, London registered.
24.08.1920: Registered at London (Part IV) as DANIEL DICK O.N.(LO410).
5.08.1920: Completed as a fishing vessel ex gear. 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 GEORGE CORTON, ISAAC ARTHAN, JOHN BROOKER, JOHN GRAHAM & THOMAS BOUDIGE).
20.11.1921: Arrived Hull from Brightlingsea for fitting out.
3.12.1921: London registry closed.
12.1921: Remeasured 277g 108n.
8.12.1921: Sailed Hull on first trip.
21.12.1921: Registered at Hull as DANIEL DICK (H338). Total cost including fit out and classification £8734.3.10d.
21.1.1922: Registered at Hull as AGATE (H338).
24.4.3.1925: John William Lown designated manager.
30.10.1934: Sold to Trident Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull (£4000).
15.11.1934: Registered at Hull as CLYTH NESS (H338).
11.1934: George Arthur Ledger designated manager.
25.7.1939: Insured value £5,300.
26.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service and fitted out at Gt. Yarmouth as a minesweeper (magnetic) (P.No. FY.1596) (Hire rate £89.14.0d/month) (Ty/Sk. W. D. Warford RNR).
26.5.1940: At 6.57pm. ‘Operation Dynamo’ (Dunkirk evacuation) put into effect.
26.5–4.6.1940: At Dunkirk evacuation (Lieut. Anthony Heckstall-Smith DSC RNR).
30.5.1940: At 2.00am IOMSP steamer KING ORRY (1877grt/1913) leaving Dunkirk harbour, rolled over having struck a sandbank when damaged by bombs. Assisted in picking up survivors.
1.1941: At Dover with M/S Group 126 (Ty/Sk. W. F. Salenius RNVR).
4.4.1941: Ty/Lieut. L. J. Wyatt RNVR appointed CO.
2.1943: Act. Ty/Lieut Cdr. L. J. Wyatt RNVR appointed CO.
29.4.1943: Ty/Lieut. S. G. Airey RNVR appointed CO.
9.1943: Fitted out as a water carrier.
1944: Fitted out as a fuelling trawler (33ton tank for refuelling diesel landing craft) (P.No.Y7.16). Assigned to Operation Neptune – Normandy landings.
23.5.1944: Assigned as a fuelling trawler to Force O.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
25.10.1944: Sold to The Dinas Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
12.7.1945: Laid up.
13.11.1945: Registered at Fleetwood (FD131).
1.3.1946: Hull registry closed.
1.3.1946: Re-registered at Fleetwood (FD131). David Marr designated manager.
2.3.1946: Returned to owner.
13.2.1952: Sold to Wood & Bruce Ltd, Aberdeen.
13.2.1952: Fleetwood registry closed.
2.1952: Registered at Aberdeen (A702). David Wood designated manager.
5.1955: Sold to Belgium for breaking up.
8.5.1955: Arrived Boom. Aberdeen registry closed.

(Daniel Dick, AB, age 27, b. Glasgow, Scotland – ROYAL SOVEREIGN (SB202))

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S.T. Agate H338

S.T. Agate H338
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Clyth Ness A702

S.T. Clyth Ness A702
Picture courtesy of Grimsby Reference Library

Changelog
18/05/2012: Page published. 4 updates since then.
27/03/2015: Updated information.
31/03/2016: Picture added.
06/10/2017: Removed FMHT watermark and restored broken link.
11/04/2019: Updated information
24/12/2019: Updated information.

S.T. Almeria FD117

Additional information courtesy of David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 148220
Yard Number: TR19
Completed: 1918
Gross Tonnage: 271.22
Net Tonnage: 120.96
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 S.B. 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 The Admiralty (paid for and built under direction of RCN) as TR.19.
25.8.1918: Completed by Collingwood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Collingwood, Ontario (Yd. No.-) and commissioned in the Royal Canadian Navy (1-12pdr).
7.1.1919: Paid off and laid up.
1920: Accepted offer of Rose Street Foundry & Engineering Co Ltd, Inverness (Captain Donald John Munro CMG RN 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, Fleetwood (Basil A. Parkes, manager).
16.9.1926: Registered at Fleetwood as ALMERIA (FD117).
1928: Sold to Red Funnel Fisheries Ltd, Sydney, NSW.
3.9.1928: Registered at Fleetwood as GOOLGWAI (FD117) (MRG 1362/1928).
15.9.1928: Sailed Fleetwood for Sydney in company with DURRAWEEN (FD135).
12.1928: Arrived Sydney, NSW after 92 day passage, which included assisting DURRAWEEN stranded when calling at the Cocos Islands, Indian Ocean.
29.12.1928: Fleetwood registry closed.
12.1928: Registered at Sydney, NSW.
1933: Owners re-styled Red Funnel Trawlers Ltd, Sydney, NSW.
1937-1939: Landed 521,114 kg of fish.
3.9.1939: Requisitioned for war service by Royal Australian Navy as a minesweeper (1-12pdr, 1-20mm Oerlikon, 1-0.303 Vickers MG, 4-DC launchers).
6.10.1939: Commissioned into RAN (P.No. FY.94).
1940: Based Sydney, NSW with M/S Group 50, working NSW coast and later moved to Queensland – Cape York/Thursday Island.
8.1944: Joined TU 70.5.2 Surveying Torres Strait.
29.10.1945: Paid off and laid up pending return to owners.
17.6.1947: Returned to owner.
1951-1955: Landed 410,235kg of fish.
18.5.1955: Sailed Sydney for the Far South Coast of New South Wales grounds (Sk. Mullarkey); eleven crew all told.
29.5.1955: Approaching Sydney in heavy seas with 400 boxes onboard ran into thick fog and about 7.00 am. stranded on rocks at Boora Point, 10 miles south of Sydney Head, NSW.
6.6.1955: Ship broke up and washed westward. Possibly some wreckage amongst rocks in position 33.58S 151.15E. All crew rescued but the following were injured, John Munro, fireman, broken kneecap, Albert Tahtinen, cut head; ship’s cat survived but the dog ‘Sluggo’ drowned.

More information at Michael McFadyen’s Scuba Site

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S.T. Almeria FD117

S.T. Almeria FD117
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Almeria FD117

S.T. Almeria FD117
Picture from the Internet

HMAS Durraween

HMAS Durraween
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Almeria FD117

S.T. Almeria FD117
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Almeria FD117

S.T. Almeria FD117
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Almeria FD117

S.T. Almeria FD117
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Almeria FD117

S.T. Almeria FD117
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
22/04/2014: Information updated.
25/06/2017: Removed FMHT watermarks, amended wreck location, repaired broken image link.
22/06/2019: Updated information and added an image.

S.T. Betty Johnson FD168

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall

Technical
Admiralty Number: 3782
Official Number: 143256
Yard Number: 403
Completed: 1919
As built: As built 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Gross Tonnage: 290 (later 280.59)
Net Tonnage: 127 (later 107.82)
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 550ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith Ltd, Hull

History

24.9.1918: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.403) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as JOHN GULIPSTER. (Ad.No.3782).
5.2.1919: Forms for tender to purchase received by the Admiralty.
3.1919: Sold to James Johnson, Scarborough.
17.4.1919: Completed as a fishing vessel
6.5.1919: Registered at Scarborough Part I & IV as BETTY JOHNSON, Official No.143256 (SH50).
5.1919: Sailed Scarborough for Iceland.
22.5.1919: Fishing Icelandic grounds. At 8.00am. net came fast when hauling. Frederick Trever (25), Hull was working near winch when gilson wire parted causing bobbins to fall on him; dragged clear but found to be dead.
12.4.1920: Sold to Prince Fletcher Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood. Harry Melling & P. Fletcher appointed managers.
7.3.1922: In Wyre Dock. At about 4.00pm Messrs J. Preston & Sons delivered two one cwt drums of carbide and placed them under cover in the engine room alley-way. At about 5.10pm vessel left Wyre Dock and proceeded down river. Meanwhile. one of the two firemen, named Henry C. Corns, who had only reported himself on board a few minutes before the vessel left the quay, and who had gone forward to change his clothes, came on deck. On reaching the alley-way he saw the drums of carbide, and not wishing to go down below empty-handed carried one of them down the ladder and handed it to the Second Engineer in the engine-room and went back for the other. His method of carrying the drum down the ladder was to hold on to the rails with both hands and support the drum on his left knee, and this was the method commonly adopted on this vessel. When carrying the second drum and when nearing the foot of the ladder, described by another witness as a very steep one, both his feet for some unaccountable reason slipped off the ladder and the drum of carbide fell into the engine crankcase and was crushed with the next revolution of the engine. With water in the bilge and a lamp burning in the room the acetylene generated by the contact of the carbide with the bilge water was immediately ignited and an explosion followed. The Chief Engineer, Harry Jackson, was blown by the force of the explosion into such a position under the boiler that he could not extricate himself, and when after some time had elapsed it was found possible to reach and remove him, life was found to be practically extinct. His cries for help show, however, that he was not even rendered unconscious by the initial explosion. Corns, the unwitting cause of the accident, was blown towards the door of the stoke-hold and eventually escaped with difficulty up the ladder, and Joseph Wiley, the Second Engineer, had his leg so badly fractured that amputation was necessary, and he was badly burned as well. John Bateman, the cook, who for some reason was standing at the top of the ladder, was so injured by the burst of flame as to lose his eyesight and sense of smell. Material damage to the vessel was small.
26.6.1922: At an Inquiry held at Fleetwood by Major A. Cooperkey CB, HM Chief Inspector of Explosives concluded that “ The explosion was not an unavoidable accident, and would not have occurred (a) if the carbide had been removed below before the engines were started, or (b) if proper means had been adopted to remove it below.”
7.9.1925: Trawling in Firth of Clyde off Pladda Light (Sk. James Scott). Sighted by Scottish Fishery Board’s cruiser VIGILANT and signalled to heave to, but steamed away and chased for 24 miles. Escaped but name and port of registry noted.
23.9.1925: At Rothesay Sheriff Court, James Scott pleaded guilty to illegal fishing by means of otter trawl; concealing name, number and port of registry; refusing to stop when ordered by Fishery Cruiser. The defence was that Scott had come into the Firth to seek medical attention for the mate who had injured a finger. Found guilty on all counts and fined a total of £100 or alternatively 120 days imprisonment.
24.11.1927: Scarborough registry closed.
1927: Sold to Melling Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood.
29.12.1927: Registered at Fleetwood as ANNIE MELLING (FD168). Henry Melling appointed manager.
25.04.1929: Sailed Fleetwood for St. Kilda, onboard was Mrs. Jack Carter, 25 years-old wife of Skipper Jack Carter, who is probably the only member of her sex who goes regularly to sea on a steam trawler. Skipper Carter is also 25 years of age, and they been married about two years. Mrs. Carter says the reason she goes to sea is because she becomes lonely on shore when her husband is away. While the crew are engaged in fishing operations Mrs. Carter either sits on deck watching the crew or reads in her husband’s cabin. Among the deep-sea fishermen at Fleetwood Mrs. Carter has been dubbed “The Bride of the Sea”. She is said to be the only Manx woman who has spent a night on the island of St. Kilda.
13.10.1930: Fishing off Morecambe Bay (Sk. Jack Carter). Whilst preparing to shoot the trawl, one of the otter boards dropped crushing the fingers on the right hand of Sk. Carter. First aid rendered and on docking taken to hospital where end of middle finger was amputated.
1930: Henry Melling ceased to be manager.
12.1931: Sold to William C. Farrow, Hull.
17.12.1931: Fleetwood registry closed.
21.12.1931: Registered at Hull (H399).
12.1.1932: Registered at Hull as ANDREW MARVEL (H399).
23.3.1933: Sold to Hudson Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Hull. (Hudson Brothers Trawlers Ltd, managers.
8.7.1935: Sailed Hull for Faroe grounds.
9.7.1935: Arrived Hull to report the loss of trimmer Leonard J Beavers (28) on his first trip. When loss discovered, searched vessel and then retraced course but despite every effort and hampered by darkness failed to find any trace of man.
12.1935: Sold to Thomas L. Devlin & Sons, Granton.
18.12.1935: Hull registry closed.
1.1936: Registered at Granton as COMITATUS (GN39). Thomas L. Devlin Jnr appointed manager.
28.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No. FY.633) (Hire rate £90.12.6d/month).
1942: Sold to Mrs Elizabeth D. Breen, Edinburgh
9.10.1945: Returned to owner after restoration and survey at Glasson Dock. Sold to Dinas Steam Trawler Co Ltd (64/64), Fleetwood.
12.1949: Fishing in The Minch (Sk. Horace Blyth). Sighted and apprehended by HMS WELCOME (P.No.J386), Fishery Protection Squadron, fishing 11/2 miles offshore near Stornoway Harbour.
16.12.1949: Pleaded guilty by letter claiming visibility was only half-a-mile at the time, but the Sheriff accepted the evidence of HMS WELCOME that visibility was five miles and fined Blyth £50; gear was not ordered to be confiscated Blyth lost his job on account of this incident.
2.1952: Sold to Queen Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Grimsby. Charles Alford Osborne appointed manager.
2.1952: Granton registry closed.
8.2.1952: Registered at Grimsby (GY228).
12.6.1956: Grimsby registry closed “… on sale of vessel to foreigners (Belgian subjects).
19.6.1956: Sold to Van Heyghen Freres S.A., Ghent for breaking up.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Annie Melling FD168

S.T. Annie Melling FD168
Picture courtesy of The James Cullen Collection

S.T. Commitatus GY228

S.T. Commitatus GY228
Picture from the Internet

S.T. Andrew Marvel H399

S.T. Andrew Marvel H399
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
17/05/2012: Page published. 5 updates since then.
06/06/2015: Picture added.
29/09/2016: Significant information update.
29/12/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
21/08/2019: Information updated.

S.T. Patrick Cullen – FD220


Additional information courtesy of David Slinger and Andy Hall

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4460
Official Number: 141949
Yard Number: 351
Completed: 1919
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 ft
Gross Tonnage: 276
Net Tonnage: 106
Length: 125.6 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.8 ft
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Troon
Built: Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ayr

History

31.3.1919: Launched by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ayr (Yd.No.351) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as PATRICK CULLEN (Ad.No.4460).
1919: Sold to Henry Blackburn, Fleetwood.
21.6.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (Part I) as PATRICK CULLEN O.N.141949.
24.6.1919: Completed as a fishing vessel.
7.1919: Sold to The Brooklyn Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
2.8.1919: Registered at Fleetwood (Part IV)(FD220). Thomas Cardwell designated manager.
7.7.1921: Registered at Fleetwood as BRIARLYN (FD220).
9.2.1928: Sailed Fleetwood for West of Scotland and St. Kilda grounds (Sk. James Sandham); twelve crew.
15.2.1928: At night in very heavy seas, struck and grounded on one of the ledges in Soay Bay off the island of Soay and with vessel filling rapidly sent out distress call. Decided to beach the vessel in North Bay, Hirta, St. Kilda, and at about 1.00 am. took the ground, but with a full NW gale and heavy seas the position was hopeless. Distress picked up by wireless operator R. W. O. Ridley (23) of steam trawler CUIRASS (FD220) (Sk W. Brewster) which responded. All the crew succeeded in launching the dinghy and four of the crew, William Reader, William Howarth, Michael Brady and Michael Durig managed to get in but unfortunately the painter was let go and they drifted away. With the oars lost on launching they were helpless. On arrival in the Bay and with great skill and seamanship these men were picked up by CUIRASS. Eight men * remained on board and CUIRASS made two attempts to reach the wreck, manning first the dinghy and then their own boat, but the wind and sea were high and both attempts failed.
16.2.1928: CUIRASS stood by until daybreak but by then only 15ft of the mainmast and about 6ft of the mizzen mast could be seen. Search was continued for the eight men but no one was found. With wind rising to a gale, left the area for shelter. Islanders searched the cliffs and rocks in the vicinity but there was no trace of the remainder of the crew.
17.2.1928: CUIRASS returned to wreck and continued search, but without success and reluctantly left the area.
17.2.1928: Survivors arrived Fleetwood in steam trawler EDWARD CATTELLY (FD204).
1.3.1928: Fleetwood registry closed “Total loss”.

(Lost* all Fleetwood unless stated – Sk. James Sandham, Newton-le-Willows; Daniel G. Reader, Mate; A. E. Impett, Blackpool, Bosun; Henry Clarke, Ch.Eng; Bert Beavers, 2nd Eng; G. Waugh; J. Larne, Preston and George Haigh, deckhands; William Jackson, Blackpool, fireman.)

(Patrick Cullen, Landsman, age 20, b. Dublin – ROYAL SOVEREIGN (SB630))

Click to enlarge image

Capt. W. Brewster

Capt. W. Brewster
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

Changelog
17/05/2012: Page published. 5 updates since then.
08/07/2016: Information updated.
01/01/2016: Information updated.
02/02/2019: Information updated and image added.

S.T. Daily Mirror FD71

Technical

Admiralty Number: 4294
Official Number: 143471
Yard Number: 410
As built: 360disp 125.6 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Completed: 1919
Gross Tonnage: 286
Net Tonnage: 109
Length: 125.5 ft
Breadth: 23.5 ft
Depth: 12.7 ft
Built: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith
Speed: 10.5 knots

History

18.3.1919: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley (Yd.No.410) (“Castle” class) for The Admiralty as Egilias Akerman (Ad.No.4294).
13.11.1919: Completed as a fishing vessel.
1.1920: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Boston. Renamed KESTEVEN (BN146). Fred Parkes designated manager.
1923: Sold to Victor Fourney, Boulogne.
1923: Boston registry closed.
1923: Registered at Boulogne as IMPRÉVU (B789).
10.06.1925: Towed into Plymouth by the French steam trawler PROFESSEUR BERGONIÉ after damaging her propeller on a sunken wreck.
1930: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Fleetwood.
3.1930: Boulogne registry closed.
17.3.1930: Registered at Fleetwood as DAILY MIRROR (FD71). Fred Parkes, Blackpool designated manager.
21.11.1932: Landed at Fleetwood, 600 boxes of herring for only 15 hrs fishing.
5/6/7.1933: Chartered by Italian Government to provide support for a trans Atlantic flight involving 20 to 30 aeroplanes (Gen. Italo Balbo).
1934: Sold to Thomas L. Devlin & Sons, Granton (Thomas L. Devlin, manager).
26.5.1934: Fleetwood registry closed.
5.1934: Registered at Granton as COMPUTATOR (GN42).
22.11.1936: Ran ashore at the back of the west pier Granton while returning from the fishing grounds in dense fog. Refloated without assistance and undamaged but will by dry-docked in Leith as a precaution.
27.3.1937: Stowing gear for trip home in heavy weather 100 miles ENE of Buchan Ness (Sk. David R. Liston), three crew washed overboard and drowned*.
03.05.1937: Homeward from the fishing grounds in dense fog, stranded four miles north of Buchan Ness, refloated on next tide. Later dry-docked at Leith for examination.
06.10.1937: Landed 660 eight stone boxes of iced trawled herrings at North Shields which made 6s down to 4s per box.
30.8.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (P.No.FY.635) (Hire rate £89.7.6d/month).
6.1941: Based Portland with M/S Group 49 (Ch Sk. C. W. H. Shearing RNR). 1942: Transferred to Thomas L. Devlin & Sons Ltd, Granton (T. L. Devlin, manager).
21.1.1945: Foundered after collision with HMS VANOC (P.No.H33) in Seine Bay, Normandy.

(Egilias Akerman, AB, age 26, b. Brussels, Belgium – ROYAL SOVEREIGN (SB163))

(* Thomas Wood (40), 2nd Fisherman; James Rennie (22), deckhand, Newhaven and E. I. Peebles (21), trimmer, Leith)

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Daily Mirror FD71

S.T. Daily Mirror FD71
Picture courtesy of The Emiel Rycx Collection

Changelog
14/05/2012: Page published. 7 Updates since then.
05/10/2015: Picture added.
24/12/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
04/03/2020: Information updated.