WILLIAM WATKINS LIMITED
FLEET LIST
MANAGED TUGS
Page last updated 3-4-2013
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During World War One so many of Watkins tugs were taken up for war service by the Government that a shortage of suitable tugs arose on the River Thames. The following vessels were chartered to overcome this problem.
LIBERIA: GLEN ROSA: NESTOR: SCHELDE: THAMES:
For details of above vessels see in William Watkins Limited Alphabetical Fleet Lists.
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THE FOLLOWING VESSELS WERE PLACED UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF WILLIAM WATKINS LIMITED BY THE MINISTRY OF WAR TRANSPORT 1939 - 1945;
ASSIDUOUS W142
Built 1943 by Cochrane and Sons, Selby. Screw Tug, Assurance Class. L156'8''. B33'2''. D14'9''. 597grt. 1350ihp 3cylTE 17"x28"x46"x33"s steam engine by C D Holmes and Co., Hull. Oil fired boiler by Holmes 16'dia by 11.5'. Bunkers [oil] 240 tons. Consumption 0.8 tons per hour. Speed 13 knots. BP 13.5 tons. Official No. 169321. Pennant No. W142. Armament 1x3" AA, 2x20mm AA, 2xMG. Complement 31.
23-2-1943 Laid down for The Admiralty. 4-6-1943 Launched. 5-10-1943 Completed. 1943-1945 Managed by Watkins as an Atlantic convoy rescue tug. 2-3-1944 Departed Gibraltar with convoy MKS41G. 3-3-1944 RV with convoy SL150. 14-3-1944 Arrived Liverpool. 6-1944 Present at D-Day landings towing Mulberry harbour units. 5-7-1944 Departed Seine Bay as part of convoy FTC27 towing Westdale [424/11]. 6-7-1944 Arrived Southend. 6-1944 Towed LST981 Southampton to Nore. 1-9-1944 Departed Seine Bay as part of convoy FTC85 towing Cragside [496/35]. 2-9-1944 Arrived Southend. 27-1-1945 Departed Cowes to join up with Liverpool to Gibraltar convoy OS107/KMS81 as rescue tug. 1946 Dockyard tug, Singapore. 14-2-1946 Towed submarine U-862 [Japanese I-502] from Singapore to 03.05N. 100.38E [Malacca Strait] for scuttling.1946 Assisted laying pipeline for Dutch Shell Oil Co, at Miri, Borneo. 27-10-1946 Towed [with HM tug Griper] damaged Japanese cruiser Takao from Singapore to 03.0.05N 100.41E [Malacca Strait] for scuttling. 1947 At Trincomalee. 1953 At Gibraltar. 2-7-1958 Advertised for disposal, lying Gibraltar. 10-9-1958 Sold to J D Irving Ltd, St. Johns, NB, Canada. 1961 Renamed Irving Tamarack. 1969 Sold to Canadian breakers.
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ATTIGNY
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Built 1944 by Puget Sound Shipbuilding Company, Olympia, Washington. YN17 V3-S-AH2 Wood screw tug. L148'. B33.5'. D16.8'. 557grt. 1000ihp 3cyl 12"x20"x33"x24"s TE steam engine by Franklin Machine and Foundry Co, Providence RI.
8-1944 Completed for United States War Shipping Administration named Secure. 8-1944 Bareboat chartered to Ministry of War Transport, London renamed Attigny and management allocated to William Watkins Ltd. London. 1945 Management transferred to Townsend Brothers Ferries Ltd. London 1947 Sold to Henry P. Lenaghan & Sons Ltd., Belfast, and renamed Lenaship. 1955 Scrapped at Portaferry, Co. Down.
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EMPIRE BETSY
Built 1943 by Cochrane and Sons, Selby. YN1280. Hoedic class standard tug. L105.2'. B26.6'. D12.2'. 274grt. 850ihp 3cylTE 15"x25"x42" 27" stroke 200psi oil fired steam engine by Amos and Smith Ltd., Hull. Bunkers 93 tons. Four bladed prop, 10' dia, 11.75' pitch. Speed 11 knots. Official No. 180248. Call sign MNNX.
14-12-1943 Launched for MoWT. 4-5-1944 Completed and handed over to William Watkins Ltd., London as Managers employed on coastal towing duties. 6-6-1944 Under COTUG control departed Portland escorting Corncob blockships to Normandy. 28-7-1944 Departed Newhaven to join convoy FTC50 ex Seine Bay. 29-7-1944 Arrived Southend. 27-8-1944 Departed Seine Bay with convoy FTC80 towing Empire Factor [450/44]. 28-8-1944 Arrived Southend. 12-9-1944 Taken into Admiralty service. 1945 Townsend Bros., London appointed Managers. 13-1-1945 Departed Antwerp with convoy ATM37. 14-1-1945 Arrived Southend. 12-2-1945 Damaged by LST at Ostend. 20-4-1945 Allocated to relieve Empire Piper in Iceland. 4-6-1945 Released from Overlord tug pool. 1946 Sold to NV de Bataafsche Petroleum Maats, Holland, renamed Soegio. 12-2-1948 Hit drifting mine and sank in position 02.36S 116.33E, in Macassar Strait, off Borneo.
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EMPIRE HUMPHREY
Built 1943 by Cochrane and Sons, Selby. YN1273. Screw Tug, Hoedic standard class. L105.2'. B26.6'. D12.2'. 274grt. 850ihp 3cylTE 15"x25"x42" 27" stroke 200psi oil fired steam engine by Amos and Smith Ltd., Hull. Bunkers 93 tons. Four bladed prop, 10' dia, 11.75' pitch. 11 knots. Official No. 169344. Call sign MGRG.
2-9-1943 Launched for MoWT. 21-12-1943 Completed and handed over to Pedder and Mylchreest Ltd., for onward delivery. 1944 William Watkins Ltd., London appointed managers. 6-1944 Departed Oban escorting Corncob blockships destined for Normandy beaches. 11-6-1944 Departed Seine Bay with convoy FBC1. 12-6-1944 Arrived Solent. 28-7-1944 Departed Newhaven with convoy FTC50. 29-7-1944 Arrived Seine Bay. 12-1944 Towed LC14 Boulogne to Thames. 22-12-1944 Released frpm duties at Boulogne. 13-1-1945 Departed Antwerp with convoy ATM37. 14-1-1945 Arrived Southend. 5-1945 Towed pontoon ex Ouistreham to Calais. 5-1945 Based Heysham to deal with increased tanker traffic. 4-6-1945 Released from Overlord tug pool. 30-8-1945 Taken over by Admiralty [SE Asia command] and delivered by Townsend Bros. to Bombay. 12-1-1946 Harbour tug in Batavia. 3-7-1946 Sold to Netherlands East Indies Government. 1947 Renamed Suus. 1950 Sold to NV Nederland Indonesia Steenkolen Handel Maats. 1959 Taken over by Indonesian Government. 1961 Renamed Laut Sawu. 2-1964 Transferred to Surabaya Port Authority. 2004 Still in service.
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EMPIRE JEAN
Built 1944 by Clelands [Successors] Ltd., Tyneside. YN73. Screw Tug, modified Englishman standard class. L137.1'. B33.1'. D14.5'. 593grt. 1275ihp 3cylTE 16.5"x28.5"x47" x30"s 120rpm oil fired steam engine by D Rowan and Co. Ltd., Glasgow. Boiler 16.5'diaxL12.5'. 215psi. Area 3575 sq.ft. Bunkers [oil] 340 tons. Four bladed prop, 11.25' dia, 11' pitch. BP approx. 14.5 tons. Official No. 169193. Call sign MNLQ.
30-12-1944 Launched as Empire Rosa for MoWT. 6-4-1945 Completed as Empire Jean handed over to William Watkins Ltd., London as managers. 15-4-1945 Towed barge Hern ex Leith to Hull. 5-1945 Towed SS Kent Coast ex Liverpool to Belfast. 5-1945 Towed SS Kent Coast ex Belfast to Dublin. 5-1945 Towed barges KLK20 & KLK52 ex Leith to Flushing. 6-1945 Towed barges Leslie and Queensland ex Liverpool to Plymouth. 6-1945 Towed SS Elkwood ex St Helier to Swansea. 6-1945 Towed barges Sligo & Bantry ex Avonmouth to Gravesend. 5-7-1945 Departed Antwerp with convoy ATM145. 5-7-1945 Arrived Southend. 1946 Sold to Metal Industries Ltd., Glasgow for £40,000. 30-8-1946 Renamed Metinda III. 1947 Metal Industries (Salvage) Ltd. appointed managers. 1961 Sold to Spanish Navy, renamed R.A.3. 1980 Renamed A.R.33. 10-1982 Scrapped at Cartagena.
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EMPIRE JOHN
See details in Watkins fleet list as also chartered vessel.
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EMPIRE MARTHA
Built 1945 by Cochrane and Sons, Selby. YN1301. Screw Tug, Stella standard class. L116'. B27.6'. D12.7'. 296grt. 508 displacement. 750ihp 3cylTE 12"x20"x33" 24" stroke oil fired steam engine by Franklin Machine and Foundry Corpn., Providence, RI, USA. Bunkers 130 tons. Four bladed prop. Official No. 180459. Call sign GSQZ
28-4-1945 Launched for MoWT. 8-10-1945 Completed and handed over to William Watkins Ltd., London as managers. 1946 Sold to James Contracting and Dredging Co., Southampton. 1947 Renamed Foremost 106. 1949 Sold to Remorquage Letzer SA, Belgium, renamed Georges Letzer. 1964 Rebuilt and reengined with 8cyl 4SCSA diesel engine by Klockner Humboldt Deutz. 1977 Owners restyled Union de Remorquage et de Sauvetage SA. 1981 Rebuilt and fitted with Kort Nozzle at Rupelmonde, Belgium. 1992 Sold to Northern Europe Shipping, Antwerp, renamed Hilde. 6-1994 Demolished by J Bakker, Brugge, Belgium.
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EMPIRE PIPER
Photog unknown
Built 1942 by Clelands [Successors] Ltd., Tyneside. YN65. Screw Tug, Warrior standard class. L107.8'. B26.2'. D12.5'. 250grt. 1000ihp 3cylTE 16.5"x27"x46"x30"s 110rpm coal fired steam engine by Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson, Newcastle. Boiler natural draught 16'dia x L11.5' 200psi. Coal cap. 140 tons. Four bladed prop, 11.33' dia, 13' pitch. 12 knots. Official No. 165836. Call sign MKZZ.
28-5-1942 Launched for MoWT. 14-8-1942 Completed and handed over to William Watkins Ltd., London as managers. Served in Iceland on naval duties. 24-8-1942 Departed Methil with convoy EN128. 26-8-1942 Arrived Loch Ewe. 31-8-1942 Departed Loch Ewe convoy UR39. 4-9-1942 Arrived Reykjavik. 24-5-1943 Towed small tanker Rudderman from Reykjavik to UK as part of convoy RU75. 28-5-1943 Arrived Loch Ewe. 26-7-1943 Departed Methil with convoy EN260. 27-7-1943 Arrived Loch Ewe.3-8-1943 Departed Loch Ewe convoy UR85. 7-8-1943 Arrived Reykjavik. 1945 Handed over to Townsend Bros. for delivery to Portsmouth. 6-1945 Towed barge Chamlet ex Hull to Gravesend. 26-11-1945 Released to port duties. 1946 Owner restyled as Ministry of Transport. 24-7-1946 Working for Admiralty and Risdon Beasley Ltd. 12-12-1946 Released from naval duties. 1947 Sold to John Cooper, Belfast, renamed Piper. 1954 Owners restyled as J. Cooper (Belfast) Ltd. 1963 Scheduled for conversion to motorship by T. Mitchison Ltd., but work was not undertaken.1969 John Cooper fleet taken over by R and J H Rea Ltd., London. 1970 Owners restyled Cory Ship Towage (Northern Ireland) Ltd. 6-1971 Sold to Northern Slipways Ltd., Dublin. 1971 Sold to A P Papayanis A E Greece, renamed Sotirios. 1984 Renamed Lalrion. 1987 Scrapped at Rafina.
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EMPIRE SPRUCE
Built 1942 by Richard Dunston Ltd., Thorne. YN T364. Screw Tug, Maple standard class. L92'. B20.5'. D8.4'. 129grt. 500ihp 3cylTE 12"x20"x32" 22" stroke 200psi steam engine by McKie and Baxter Ltd., Paisley. Coal 34 tons. Four bladed prop, 8.25' dia., 10' pitch. BP 5.75 tons. 10 knots. Official No. 168780. Call sign BDRB.
13-1-1942 Launched for MoWT. 31-3-1942 Completed and handed to Burns and Laird Lines Ltd., Glasgow, as managers. 1-4-1942 On naval duties. 9-1-1943 In collision with her warship tow at entrance to Gareloch, Firth of Clyde, almost cut in two and sank in 30 seconds with loss of four crew. . 23-2-1943 Salved and towed to Glasgow for repairs. 7-1945 William Watkins Ltd., London appointed managers. 1945 On coastal towing work. 9-1945 Dover Harbour Board appointed managers. 20-11-1945 Taken into Naval service. 3-1947 Permanently allocated to the Admiralty. 29-8-1947 Renamed Emulous. 1958 Stranded 1 mile east of Dover, refloated by tug Blankenburg. 25-3-1958 Sold to H G Pounds, Portsmouth. 1961 Sold to J D Irving Ltd., Canada, renamed Irving Oak. 1961 RE-Engined with 16cyl 2SCSA Vee oil engine made 1945 by General Motors Corp., Ohio, USA. 1980 Managers Atlantic Towing Co Ltd., St. Johns NB, 30-8-1991 Scuttled off Newfoundland in position 42.13.02N 64.36.09W.
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EMPIRE STELLA
Built 1945 by Cochrane and Sons, Selby. YN1298. Screw Tug, Stella standard class. L116'. B27.6'. D12.7'. 325grt. 508 displacement. 750ihp 3cylTE 12"x20"x33" 24" stroke oil fired steam engine by Franklin Machine and Foundry Corpn., Providence, RI, USA. Bunkers 130 tons. Official No. 180448. Call sign GBKK.
16-3-1945 Launched for MoWT. 17-8-1945 Completed and handed over to Pedder and Mylchreest Ltd. for delivery. 1945 William Watkins Ltd., London appointed managers. 19-11-1945 Passing Lizard, westbound. 30-12-1945 Departed Weymouth, towing two barges ex Falmouth for Gravesend. 1-1-1946 Serious damage following boiler explosion in Thames Estuary, near Kentish Knock buoy, due to lubricating oil entering boiler. Four crew killed, several missing and others injured. Amongst injured was Herbert Parkes, fireman from Hull. Killed were W Eccleston, fireman; A Draper, fireman; R Howard, deckhand. Missing included J Eccleston, C/Eng; G Noake 2nd/Eng. R Root, deckhand; J Brown, steward. Survivors, including Capt Woolnough, were eventually taken off the drifting tug by trawler Marie Louise. Towed to Hull and laid up. 1-5-1946 Sold for £15,000 to United Towing Co. Ltd., Hull. 4-9-1946 Renamed Serviceman. 9-1946 Re-engined with 3cylTE oil fired 750ihp steam engine by A Hall and Co., Aberdeen, originally built for Empire Keith which was broken up on stocks. 7-1961 Re-engined with 6cyl 2SCSA 1575bhp British Polar Diesel engine. 1969 Sold to Rimorchiatorri Sardi Spa Italy, renamed Poetto. 2009 Still in service.
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EMPIRE SUSAN
See under RUMANIA [3] in Watkins Fleet List.
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EMPIRE WINNIE
See under ZEALANDIA [2] in Watkins Fleet List.
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EMPIRE WOLD
Photo courtesy Joe Koblinski, Baton Rouge, USA
Built 1942 by J Crown and Sons Ltd, Sunderland. YN203. Screw Tug, Warrior standard class. L107.8'. B26.2'. D12.5'. 269grt. 1000ihp 3cylTE 16.5"x27"x46"x30"s 110rpm coal fired steam engine by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd., Newcastle. Boiler natural draught 16'dia x L11.5' 200psi. Bunkers 140 tons. Four bladed prop, 11.33' dia, 13' pitch. 12 knots. Official No. 169021. Call sign BDQL.
24-3-1942 Launched for MoWT. 10-6-1942 Completed and handed over to William Watkins Ltd., London as managers. 11-7-1942 Departed Milford Haven with convoy WP185. 13-7-1942 Arrived Portsmouth. 7-8-1942 Departed Methil with convoy EN121. 9-8-1942 Arrived Loch Ewe. 10-8-1942 Departed Loch Ewe convoy UR36. 15-8-1942 Arrived Reykjavik. 10-8-1943 Departed Iceland in Reykjavik-Loch Ewe convoy RU85. 14-8-1943 Arrived UK. 14-10-1943 Departed Loch Ewe convoy UR94. 18-10-1943 Arrived Reykjavik. 10-11-1944 15:12GMT. Departed Reykjavik, Iceland to assist torpedoed British tanker Shirvan which was part of UK to Reykjavik convoy UR142. Tug and crew never seen again. Records list her as having been sunk by German submarine U300 in position 64.08N 22.38W, 3nm from Skagi Lighthouse, along with the Shirvan and another vessel. However German records never claimed her as a U boat victim and it is now thought she may have been overwhelmed by the heavy weather prevelant at the time. The tug was last seen by the escort trawler Honningsvaag in approximate position 040º 3 miles from Skagi Light at 1800 GMT proceeding in a westerly direction with navigation lights burning. An air search found a quantity of oil in position 64.29N 23.04W. Vessel presumed sunk in this position.
5-2018 The Icelandic Coast Guard released the news that they had located and filmed the wreck of Empire Wold approximately one hours steaming time from Reykjavik. After sonar found the wreck on the seabed – some distance from the tug’s last reported position – a submersible was sent down to inspect the vessel and reveal its identity.The coastguard team found no signs of any explosion and, having consulted contemporary weather reports from 1944, determined that the tug probably foundered in heavy seas and 40-knot winds.As the last resting place of Royal Navy sailors, the wreck is now protected by law and its precise location is not being revealed by the Icelandic authorities.
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Courtesy Peter Draper
Courtesy Peter Draper.
Courtesy Peter Draper
Courtesy Peter Draper
Courtesy Peter Draper
Courtesy Peter Draper.
The photos below were kindly sent to me by Thorunn Green, daughter of Oswin Green who was lost in the tragedy. They are stills from the coastguard video. I have translated the titles from Icelandic so any mistakes are mine but I suspect I will be corrected in due course. At the bottom I have attached three photos of a model of Empire Wold i made which may help to locate some of the pictures.
A present day [5-2018] view of the pier at Hvalfjordur. Iceland where Empire Wold and some of the other tugs were based. Photo Thorunn Green.
Empire Wold now an official War Grave
Anchor
Boiler safety valve
Boiler
Capstan
Coal bunkers with towing hook frame visible at top.
Forward Gun
Towing Hooks
Not known at present
Funnel
Top of rudder post
Top of engine
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Among those lost were:-
DRAPER, Henry William, MN [40] Master; FRYER, John Stanley MN [24] Mate; LIGHTFOOT, Edward Gordon, MN [44] Chief Eng; GREEN, Oswin Harry MN [25] 2/Engineer; MORRIS, John Henry MN, [21] Deckhand; OVERTON, Kenneth Harold John, MN [21] Deckhand; BURT, Edward William MN [21] Fireman; JEWISS, Richard John MN [21] Fireman; JEWISS, Walter John MN [17] Cook;
CLARK, Henry S, Stoker, RNPS: HACKNEY, Frank R, Act/Able Seaman (DEMS): MOODY, Tom, Seaman, RNPS: MORRIS, David J, Ty/Lieutenant, RNR, (Baldur, O/P): MUDD, William F, Stoker, RNPS : STEELE, Herbert E, Ordinary Signalman, RNPS: WIGGINS, William, Seaman, RNPS :
Merchant Navy Memorial, Tower Hill, London
Courtesy Kevin Haydon
Henry 'Harry' William Draper, acting Master, Empire Wold 1944. Photo courtesy Peter Draper.
Courtesy Peter Draper
Courtesy Peter Draper
Courtesy Peter Draper.
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FAIRPLAY ONE
Built 1911 by Janssen & Schmilinsky AG, Hamburg. YN522. Screw Tug. L103.4'. B22.6' 162grt. 3cylTE 12-4/5”, 20-1/5” 7 32-1/5” x 22”s steam engine by builder.
ON166573.
1911 Built as Fairplay X for Fairplay Schlepp-Dampfsch Reed, Hamburg. 11-8-1938 Transferred to Fairplay Towing and Shipping Co. Ltd., (Commonwealth Steam Tug Company Ltd., managers) London, renamed Fairplay One. Worked at Avonmouth. 9-1939 Req by Admiralty. 1940 William Watkins Ltd., London appointed managers. 5-1940 Made two crossings to Dunkirk, towing small craft. 31-5-1940 Amongst group of tugs ordered back to Dunkirk to bring home anything they could find. 7-6-1944 Departed Solent towing two pontoons for Normandy beachhead. [Convoy ETC22W]. 12-11-1944 Damaged aft by mine at Ostend. 12-1944 Towed to Grimsby for repairs by Empire Jester. 29-12-1944 Allocated to Bristol when repairs complete. 12-4-1945 Watkins relinquished management. 1950 Returned to Fairplay Richard Borchard, Hamburg, renamed Fairplay XX. 1951 Partly demolished by Theodore Buschmann, Hamburg, hull used as basis for new Fairplay I. 9-1954 Collided with Italia and sank. Salved. 2-2-1959 Sank assisting Solfonn. Salved. 1964 Sold to Augusta Impresa Maritime Spa, Palermo, renamed Duro. 1986 Sold for scrap at La Spezia.
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FOREMOST 22
Built 1924 by J Meyers Shipbuilding Co., Zalt-Bommel, Holland. Screw Tug. L100.4'. B27.2'. D12.2'. 195grt. 110nhp 900ihp 3cylTE 15"x25"x40" 27" stroke steam engine by H Beardmore and Co. Ltd., Coatbridge. Official No. 147740. Call sign GFJM.
9-1924 Completed for James Towing and Transport Co., Southampton. 1924 Sold to Newhaven Harbour Co. Ltd. 1926 Sold to Southern Railway Co. Ltd., still at Newhaven. 4-12-1931 Towed SS Versaille [rudder damaged] into Newhaven. 30-11-1932 Towed disabled Greek Tug Marigo Matsas into Newhaven. 13-2-1933 Towed collision damaged Russian SS Rosa Luxemburg stern first to Southampton. 20-11-1935 Towed motor barge Gertruda with engine trouble into Newhaven from off Beachy Head. 1940 William Watkins Ltd., London appointed managers. 1940 Took part in Dunkirk operation, towed damaged destroyer HMS Sharpshooter to Dover. Returned to Dunkirk to attempt to tow Rouen but almost stranded by ebbing tide. 3-6-1940 06.30 Landed 91 Dunkirk evacuees at Dover. 1945 Management relinquished by Watkins. 1948 Transferred to British Transport Commission, still at Newhaven. 3-11-1955 Towed collision damaged Dutch tanker Volharding from mid-channel and beached off Newhaven. 1961 Sold to Cantier Nav. Santa Maria Spa, La Spezia, renamed Terranova. 31-7-1978 Scrapped by Demolizione Decomar SpA, La Spezia.
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FOREMOST 87
Built 1935 by Scott and Sons Ltd., Bowling. YN329. Screw Tug. L88.4'. B24.6'. D9.6'. 163grt, 9nrt. 500ihp 3cylTE 13"x21"x35" 24" stroke 185psi steam engine by Aitchison and Blair Ltd., Clydebank. Official No 164503. Call sign MPKP.
1935 Ordered by James Contracting and Dredging Co. Southampton. 1-5-1935 Launched but sold before completion and delivered to London and North Eastern Railway Co. Ltd. PoR Hull. 18-4-1940 Req for Admiralty service, managed by William Watkins Ltd. 22-5-1940 Ordered to Calais, to force open bomb damaged lock gates. Assisted S.S. Katowice, S.S. City Of Christchurch and S.S. Williamstown whilst in Calais Harbour under constant air attack. 30-5-1940 At Dunkirk evacuation, assisted refloating damaged personnel carrier Prague in Dunkirk Harbour and escorted back across Channel and beached her. 31-5-1940 Returned to Dunkirk towing 2 sailing barges and returned. 2-6-1940 Returned Dunkirk towing 2 RNLI Lifeboats and returned with survivors from the hospital ship Paris. Landed a total of 100 men. Skipper J Fryer awarded DSO. 8-7-1940 Departed Southend with convoy CW2. 9-7-1940 Arrived Yarmouth Roads. 1945 Returned to owners. 1949 Owners restyled British Transport Commission, based Hull. 1-1-1963 Owners restyled British Transport Docks Board, Hull. 1969 Scrapped.
To hear a recording of Capt. J Fryer's experiences at Dunkirk please click HERE.
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LYNCH
Built 1924 by J Meyers Shipbuilding Co., Zalt-Bommel, Holland. YN477. Screw Tug. L110'. B27.2'. D12.2'. 211grt. 650ihp 3cylTE 15"x26"x40" 27" stroke 180psi steam engine by H Beardmore and Co. Ltd., Coatbridge. Official No. 148512. Call sign MNQY.
10-1924 Completed as Foremost 23 for James Towage and Transport Co., Southampton. 1926 Sold to Falmouth Docks and Engineering Co., Falmouth renamed Lynch. 1931 Sold to Falmouth Towage Co. Ltd. 7-1-1932 Passing Prawle Point towing SS Trevaylor to Falmouth. 23-10-1940 Req for Admiralty service. William Watkins Ltd., London appointed managers. 21-3-1941 Departed St Helens Roads with convoy CE28. 22-3-1941 Arrived Southend. 6-1944 On ammunitioning duties in Solent. 6-1944 Towed LCIL386 Portsmouth to Plymouth. 10-6-1944 Towed Whale unit to Mulberry A. 13-6-1944 21.00 Arrived Mulberry A towing Whale Unit 535/N2. 12-8-1944 Departed Seine Bay with convoy FBC52 towing Kaida [510/02]. 14-8-1944 Arrived Bristol Channel. 22-12-1944 Released from duties at Boulogne and allocated tp Dieppe to release Empire Pixie. 27-4-1945 No longer required at Dieppe. 21-6-1945 Allocated to relieve Empire Silas at Dieppe. 1945 William Watkins Ltd relenquished management. 25-4-1946 Returned to owners. 24-10-1968 Sold for scrap to Haulbowline Industries, Cobh.
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SECURITY
See ELLIOTT S T Co. Fleet List
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