MULBERRY HARBOUR
BRITISH, FRENCH AND DUTCH TUGS
The following named vessels took part in the various operations concerned with the construction and operation of the Mulberry harbours. This concerns vessels used for river or coastal towage of the various components, cross-channel tows, tugs in the 'Overlord' tug pool, or those controlled by COTUG. As in the Dunkirk section of this site, for the sake of completeness I have listed vessels other than those based on the River Thames. Thames based vessels have their name shown in blue, with a guide as to where their details may be found elsewhere on this site. Details of other tugs will be expanded in due course.
page last updated 10-3-2019
ABEILLE 20
French Commercial tug. Allocated SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1924 by J.P. Rennoldson & Sons, South Shields. L107.2'. B23.1'. D13.5'. 179grt. 550ihp 3cylTE 12.25"x21"x33"x24"s 180psi steam engine by builder. ON167845 Callsign MKBD.
11- 1924 Delivered to Cie de Remorquage et de Sauvetage Les Abeilles, Le Havre. 1940 Req by Ministry of War Transport, managed by Overseas Towage & Salvage Co Ltd, Southampton. 7-6-1944 Under repair at Portland. Later towed Whale units to Mulberry B. 6-1944 On port service at Southampton. 3-8-1944 Departed Seine Bay in convoy FBC44. 4-8-1944 Arrived Falmouth. 7-9-1944 Departed St Helens Roads in convoy WDC2. 8-9-1944 Arrived Dieppe. 12-1944 Allocated as harbour tug, Le Havre. 1945 Returned to owners. 1957 Sold to Loucas Matsas & Sons Shipping Co Ltd, Piraeus , renamed Aghios Nicholaos. Re-engined with 500bhp 6cyl MAN Diesel. 1966 Still in service.
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ABEILLE 21
French Commercial tug. Allocated to SNO Portland to tow Bombardon units.
Built 1925 by J.P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd., South Shields. YN 325. L117'. B26'7". D12'11". 260grt. 4nrt. 1100ihp 3cylTE 16.5"x27"x44"x30"s 180psi steam engine by builder. ON144010. Callsign GMQV.
3-1925 Delivered to Cie de Remorquage et de Sauvetage Les Abeilles, Le Havre. 3-7-1940 Seized at Swansea. 19-8-1940 Req by UK Ministry of War Transport, managed by Overseas Towage & Salvage Co Ltd., London for coastal towing duties. 1940-1943 Based at Swansea. 6-1943 Based at Stranraer. 6-1944 Towed Grab dredger No36 Milford to Plymouth. 20-6-1944 Departed Solent towing HMS Ulster to Cardiff. 23-6-1944 Arrived Cardiff. 14-9-1944 Transferred to Admiralty service as rescue tug. Based on River Clyde. 14-9-1944 Joined convoy EBC101 ex Solent for Seine Bay. 20-12-1945 Returned to owners.
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AJAY
Thames lighterage launch tug
Built 1938 by T. van Duijvendijk, Lekkerkerk. YN 25. L45'. B12.5'. D5'.
1938 Delivered to A.J. Ardley & Sons Ltd., London. 18-7-1942 Req by MoWT, managers Ross & Marshall Ltd., Glasgow. 194? Transferred to War Office service. 1943 Based at Garlieston Harbour, Scotland, where it was involved in the development of the various prototypes of the Mulberry Harbour. 31-12-1945 Returned to owners. 1963 Re-engined 120bhp 6LX Gardner diesel No 134777. 1971 Sold to Ajay (Marine) Ltd., Felixtowe. Company acquired by Allantone Supplies Ltd., Felixstowe.
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ALLEGIANCE W50
Photog unknown
British RN Tug. Allocated SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1943 by Cochrane & Sons Ltd., Selby. Assurance class. L156'6". B35'. D16'6 630grt. 1350ihp 3cylE oilfired engine by C D Holmes Ltd, Hull. Bunkers 250 tons. BP13.5T.
6-1943 Delivered to UK Admiralty. 10-6-1943 at Greenock. 6-1943 Rescue tug in convoy Loch Foyle to Gibraltar. 12-1944 Towed 2 barges Boulogne to Le Havre. 12-1944 Towed MoWT Crane 13 Southampton to Arromanche, 12-1944 Towed MoWT crane 11 Arromanche to Southampton. 12-1944 Towed Pierhead 419 Arromanche to Portsmouth. 12-1944 Towed LC2 Le Havre to Portsmouth. 5-1945 At Falmouth. 26-5-1945 Appointed rescue tug at Cuxhaven. 1945 Chartered to Whampoa Dockyard Co Ltd Hong Kong. ON 191430, c/s VRKS. 1949 Renamed Allegiance 2. 7-1954 Chartered to Honkong and Whampoa Dockyard Co, Hongkong. [ Managers Mollers Towages]. 9-1954 Renamed Kowloondocks. 30-8-1962 Cast off tow of SS Sletholm in heavy weather whilst on passage Shanghai to Hongkong. 1-9-1962 Foundered approx 100 miles from Hongkong in typhoon Wanda with only one survivor.
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ANTIC W141
Photo A Hughes colln
British RN Tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units
Built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd., Selby. Assurance class tug. L156'6. B35'. D16'6". 630grt. 1350ihp 3cylTE oil fired engine by C D Holmes Ltd., Hull. Bunkers 250 tons. BP13.5T.
24-3-1943 Launched for UK Admiralty, named Ant. 26-6-1943 Delivered UK Admiralty,re- named Antic 1943 Loaned to Dutch Navy managed by L. Smit & Co's Internationale Sleepdienst. 1946 Transferred to UK Ministery of Transport, managed by J.D. McLaren & Co. ON 169288, c/s MWDW. 26-1-1948 Transferred to UK Royal Navy as tender to HMS Excellent. 1956 Transferred to CD Portsmouth. 1959 Transferred to Portland. 1959 Transferred to Rosyth 12-11-1969 Sold for scrap to Hughes Bolckow Shipbreaking Co Ltd, Blyth. 14-11-1969 Towed to Blyth by tug Ironsider.
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ARCADIA
See in William Watkins fleet lists.
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ARROMANCHES
A mystery at the moment although definitely mentioned as a tug in the log of Empire Jonathan off the beaches on June 23rd 1944. Research ongoing!!
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ASSIDUOUS
Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.See under William Watkins, managed tugs section.
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ATTENTIF W68
French Naval Tug. Allocated SNO Portland for towing Bombardons.
Built 1938 Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde, Bordeaux. L114.75’. B27.75’. 672grt. 1000ihp 3cylTE steam engine. Armament 1x20mm AA, 2xMG.
1938 Delivered to French Navy. 19-6-1940 Arrived Plymouth. 3-7-1940 Seized and Req by RN. 9-1940 Based Devonport. 10-1940 Based at Aberdeen. 1-1941 Based at Milford Haven. 2-1941 - 1942 Based Aberdeen. 1942 - 1944 Based at Harwich. 5-1944 - 1945 Based Portsmouth. 6-1944 Towed 30ton crane 1206 Cardiff to Plymouth. 5-6-1945 Released from Overlord tug pool. 7-8-1945 Returned to French Navy, pennant A671. 1946-7 Renamed Locmine. 6-3-1964 Laid up at Brest.
More detailed information regarding this vessel appears here
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BADIA
See under William Watkins fleet lists.
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BANDIT W69
Photog unknown
British RN Tug. Allocated SNO Selsey for towing Phoenix and Whale units.
[Although allocated no evidence has yet been found to suggest Bandit was involved in Mulberry towing ops. She seemed to spend most of the war based at Scapa Flow as a Home Fleet tug]
Built 1938 by Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley. YN 545. Brigand class tug. L175’. B34’. D17’. 840grt. 1190disp. 3000ihp 2x3cylTE oil fired steam engines. Twin screw. Single rudder. BP30T. Bunkers 390 tons Crew RN 43. Yard 30. Armament 1x3”AA, 1x20mm AA, 2xMG.
15-2-1938 launched. 5-1938 Delivered to the UK Admiralty. 9-6-1938 Commissioned at Chatham under Lt R H Johnson. 10-6-1938 Departed Chatham for Portland. 6-1938 Replaced St Cyrus as Home Fleet target towing tug. 1939 Fleet Target Service with Home Fleet. 5-11-1939: Bandit in harbour at Scapa Flow. 26-11-1939 Despatched ex Scapa to aid crippled submarine HMS Triad off Landesnes but recalled due to heavy weather. 10-1-1940 Left Ardrossan to stand by AMC Canton ashore off Barra Head. 13-1-1940 Arrived with AMC Canton at Rothesay Bay en route to River Clyde where Canton was deliberately beached in Holy Loch. 15-4-1940: Bandit ordered to assist SS Port Hunter and SS Queen Maud, part of convoy OA129 that had collided in English Channel. 18-4-1940 Towing HMS Suffolk off Torness, Orkney. 16-5-1940 Arrived Greenock after towing HMS Penelope from Skjelfjord to UK. 24-5-1940 Departed Scapa with HMRT Buccaneer with salvage gear aboard for Skjelfjord. 10-7-1940 Attempted salvage SS Alwaki torpedoed by U61 in convoy OA180 10 miles NE Cape Wrath but vessel later foundered. 26-11-1940 Despatched ex Scapa to aid crippled submarine HMS Triad off Landesnes but recalled due to heavy weather. 1-1941 At Scapa Flow under Lt A T Board. 2-1941 Took crippled destroyer HMS Boreas with boiler problems in tow off Dunnet head to Scapa. 1-1942 Based Scapa Flow under Ty/Lt J T Horsman. 10-7-1942 Departed Scapa for Fraserburg. 11-7-1942 Departed Fraserburg for Scapa towing BPT 48. 29-9-1945 At Rosyth. 20-7-1944 Departed Seine Bay in convoy FTC42. 21-7-1944 Arrived Southend. 1947 Renamed Briton, transferred to Simonstown. 17-1-1956 BDO Plymouth transferred to AS Devonport. 1958 Laid up Pembroke Dock. 20-4-1960 Sold to Jos de Smedt, Antwerp for scrap.
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British commercial tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey for towing Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1937 Cochrane & Sons Ltd., Selby. YN1192. L106.0'. B25.1'. D12.8'. 230grt. 850ihp 3cylTE 14.5"x26"x41"x27"s 210psi steam engine by C D Holmes Ltd., Hull. ON165694 Callsign GFGC.
21-10-1937 Launched. 1-1938 Delivered to United Towing Co Ltd., Hull, named Brahman. 26-8-1939 Req by RN, renamed Bat. Based at Rosyth. 1941 Despatched from Rosyth to assist HMS Kelly, damaged during evacuation of Norway. 6-1944 Towed 2 x LCT Portsmouth to Falmouth. 6-1944 Towed Timber Raft Solent to Mulberry B. 12-1944 Towed 2 hopper barges Arromanche to Portsmouth. 12-1944 Towed 1 Ham barge Southampton to Hull. 27-1-1945 Returned to owners, renamed Brahman. 1-1962 Sold to J H Piggott and Sons Ltd., Grimsby, renamed Lady Vera. 1963 Reengined 12cyl Mirrlees Bickerton & Day diesel. 1125bhp. 1969 Sold to W E White Ltd, London, renamed Lash White. 1973 Sold to Thames Services Ltd, Gravesend, renamed Turbulent. 2-1974 Scrapped by Van Hegen Freres, Bruges.
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BUCCANEER W49
Photog unknown
British RN tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
7-9-1937 Launched by Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley. YN 539. Brigand class tug. L175'. B34'. D17'. 840grt. 3000ihp 2x3cylTE oil fired steam engines. twin screw. single rudder. BP30t. Bunkers 390 tons. Crew RN43. Yard 30. Armament 1x3" AA. 1x20mm AA. 2xMG
1937 Delivered to UK Admiralty. 1939 Fleet Target Service tug with Home Fleet. Based variously at Stornoway, Campbelltown, Iceland and used on convoys to Murmansk as rescue tug. 11-2-1940 The tanker Imperial Transport, torpedoed by U53, broke in two, the forward section sank and destroyer Kingston tried unsuccessfully to tow the stern section, after which she stood by until tug BUCCANEER arrived. She tried three times, then other tugs arrived. On the 15th, destroyer Forester was detailed to join the damaged ship. She was relieved by destroyer Mohawk, which departed the Clyde on the 20th, and she in turn was relieved by escort vessel Gleaner. Forester and BUCCANEER arrived in the Clyde on the 22nd and four more days later, on the 26th, under the tow of tugs St Martin and Englishman and escorted by escort vessel Gleaner, Imperial Transport also reached the Clyde. She was beached in Kilchattan Bay on the Isle of Bute and later rebuilt. 9-11-1941 Tug badly damaged by German bombing off Montrose whilst towing battle practice target. 1-1-1942 Reported at Montrose ashore. 15-6-1944 17.00 Arrived at Mulberry A towing Phoenix Unit 59/A1. 20.20 Released.
17-7-1944 Departed Seine Bay in Convoy FTC39. 18-7-1944 Arrived Southend. 2--1944 Departed Seine Bay in Convoy FTC55. 3-8-1944 Arrived Southend. 26-8-1946 Whilst towing target off Portland hit by 4.5 in dummy shell fired by destroyer HMS St James at range of six miles. Holed and sank slowly with no casualties. Crew taken off by destroyer.
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CHAMPION W35
French naval tug. Allocated to SNO Portland to tow Bombardons.
Built 1939 by Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde, Bordeaux. L114.75'. B27.75'. 672disp. 1000ihp 3cylTE steam engine. Armament 1x20mm AA. 4xMG.
1939 Delivered to French Navy. 19-6-1940 Arrived Plymouth. 3-7-1940 Seized and Req by RN. 7-1940 - 12-1940 Based at Devonport. 12-1940 - 3-1941 Based Dundee as rescue tug. 4-1941 - 1942 Based Leith. 1942 - 1944 Based Harwich. 5-1944 - 1945 Based Portsmouth. 6-1944 Towed 50ton crane 1240 Cardiff to Plymouth. 31-12-1944 Departed Antwerp convoy ATM25. 1-1-1945 Arrived Southend. 2-1945 Towed balloon barge ex Harwich to Gravesend. 2-1945 Towed piling barge ex Harwich to Royal Albert Dock. 13-4-1945 French requested return. 5-6-1945 Released from Overlord tug pool. 8-8-1945 Returned to French Navy, based Toulon. 30-3-1961 Condemned. 1962 Sold for scrapping at Toulon..
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CHARING CROSS
British commercial tug. Allocated to SNO Portsmouth to tow two barges from Littlehampton.
1913 Built by J.P. Rennoldson & Sons, South Shields. YN 282. L106'. B22'1". D13.5'. 153grt 67nrt. 700ihp 2cyl 20"x42"x27"s 180psi Compound steam engine by builder. ON128826. Callsign MBVP.
3-1913 Delivered to Tees Conservancy Commissioners, Middlesbrough, named Joseph Constantine. 2-5-1917 Req by UK Admiralty as rescue tug based Scilly Isles. 15-2-1919 Returned to owners. 24-5-1934 Sold to Tees Towing Company, Middlesbrough [£1500]. Renamed Charing Cross. 28-8-1939 Req by Admiralty for contraband service, later coastal towing for MoWT. 6-1944 On port service at Southampton. 7-6-1944 21.00 Departed Solent towing two pontoons. [Convoy ETC22W]. 12-1944 Towed LC20 ex Boulogne to Thames. 17-1-1945 Returned to owners. 22-8-1957 Sold to Lawson-Batey Tugs Ltd., Newcastle for £6,500, renamed Westsider. 1-1959 Chartered to Tyne Tugs Ltd., Newcastle. 1-1960 Sold to British Iron and Steel Corp for £1375 and scrapped by J J King Ltd, Gateshead.
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CHEERLY W153
US Naval tug operated by RN through lend/Lease agreement. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1943 by Levingston Shipbuilding Co., Orange, TX. YN311. L143'. B33'10". D13'6". 835disp. 2x GM 12-278A diesel-electric engines, single screw, 1,500 SHP .
Launched 23-7-1943. 18-1-1943 Delivered to US Navy as ATR-95. Made available to RN via lend/lease act. 18-1-1944 Commissioned by RN, renamed Cheerly. 26-6-1944 Departed Seine Bay in Convoy FTM19. 27-6-1944 Arrived Southend. 3-7-1944 Departed Seine Bay with Convoy FTC25. 4-7-1944 Arrived Southend. 30-8-1944 Departed Seine Bay with convoy FTC83. 31-8-1944 Arrived Southend. 18-12-1944 Departed Southend with convoy ON273 noted as rescue tug Gibraltar. 2-1946 Returned to US Navy. 1948 Sold for commercial service.
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CONTEST
Allocated SNO Portland for towing Bombardons. See Ship Towage pages.
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CRESTED COCK
See under Ship Towage [London] Ltd fleet list.
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DANUBE VI
Allocated SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units. See TC&D page.
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DESTINY W115
US Naval tug made available under lend/Lease act. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1942 by Defoe Shipbuilding Co., Bay City, Michigan. YN197 L160'. B36.1'. D14.7'. 556grt. 1900bhp 2x General Motors 12-278 V12cyl diesel engines. Electric drive. twin screw. Bunkers 186 tons.Speed 14 knots. ON172827 IMO5127413.
1942 Delivered to the US Navy named BAT-9. 1943 Transferred to the UK Royal Navy under lend/lease act, renamed Destiny. 1948 Sold to Moller's Towages Ltd., Hong Kong. 10-1948 Renamed Frosty Moller. 7-1950 Renamed Christine Moller. 23-5-1951 Sold to NV Holland, Haarlem, renamed Oceanus. 1952 Rebuilt by Holland Nautic, Haarlem. 6-1953 Sold to L. Smit & Co's Internationale Sleepdienst, Rotterdam, renamed Gele Zee. 1955 Modernised. 11-1963 Sold to Loucas Matsas & Sons, Piraeus, renamed Atlas. 1975 Sold to K.M. Corporation SA, Greece, renamed Atlas II. 1977 Transferred to Guilan Production Co, [Managers Sachinis Shipping], Piraeus. 2005 Still in service.
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DEXTEROUS W111
British RN tug operating as Dutch commercial vessel. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1942 by Cochrane and Sons Ltd., Selby. YN1247. Assurance class tug. L156'6". B35'. D16'6". 630grt. 1350ihp 3cylTE oil fired steam engine by C D Holmes Ltd., Hull. Bunkers 250 tons. BP13.5t. ON167032 Callsign MALJ
3-4-1942 Launched. 9-1942 Delivered to UK Admiralty. 3-1943 Chartered under Dutch flag to L. Smit &Co's Internationale Sleepdienst, Rotterdam, [managers J.D. McLaren & Co., Leith], as convoy rescue tug. 6-1945 Towed AFD37 Invergordon to Thames. 6-1944 Towed US DBR's Thames to Falmouth. 6-1944 Towed HMS Apollo Portsmouth to Tyne. 7-1945 Returned to UK Ministry of Transport. 23-1-1945 Sold to Overseas Towage & Salvage Co Ltd., London. 1957 Owners BP Tanker Co Ltd., London, renamed Zurmand. 1966 Owners Tsavliris Salvage & Towage Co Ltd., Piraeus. 1968 Renamed Nisos Ikaria. 1969 Scrapped at Perama.
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DONAU
Dutch commercial tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1910 by Wilton's Machinefabriek en Scheepswerf, Rotterdam. YN 217. L115.3'. B22.9'. D11.2'. 239grt. 500ihp 3cylTE 12.25"x20"x33"x25"s 180psi steam engine by builder. Callsign PDRN.
1910 Delivered to Internationale Sleepdienst Maatschappij, Rotterdam. 1912 Owners NV Sleepboot Donau, [O.A. Horstmann], Rotterdam. 1914 Req for Research service with Dutch Royal Marine. 1918 Returned to owners. 194? Req by UK Admiralty for war service. 9-6-1944 Departed Cardiff towing barges for Normandy beachhead, 2-1945 Towed barge E8 ex Richborough to Terneuzen. 23-2-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM73. 24-2-1945 Arrived Southend. 4-1945 Towed barges DC11 and DC20 ex Kings Lynn to Flushing. 11-4-1945 Departed Antwerp in cnvoy ATM121. 12-4-1945 Arrived Southend. 5-1945 Towed barge KLK28 ex Leith to Flushing. 1945 Returned to owners. 5-11-1945 Towed ex Southampton to Rotterdam by tug Schelde. 1-1946 Scrapped by Frans Rijswijk's Industriele Ondernemingen, Hendrik Ido Ambacht.
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DORIA
Used at Dungeness for pumping out Mulberry units. See Watkins fleet lists.
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DUNDAS
Photog unknown
British commercial tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1919 by De Groot & Van Vliet, Slikkerveer. L119'. B23.1'. D12.3'. 264grt. 750ihp 3cylTE 15"x24"x40.5"x24"s steam engine by H Versteeg, Hardinxveld. ON130129. Callsign MBFN.
1919 Delivered to NV Mij Atlantic [Baggermij L. Kalis & Co], Dordrecht, named Atlantic. 1925 Sold to Grangemouth & Forth Towing Co Ltd., Grangemouth, renamed Dundas. 21-10-1942 Requisitioned by RN for coastal towing, based Rosyth. 7-6-1944 21.00 Departed Solent towing 2 pontoons. [Convoy ETC22W]. 23-6-1944 Damaged and beached following collision with US vessel off Normandy beachhead. 7-1944 Salved from beach but believed subsequently scrapped.
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EBRO
Photog unknown
Dutch commercial tug under RN control but flew Dutch ensign. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1931 by NV Machinefabriek & Scheepswerf van P. Smit Jr., Rotterdam. YN 475. L116.6'. B24'. D12'. 268grt. 33nrt. 550ihp 3cylTE 12.5"x21"x35"x26"s 200psi coal fired steam engine by builder. Callsign PDUH.
2-1931 Delivered to NV Internationale Sleepdienst Maats., Rotterdam. 24-8-1939 Req by Dutch Navy. 17-5-1940 Evaded German control and sailed from Vlissingen to serve under Admiralty control. 1943 Serving at Garlieston, carrying out trials of Mulberry Harbour components. 17-6-1944 Departed Cardiff towing barges for Normandy beachhead. 4-1945 Towed Atjeh ex Clyde to Gravesend. 4-1945 Towed Atjeh ex Gravesend to Flushing. 25-4-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM135. 26-4-1945 Arrived Southend. 5-1945 Towed barge KLK51 ex Leith to Flushing. 5-1945 Towed balloon barge Elsie ex Terneuzen to Goole. 5-1945 Towed Lighter No3 ex Plymouth to Grimsby and tug Sparteolus ex Plymouth to Gravesend [tandem tow]. 28-5-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM168. 29-5-1945 Arrived Southend. 6-1945 Towed 2 concrete barges ex Gravesend to Flushing. 1945 Returned to owners. 11-8-1947 Converted to oil fired boiler by Niehuis & van de Berg. 11-1-1958 Ran aground assisting s.s. Lindekerk and foundered on the Banjaard near Westkapelle during storm. 13-1-1958 Declared CTL. 2-10-1986 Raised by Smit-Tak group sponsoring an organisation with a view to preservation and beached at Vlissingen. The attempt at restoration was to prove unsuccessful. 1989 Scrapped.
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EMINENT W116
US Navy tug made available to RN under Lease/Lend Act. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1942 Defoe Shipbuilding Co., Bay City, Michigan USA. YN198. L143'. B33'3". D13'6". 534grt. 783dwt. 1875bhp 2 x General Motors diesel engine. Electric drive. Twin screw. Bunkers 186 tons. Speed 14 knots.
12-8-1942 Launched. 14-9-1942 Completed for US Navy named BAT-10. 1942 Made available to RN under lease/lend act, renamed Eminent. 2-2-1943 Departed Gibraltar towing damaged HMS Marne. 25-2-1943 Arrived Swan Hunter, Tyneside with tow. 20-12-1943 at Glasgow. 1-1944 Duty rescue tug at Campbeltown. 1-1944 Rescue tug in convoy Loch Foyle - Gibraltar. 1-2-1944 Departed Gibraltar in convoy for Plymouth. 5-1944 Towing Phoenix units Thames to Dungeness. 6-6-1944 Towed Whale units Solent to Manvieux. Held off beaches for 36 hours. Later returned to UK picking up and towing US Coastguard vessel en route. 11-6-1944 Towing Whale units Solent - Normandy. 14-6-1944 At Lee-on-Solent. 15-6-1944 Towing Solent - Omaha beach. 17-6-1944 10.00 Arrived Mulberry A towing Phoenix unit 30/A1. 14.30 released. 18-6-1944 Towing Phoenix unit Selsey - Omaha beach. Stormbound with tow off beaches until 22-6-1944. 23-6-1944 At Lee-on-Solent for repairs. 29-6-1944 Towed Phoenix Selsey to Normandy. 2-7-1944 At Lee-on-Solent. 8-7-1944 Towing unit to Normandy but recalled due to E-boat activity. 7-1944 Commenced four weeks refit at Green and Siley Weir Ltd., Blackwall. 8-1944 Departed London for Methil and then to Iceland to tow floating dock but suffered severe fire in engine room in North Sea. Towed into Harwich by tug Lariat and later towed to East India Dock, London for repairs. 13-4-1946 Reverted to US Navy. 24-9-1946 Sold to China Merchants SN, Hong Kong, renamed Ming 105. 1949 Renamed Ming 305. 1949 Under control of CMSNC [Taiwan]. 1960 Sold to China Sea Salvage Affairs Committee, Kaohsiung. 1975 Deleted from Lloyds register.
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EMPHATIC W154
US Navy tug made available to RN under lease/lend act. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1943 by Levingston Shipbuilding Co., Orange, Texas USA. YN312. L143'. B33'10". D13'2". 534grt. 783dwt. 1500shp 2 x General Motors 12-278A diesel engines, electric drive single screw. Speed 13 knots. Crew 45. Armament 1 x 3" AA.
18-8-1943 Launched. 27-1-1944 Delivered to US Navy named ATR-96. Made available to RN under lease/lend act. 1946
returned to US Navy. 7-1948 Sold to Republic of the Philippines Navy, renamed BRP Ifugao [AQ-44]. 1979 Deleted from register.
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EMPIRE AID
Photog unknown
British commercial tug. Allocated to SNO Corncob, Oban, for towing/escorting Gooseberry's.
Built 1943 by Clelands (Successors) Ltd., Willington, Tyneside. YN69. Englishman class tug. L136'. B30.1'. D15.3'. 479grt. 1250ihp 3cylTE 16.5"x27"x46"x30"s oil fired steam engine by George Clark [1938] Ltd., Sunderland. Boiler dia 16.5'. Boiler length 12.5'. 215 psi. Heating surface 3,575sq.ft. 125rpm Prop Dia 11.5'. Pitch 10.75'. Bunkers 340 tons. BP15 tons. Speed 10 knots. ON169180. call sign MGQJ.
27-11-1943 Launched. 17-4-1944 Completed for MoWT. Managers Overseas Towage and Salvage Co Ltd., London. 6-6-1944 Allocated to tow/escort blockships in section 2 of operation corncob. 6-1944 Towed LST319 Portsmouth to The Nore. 18-6-1944 22.00 Arrived Mulberry A towing whale unit 660Z. 7-8-1944 Departed Seine Bay in convoy FTC60. 8-8-1944 Arrived Southend. 13-9-1944 Departed Southend in convoy ETC97. 14-9-44 Arrived Seine Bay. 26-2-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM76. 27-2-1945 Arrived Southend. 17-3-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM95. 18-3-1945 Arrived Southend. 5-1945 Towed 2 barges ex Greenock to Plymouth. 5-1945 Towed barges Mastiff and Peter ex Greenock to Plymouth. 5-1945 Towed SS Goimier? ex Dartmouth to Plymouth. 5-1945 Towed barges Mastiff and Peter ex Plymouth to Southampton. 5-1945 With Empire Harry towed SS James Harrod ex Deal to Sheerness. 6-1945 Towed LC17 ex Havre to Southampton. 9-1947 Towed tugs TID104 and TID105 from Liverpool to Tunis. 1952 Sold to Overseas Towage and Salvage Co Ltd., London, renamed Marinia. 1954 Sold to Kuwait Oil Co Ltd., London, renamed Huda. 1965 Sold to Hussain Hassan Deeb, Kuwait. 1967 Reported towed to Basrah minus boiler, engines and superstructure and considered by Lloyd's Register dismantled.
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EMPIRE BASCOBEL
hotog unknown
US tug made available by lend/lease act, operating as British commercial tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1919 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. Ltd., Elizabethport, New Jersey. YN 2136. L142'. B27.8'. D14.8'. 460grt. 1000ihp 3cylTE 17"x25"x43"x30"s oil fired steam engine by builder. ON168234. Callsign BCPZ.
30-8-1919 launched. 19-11-1919 Delivered to United States Shipping Board named Bascobel. 1920 Operated by France & Canada Oil & Transport Co., New York. 192? Operated by Gulf Coast Transportation Co., New Orleans. 193? Operated by Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co., Birmingham, Alabama. 1935 Owners restyled United States Shipping Board Bureau. 26-10-1936 Transferred to the US Maritime Commission. 12-7-1941 Transferred via lease/lend to the MOWT [ managed by Overseas Towage and Salvage Ltd] renamed Empire Bascobel. 1-5-1942 Departed Loch Ewe in convoy UR22. 5-5-1942 Arrived Reykkjavik. 4-6-1942 Departed Loch Ewe in convoy UR27. 9-61042 Arrived Reykjavik. 11-6-1942 Departed Reykjavik in convoy RU27. 15-6-1942 Arrived Loch Ewe. 23-6-1942 Departed Methil in convoy EN101. 25-6-1942 Arrived Loch Ewe. 26-6-1942 Departed Loch Ewe in convoy UR30. 1-7-1942 Arrived Reykjavik. 23-7-1942 Departed Tyne in convoy FN767. 24-7-1942 Arrived Methil. 24-7-1942 Departed Methil in convoy EN115. 26-7-1942 Arrived Loch Ewe. 27-7-1942 Departed Loch Ewe in convoy UR34. 31-7-1942 Arrived Reykjavik. 22-8-1942 Departed Methil in convoy EN127. 22-8-1942 Arrived Aberdeen. 24-8-1942 Departed Loch Ewe in Convoy UR38. 29-8-1942 Arrived back at Loch Ewe towing SS Lanark 1904/23. 31-8-1942 Departed Loch Ewe in convoy UR39. 4-9-1942 Arrived Reykjavik. 8-9-1942 Departed Reykjavik in convoy RU39. 10-9-1942 Arrived Reykjavik [Two freighters in this convoy returned to Reykjavik with problems so presumably tug was escorting them].14-9-1942 Departed Reykjavik in convoy RU40 for undisclosed destination. 16-6-1943 Departed Loch Ewe in convoy UR79. 20-6-1943 Arrived Reykjavik. 11-8-1943 Departed Loch Ewe in convoy UR86 towing barge Tintagel. 15-8-1943 Arrived Reykjavik. 23-9-1943 Departed Methil in convoy EN284. 24-9-1943 Arrived Scapa Flow. 26-11-1943 Departed Milford Haven in convoy WP437. 28-11-1943 Arrived Portsmouth. 6-1944 Towed LCT977 Portsmouth to Plymouth. 13-6-1944 20.10 Arrived Mulberry A towing whale unit 517/N1. 22.30 Released. 17-6-1944 22.15 Arrived Mulberry A towing whale unit 553/0. 22.50 Released. 12-1944 Towed pontoon Osborne Bay to Terneuzen. 2-1945 Towed barge Elsie ex Sheerness to Terneuzen. 16-2-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM67. 17-2-1945 Arrived Southend. 27-3-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM106. 28-3-1945 Arrived Southend. 11-4-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM121. 12-4-1945 Arrived Southend. 16-4-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM126. 17-4-1945 Arrived Southend. 4-1945 Towed 2 barges ex Kings Lynn to Flushing. 17-4-1945 Damaged in collision with HM ship. Sailed to Gravesend for repairs. 4-1945 Towed dredger Tilburian ex Gravesend to Flushing. 5-1945 Towed barges Henrietta and London ex Greenock to Gravesend. 6-1945 With Empire Belle towed dredger TIC10 ex Terneuzen to Tyne. 6-1945 Towed 2 concrete barges ex Gravesend to Flushing. 6-1945 Towed VIC51 ex Terneuzen to Hull. 1946 Returned to United States Maritime Commission. 1948 Renamed Bascobel. 1949 Sold to L. & B. Olsson., New York. 1954 Sold to Universal Tank Cleaning Corp., New York. 1958 Sold to Standard Tank Cleaning Corp., New York. 18-12-1961 Sank alongside hulk at Mariner's Harbour, New York. 15-1-1962 Declared a CTL. but salved and resold by insurers back to owners. 1962 Sold for scrap to New York shipbreakers. 1963 Reduced to a hulk, considered scrapped by LR. 1982 Still existing at Rossville, Staten Island. 1991 Derelict and semi-submerged at Rossville.
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EMPIRE BELLE
British commercial tug allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1943 by J Crown and Sons Ltd., Sunderland. YN211 Modified Warrior class tug. L105.9'. B30.1'. D12.4'. 257grt. 1000ihp 3cylTE 16.5"x27"x46"x30"s oil fired steam engine by Walker Bros. [Wigan] Ltd., Wigan. Boiler dia. 16'. length 11.5' 200psi ON180129. Callsign MDCN
13-10-1943 Launched. 3-2-1944 Completed for MoWT, Townsend Bros. Ferries Ltd., London, managers. 6-1944 Towed Sea Giant Portsmouth to Tilbury. 6-1944 Towed Euston Cross Tilbury to Grimsby. 14-6-1944 Towed Monarch to Portsmouth. 18-6-1944 09.50 Arrived Mulberry A towing whale unit 660Z. 11.15 released. 11-1944 Managers Overseas Towage & Salvage Co Ltd., London. 14-1-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM38. 15-1-1945 Arrived Southend. 6-4-1945 Allocated to relieve Empire Doris at Antwerp. 6-1945 With Empire Bascobel towed dredger TIC10 ex Terneuzen to Tyne. 21-6-1945 Released from COTUG to Director of Sea Towing. 2-8-1945 Transferred to UK Admiralty, dispatched to Bombay. 10-1945 Arrived Bombay. 16-11-1945 Sailed for Singapore. 31-5-1947 Permanently allocated to UK Admiralty. 1956 Renamed Elf. 1959 For sale 'as lies' at Singapore. 11-4-1960 Sold to Imprese Marittime Augustea SpA., Palermo for £17,300, renamed Mare Jonio. 20-4-1971 Sold to the Italian Navy renamed Ercole [ A 5388]. 1990 Scrapped.
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EMPIRE BETSY
Allocated SNO Corncob for towing Gooseberrys. See William Watkins/managed Tugs page.
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