MULBERRY HARBOUR
BRITISH, FRENCH AND DUTCH TUGS [3]Page last updated 11-3-2011
The following named vessels took part in the various operations concerned with the construction and towage of the Mulberry harbours, were in the 'Overlord' tug pool or came under control of 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.
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EMULOUS W138
US Navy tug made available under Lend/lease operating under White Ensign. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1943 by Camden Shipbuilding Co., Camden, New Jersey USA. Wooden hulled tug. L165'. B33'4". D15'6". 1360disp. 1875ihp 3cylTE oil fired steam engine. 2x watertube boilers. Bunkers 220 tons. Single screw. Armament 1x 3". 2x 20mm AA. Complement 32.
1943 Delivered to US Navy, named BATR18. 2-2-1944 Transferred to UK Admiralty under lend/lease act. 2-2-1944 Commissioned as HMS Emulous at Boston, Mass. 7-6-1944 Departed Thames following refit. 6-12-1944 Allocated as rescue tug, Nore command. 23-4-1946 Returned to US Navy, renamed BATR18. 1948 Sold for commercial service.
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ENVOY W165 [Later A165]
British RN tug.
 Photog unknown
Built 1944 by Cochrane and Sons Ltd., Selby. YN1281. Envoy class tug. L174'6". B36'. D17'. 762grt. 1625ihp 3cylTE oil fired steam engine. Bunkers 363 tons. BP16tons. Speed 13 knots. Complement 33. Armament 1x3in AA. 2x20mm AA. 4MG.
11-2-1944 Completed for UK Admiralty. 6-1944 Towed Whale units to Mulberry A. 24-6-1944 Towed Scylla to Solent. 1949 Civilian crew under RFA conditions. 1965 Sold to Loucas Matsas and Sons, Piraeus, renamed Matsas. 1969 Renamed Georgios L Matsas. 7-1973 Scrapped at Perama.
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EUSTON CROSS
Photog unknown
British commercial tug. Allocated to SNO Portsmouth to tow two British barges from Littlehampton.
Built 1924 by John I. Thornycroft & Co Ltd., Southampton. YN 1039. L106'. B24'2". D10'9". 226grt. 700ihp 3cylTE 13.5"x22"x35"x27"s 180psi steam engine by builder. ON115060. IMO5358995. Callsign SKGM later ZSGL later MMSK
14-10-1924 Launched. 11-1924 Delivered to South African Goverment Dept. of Railways & Harbours, Port Elizabeth named Sir William Macintosh. 1937 Sold to James Dredging, Towage & Transport Co Ltd., London. 1938 renamed Protea. 30-3-1938 Sold to Tees Towing Co Ltd., Middlesbrough for £10,000, renamed Euston Cross. 23-5-1944 Departed Tees towing Phoenix unit with Empire Sara. 25-5-1944 Arrived Southend. 27-5-1944 Arrived Dungeness, 'parked' Phoenix. 7-6-1944 Departed Lee-on-Solent towing bridge links. [Convoy ETC22W]. Made several more round trips to Normandy. 20-6-1944 Grounded in heavy seas off beaches. Towed back to Spithead by Empire Rupert. 26-6-1944 Left Spithead in tow of HMS Resolve enroute Southend. 3-7-1944 Departed Southend for Grimsby in tow of Empire Belle. 6-7-1944 Repairs commenced at Grimsby. 18-8-1944 Returned to service, carrying out various tows to beaches. 2-1945 Towed hopper barge ex Southend to Kings Lynn. 4-1945 Towed LCGM187 ex R. Tees to London. 15-7-1960 Sold to Loucas Matsas & Sons, Piraeus, renamed Thiseus. 1972 Renamed Ioannis Matsas. 1978 Renamed Thiseus. 1981 Scrapped in Greece.
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FAIRPLAY ONE
Allocated SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units. See William Watkins/managed Tugs page.
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FLAUNT W152
US Navy tug made available under lend/lease, operating under white ensign. Allocated to SNO Selsey for towing Phoenx and Whale units.
Built 1943 by Levingston Shipbuilding Co., Orange, Texas. YN289. L143'. B33'10". D13'2". 597grt. 1500shp. 2x General Motors GM12-278A diesel engines. Electric drive, single screw. Armament 1x3" gun. Complement 45.
30-6-1943 launched. 21-12-1943 Delivered to US Navy, named ATR-94. 21-12-1943 Made available to UK Admiralty under lease/lend and commissioned as HMS Flaunt. 6-1945 Return of vessel requested. 14-4-1946 Returned to US Navy, renamed ATR-94. 24-9-1946 Sold to China Merchants Steam Nav. Co, Shanghai, renamed Ming 102. Later renamed Ming 302. 15-1-1950 Transferred to China Merchants S. N. Co., Canton. 1986Transferred to Guangzhou Salvage Company. Canton renamed Sui Jiu 302. 1993 Deleted from registers.
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FREEDOM W139
US Navy tug made available under lend/lease, operating under White ensign. Allocated to SNO Selsey for towing Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1943 by Camden Shipbuilding Co, Camden, New Jersey, USA. Wooden hulled tug. L165'6". B33'4". D15'6". 850grt. 1360disp. 1875ihp. 3cylTE oil fired steam engine. 2x watertube boilers. single screw. Bunkers 220 tons. Armament 1x 3". 2x 20mm AA. Complement 32.
1944 Completed for US Navy, named BATR-19. 20-3-1944 Transferred to UK Admiralty under lease/lend, commissioned as HMS Freedom. 24-6-1944 Towing Glaisdale enroute for Immingham. 27-6-1944 Arrived Immingham. 4-1945 Towed SS Java [with tug Griper] ex Plymouth to Falmouth. 6-1945 Towed HMS Balsam ex Cardiff to Milford. 23-4-1946 returned to US Navy, renamed BATR-19. 1948 Sold to Foundation Maritime, Canada, renamed Foundation Frances. 195? Laid up in Fairview Cove, Halifax NS, and stripped. 1961 Still in Fairview Cove and semi-derelict. 1962 Considered scrapped.
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GOLIATH W121
Belgian commercial tug operating under Dutch ensign. Allocated to SNO Portland to tow Bombardons.
Built 1921 by SA des Forges & Chantiers de la Méditerranée, Le Havre. L131.3'. B28.6'. D13.9'. 340grt. 1200ihp 3cylTE 14.5"x23.5"x36.5"x27"s steam engine by builder. Callsign OLKV later OTGA later ORMC later MGRA
2-1922 Delivered to French Government, named L'etalon. 1925 Sold to SA de Remorquage à Hélice, Antwerp, renamed Goliath. 1-3-1930 Damaged following collision with SS Tamworth off Terneuzen. 8-1935 £650 award for assitance given to SS Eisenach following steamers collision with HMS Ramillies off Dover. 12-4-1936 Towed SS Eleni T into Rotterdam after steamer lost prop near N. Hinder L/V. 5-1940 Present at Dunkirk evacuation arriving UK with 183 evacuated troops. 6-1940 Req by UK Admiralty but managed by L. Smit & Co's Internationale Sleepdienst under Dutch ensign. 8-1940 - 10-1940 Based Campbeltown. 10-1940 - 3-1941 Based Milford Haven. 4-1941 - 5-1941 Based Falmouth. 10-1941[by] Based Colombo. 1943 - 1944 Based Aberdeen. 5-1944 Based Tilbury. 12-1944 Towed Pontoon from Osborne Bay to Terneuzen with Empire Bascobel. 6-1945 Returned to SA de Remorquage a Hélice, Antwerp and stationed at Vlissingen. 1958 Scrapped.
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GOOLE X
British commercial tug. Allocated to SNO Portsmouth to tow two barges from Littlehampton.
Built 1896 by J.P. Rennoldson & Sons., South Shields. YN 174. L110'. B21'3". D 13'6". 169grt. 475ihp 3cylTE steam engine by builder. ON104213. Callsign PNJL later MQWR.
10-1896 Delivered to Goole & Hull Steam Towing Co Ltd., Goole. 1908 re-boilered. 4-12-1914 Req by UK Admiralty. 21-1-1920 Returned to owners. 1935 reboilered. 5-1941 Req by UK Admiralty. 7-6-1944 Arrived Mulberry B towing ammo barges ex Littlehampton. 10-6-1944 Allocated as local rescue tug Solent area. 12-1944 Towed 2 barges ex Southampton to Thames. 12-1944 Towed barges FB140 and FB159 ex Gravesend to Harwich. 4-1945 Towed barges Riga and Baronet ex Plymouth to Gravesend. 4-1945 Towed E boat ex Southampton to Plymouth. 4-1945 Towed 2 insulated barges ex Plymouth to Gravesend. 5-1945 Towed 2 barges ex Plymouth to Gravesend. 5-1945 Towed barges Grace and Ruby ex Plymouth to Gravesend. 6-1945 Towed tug Sedgemoor and DC45 ex Cardiff to Kings Lynn. 6-1945 Towed barge Linnet ex R. Tyne to Gravesend. 14-4-1946 Returned to owner. 13-5-1948 Sold to Edmund Handcock (1929) Ltd., Cardiff, renamed Falcon. 1958 Scrapped by by John Cashmore Ltd., Newport Mon.
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GRIPER W112
British RN tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1942 by Cochrane and Sons Ltd., Selby. YN1248. Assurance class tug. L156'7". B22'2". D14'9". 630grt. 3cylTE oil fired steam engine by C D Holmes Ltd., Hull. BP13.5t. 13 knots. ON179938
23-12-1941 Keel laid. 16-5-1942 Launched. 9-10-1942 Delivered to UK Admiralty. 18-8-1943 Assisted towing Amercan liberty ship J Pinkney Henderson on maiden voyage and laden with Magnesium, Wax, Resin and Oil, which had collided with laden tanker J H Senior loaded with aviation spirit off Newfoundland. . Both vessels burst into flames, only a total of 9 crew surviving from both vessels. 31-8-1943 Arrived towing J Pinkney Henderson at Sydney, Nova Scotia where vessel burnt for another three weeks. 4-1945 Towed AFD67 Milford to Falmouth. 4-1945 Towed SS Java [with tug Freedom] ex Plymouth to Falmouth. 4-1945 With Empire John towed aft end SS Empire Portia ex Cowes to Mumbles. 4-1945 Towed HMS Lydd ex Cardiff to Milford. 20-4-1945 Allocated for tropicalization on R. Thames. To be relieved at Milford by Freedom. 1946 based Singapore. 27-12-1946 With Assiduous towed Japanese heavy cruiser Takao from Selatar to Straits of Malacca for scuttling. 1946 Sold to Nederlandsch-Indische Steenkolen Handel Maatschappij. 1962 Renamed Surabajah. 1962 Sold to Perusahaan Negara Tundabara, renamed Selat Surabajah. 1-1966 Class suspended [overdue surveys]. 196? Believed scrapped.
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GROWLER W105
 Photog unknown
British RN tug. Allocated to SNO Corncob, Portland, specifically to tow obsolete French warship Courbet along with Samsonia. Later towed Phoenix units.
Built 1942 by Henry Robb Ltd, Leith. YN328. Bustler class tug. L205'. B38'8". D17'7". 1120grt. 3020bhp. 2x 8cyl Atlas Polar M48M diesel engines. Single screw. BP 30t. 16 knots. ON181186. IMO5387532. Callsign MLBR. Armament 1x3"AA. 1x2pdr AA. 2x 20mm AA. 4xMG. Complement 42.
31-1-1942 Keel laid. 10-9- 1942 Launched. 16-3-1943 Delivered to UK Admiralty and employed as convoy rescue tug. 12-1944 Towed AFD38 and Compressor barge Gt Yarmouth to Harwich. 2-1945 Towed damaged SS Fort Lac Laronge ex Cardiff to Appledore for beaching. 27-4-1945 Allocated to Plymouth to relieve Freedom. 16-5-1945 Released for towage of Asturias from Gibraltar with HMT Reward. Relieved by Thames. 1946 Based Singapore. 14-2-1946 Towed Japanese submarine I501 [ex U181] from Singapore to Malacca Strait for scuttling. 4-1947 Refitted at Glasgow and Chartered to Moller Towages Ltd., Hong Kong, renamed Caroline Moller. 5-1952 Re-chartered by Moller to Hong Kong Salvage & Towage Co Ltd., renamed Castle Peak. 1954 Returned to UK Admiralty, re-renamed Growler (pennant A 111). 3-1958 Chartered by United Towing Co Ltd., Hull renamed Welshman. 23-10-1963 Returned to Admiralty service at Devonport, renamed Cyclone (pennant A 111). 1977 Laid up at Gibraltar 16-4-1983 Sold to Eagle Tugs Ltd., Georgetown, Cayman Islands, based Mombasa, renamed Martial. 30-1-1985 Arrived Gadani Beach, Karachi for scrapping by Adam Hardware Industries, Karachi.
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HUDSON W02
Dutch commercial tug operating under Dutch ensign. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1939 by Machinefabriek & Scheepswert van P Smit Jnr., Rotterdam. YN522. L123'2". B24'5". D12'9". 294grt. 840bhp 5cyl 2SCSA 18.75"x24.5" diesel engine by builder. Single screw. ON IVR27.06462. Callsign PEUJ later PDUN.
15-4-1939 Launched. 5-7-1939 Delivered to Internationale Sleepdienst Maatschappij NV., Rotterdam. 1940 Escaped from Holland to England and req by UK Admiralty. 7-6-1944 22.30 Departed Cardiff towing barges for Utah beach. 12-1944 Towed LDC8 ex Southampton to Le Havre. 12-1944 Towed LC19 ex Dover to Portsmouth. 17-1-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM40. 18-1-1945 Arrived Southend. 25-2-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM75. 26-2-1945 Arrived Southend. 4-1945 Towed 2 KLK barges ex Leith to Flushing. 4-1945 Towed barge HAM904 ex Leith to Walcheren. 7-4-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM117. 8-4-1945 Arrived Southend. 25-4-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM135. 26-4-1945 Arrived Southend. 5-1945 Towed barges KLK26 & KLK29 ex Leith to Flushing. 5-1945 Towed VIC29 ex Terneuzen to Hull. 5-1945 Towed MFV Sanderling II ex Sheerness to Lossiemouth. 28-5-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM168. 29-5-1945 Arrived Southend. 6-1945 Towed balloon barges Canada and K8 ex Terneuzen to Gravesend. 6-1945 Towed balloon barges Zulu and K1 ex Terneuzen to Gravesend. 6-1945 Towed lighter NA208 ex Hull to Chatham. 6-1945 Towed barge Tetrarch ex Dover to Flushing. 6-1945 Towed barges Egypt & Joseph ex Portsmouth to Gravesend. 6-1945 Towed MV June ex Dover to Antwerp. 8-9-1946 Returned to Owners. 17-2-1962 Sold to L. Smit & Co's Internationale Sleepdienst Maatschappij, Rotterdam. 4-1962 Renamed Ebro. 7-1963 Sold for scrapping to NV Holland, Hendrik Ido Ambacht but resold without engine and rebuilt as a floating ice-factory at Ooltgensplaat, Stellendam. 1963 Sold to D. de Jager, Stellendam, renamed Johan Dirk. 14-9-1977 Sold to H. Tanis, Stellendam, renamed Elizabeth. 8-1989 Sold for scrapping to Stolk's Handelsonderneming, Hendrik Ido Ambacht. 21-8-1989 Towed from Hendrik Ido Ambacht to De Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, Rotterdam. 1989 Taken over for preservation by Stichting Help de Hudson, Rotterdam, re-renamed Hudson. 12-2-1992 Preserved in Leuvehaven, Rotterdam. 2008 Still in existence.
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KINGS CROSS
 Photog unknown
British commercial tug. Allocated to SNO Portsmouth to tow 2 barges from Littlehampton. Later towed Phoenix units.
Built 1918 by Gebroeders Jonker, Kinderdijk. YN405. L115.6'. B25.1'. D12.7'. 282grt. 750ihp. 3cylTE 15"x24"x40.5"x24"s steam engine by Machinefabriek Bolnes. ON144826. Callsign GKWQ.
1918 Delivered to NV Bureau Wijsmuller, Ijmuiden named Gelderland. 1919 Sold to Soc. Maritime Nationale, Le Havre, renamed Audax II. 1925 Sold to Aberdeen Steam Tug Co Ltd., Aberdeen. 28-6-1928 sold to Tees Towing Co Ltd, Middlesbrough for £8,000 renamed Kings Cross. 18-8-1929 Bows badly damaged following collision with Spanish SS Ogono, two miles E by S of Dudgeon. The freighter, laden with iron ore, sank in six minutes with the loss of 15 lives. Some survivors were landed at Grimsby by the tug. 7-6-1944 21.00 Departed Solent towing 2 Pontoons for Normandy beaches. [Convoy ETC22W]. 12-1944 Towed LCGM120 Middlesboro to Deptford. 12-1944 Towed SS Twickenham ex Hull to Tyne. 22-1-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM43. 23-1-1945 Arrived Southend. 4-1945 Towed barges KLK34 & KLK41 ex Leith to Flushing. 4-1945 Towed barge ex Leith to Walcheren. 4-1945 Towed SS Bapaut? ex Flushing to Dover. 11-4-1945 Departed Antwerp in cnvoy ATM121. 12-4-1945 Arrived Southend. 26-4-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM136. 27-4-1945 Arrived Southend. 5-1945 Towed barges Fife and Paddington ex Plymouth to Gravesend. 5-1945 With Queens Cross towed barges BK16 & BK20 ex Portsmouth to Poole. 5-1945 Towed barges Kantaran and Saladin ex Portsmouth to Gravesend. 6-1945 Towed 2 barges ex Greenock to Falmouth. 3-9-1948 Sold to Nederlandsch-Indische Steenkolen Handel Mij., Amsterdam, renamed Adrian. 1953: Reduced to a workboat. 1955 Owners restyled as N.V. Nederland Indonesie Steenkolen Handel Maatschappij. 1956 Entry removed from Lloyd's Register. 11-1959 Laid up. 1961 Demolished.
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KROOMAN
 Photog unknown
British commercial tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey for towing Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1937 by Cochrane & Sons Ltd., Selby. YN 1193. L100.1' B25.1'. D12.8'. 230grt. 850ihp 3cylTE 14.5"x25"x41"x27"s 210psi steam engine by C D Holmes Ltd., Hull. ON165695 IMO5197066 Callsign GFGD.
23-10-1937 Launched. 2-1938 Delivered to United Towing Co Ltd., Hull. 25-8-1939 - 3-1940 On UK Admiralty service based at Rosyth. 3-1940 - 6-1940 Based Scapa Flow. 20-6-1940 At Plymouth ordered to La Pallice but no charts avaiable. 7-1940 Based Gt. Yarmouth. 3-1943 - 5-1943 Based Dover. 5-1944 Based Portland. 6-1944 Towed Whale units to Mulberry B. 24-6-1944 Towed Fentonian to Solent. 4-1945 Towed 2 barges ex Boston to Flushing. 11-4-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM121. 12-4-1945 Arrived Southend. 13-4-1945 Allocated to relieve Empire Humphrey at Boulogne. 16-5-1945 Withdrawn from harbour duties at Boulogne. 5-1945 Towed MFV's Erling and Industry ex Portsmouth to Aberdeen and Buckie. 6-1945 Towed trawler Southcoates ex Leith to Hull. 8-6-1945 Released from COTUG control to be harbour tug at Hull. 1945 Returned to owners. 30-6-1963 Sank at moorings in King George Dock, Hull. 28-8-1963 Salved. Reengined with 900bhp 12cyl Bronz diesel by Drypool Engineering Ltd. 1-1965 Returned to service. 29-5-1973 Sold to Maritime Commercial Enterprises Ltd., Piraeus, renamed Jason. 1983 Sold to Alexander G. Tsavliris & Sons Maritime Company, Piraeus. 2.1987 Demolished by Aristotelis Angelikas Company at Perama.
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LARIAT W17
US Navy tug made available under lease/lend, operating under White ensign. Allocated to SNO Selsey for towing Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1942 by Levingston Shipbuilding Corp., Orange, Texas. L143'. B33'3". D13'6". 783disp.1875bhp 2x 12cyl General Motors diesel engines. 2x electric drive motors. Twin screw. Bunkers 186 tons. 14 knots. Complement 34.
15-5-1942 Launched. 8-1942 Delivered to US Navy, named BAT-5. 10-8-1942 made available to RN under lend/lease act and commissioned as HMS Lariat. 17-7-1944 Departed Seine Bay in convoy FTC39. 18-7-1944 Arrived Southend. 19-2-1946 Returned to US Navy and renamed AT-130. 17-9-1946 Sold to UK, renamed Lariat and subsequently resold to China Merchants Steam Nav. Co., Shanghai and renamed Ming 108. 194? Renamed Ming 308. 1949 Under control of CMSNC [Taiwan]. 1960 Deleted from register.
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LYNCH
Allocated SNO Portsmouth to tow one barge from Littlehanpton. See William Watkins/Managed Tugs page.
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MAMMOUTH W56
French Naval tug operating under White ensign. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1917 by Chantiers de L'Atlantique, St. Nazaire. L161.3'. B31.2'. D13.7'. 970disp. 1800ihp steam engine. 12 knots.
1918 Delivered to French Navy, based at Cherbourg. 3-7-1940 Seized by the Royal Navy at Plymouth following the incident at Mers-el-Kebir. 8-1940 Barrage balloon vessel at Sheerness. 1943 Req by Royal Navy for use as salvage tug based Harwich. 1944 Employed as Target towing tug. 12-1944 Towed timber raft Marchwood to Antwerp. 12-1944 Towed LC16 ex Dover to Portsmouth. 15-2-2-1945 Towed 2 pontoons ex Arromanche to Solent.[Last towable remains of Mulberry B]. 5-6-1945 Released from COTUG control. 17-8-1945 Returned to French Navy. Based Cherbourg pennant R08 later A660. 22-7-1963 Condemned. 1964 Sold for scrapping at Cherbourg.
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PERSIA
See in William Watkins fleet lists under PERSIA [2].
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PRIZEMAN
Photog unknown
British commercial tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey for towing Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1925 by Cochrane and Sons Ltd., Selby. YN981. L100'. B25.5'. D12.3'. 220grt. 800ihp 3cylTE 14.5"x24"x40"x27"s 180psi steam engine by Earles, Hull. ON149023 Callsign MNKZ.
7-7-1925 Launched. 11-1925 Delivered to United Towing Co Ltd., Hull. 28-5-1937 Whilst anchored in fog off Yarmouth I-o-W struck by Southern Railway steamer Hantonia. Tug beached in sinking condition at Brambles Buoy and later submerged. 7-7-1937 Salved and later inspected at Southampton. Eventually towed to Hull for reconditioning. 194? Req for UK Admiralty service. 18-5-1944 Engaged on coastal towing duties. 7-1944 Towed LC-17 from Thames to Southampton. 194? Returned to owner. 1965 Re-engined 850bhp 12cyl Mirrlees diesel engine. 1972 Scrapped by Albert Draper & Sons Ltd., Hull.
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QUEENS CROSS
Photog unknown
British commercial tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1921 by Scheepswerf Nimmerrust, Lekkerkerk. YN 83. L121'. B25'. D11.8'. 286grt. 550ihp 3cylTE 18.75"x22.25"x36"x25"s steam engine by Machinefabriek Avontuur, Dordrecht. ON160740 Callsign PWLR later GWJN.
1921 Delivered to NV Bureau Wijsmuller, Ijmuiden, named Vlaanderen. 20-7-1933 Sold to Tees Towing Co Ltd., Middlesbrough renamed Queens Cross. 19-6-1940 Off Brest. 20-6-1940 Arrived Falmouth 09.10. 3-8-1940 Req for Admiralty service. 7-6-1944 Arrived Mulberry B towing 3 ammo barges ex Littlehampton. 6-1944 Towed LCIL516 Portsmouth to Dartmouth. 12-1944 Towed Totem 1 ex Portsmouth to Antwerp. 2-1945 Towed Stella Rigel ex Southampton to Hull. 4-2-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM54. 5-2-1945 Arrived Southend. 4-1945 Towed piling barge Willing ex Southampton to London. 4-1945 Towed KX27 ex leith to Walcheren. 25-4-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM135. 26-4-1945 Arrived Southend. 5-1945 Towed barge ex Portsmouth to Gravesend. 5-1945 Towed barge ex Portsmouth to Dover. 5-1945 Towed 2 barges ex Plymouth to gravesend. 5-1945 With Kings Cross towed barges BK16 & BK20 ex Portsmouth to Poole. 6-1945 Towed a dredger plus crane barge 102 ex Cardiff to Boston. 25-6-1946 Returned to owners. 9-9-1948 Sold to Nederlandsch-Indische Steenkolen Handel Maatschappij, Amsterdam renamed Goos. [based at Tandjong Priok] 1953 Rebuilt. 1955 Owners restyled to Nederland Indonesië Steenkolen Handel Mij., Amsterdam. 11-1959 Laid up. 1961 Scrapped.
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RESOLVE W85
Photog unknown
British RN tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey for towing Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1918 by Ayrshire Dockyard Co Ltd., Irvine. YN479. L186'. B34'. D17'. 842grt. 1400disp. 2400ihp 2x 3cylTE coal fired steam engines by Central Marine Engine Works. Twin screw. Bunkers 270 tons. 4 boilers. 12 Furnaces. Twin funnelled. BP24t. 14knots. Complement 30.
30-7-1918 Launched. 9-1918 Delivered UK Admiralty, based Queenstown. 1921 Based Portsmouth. 27-11-1924 Damaged by heavy weather off Swanage whilst searching for SS Hartley. 28-1-1932 Assisting in search for missing submarine M2 off Portland. 7-9-1932 Towed disabled Southern Railway paddle steamer Southsea from Brook Point to Portsmouth Harbour. 12-1-1934 Assisted refloating grounded battleship HMS Nelson outside Portsmouth Harbour. 17-9-1935 Towing SS Brompton Manor, not under command and with deck cargo shifted, St Katherines Point to Portsmouth. 12-12-1936 Award for salvage of submarine tender Dwarf. 17-12-1939 Assisted SS Oregon. 22-9-1950 Scrapped by James Scott & Co Ltd.
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RICHARD II
Built 1912 by Werf Gusto v/h A.F. Smulders, Schiedam YN 428. L100.3'. B21.3'. D11.1'. 162grt. 15nrt. 650ihp 3cylTE 12.25"x20.25"x32.5"x19.75"s steam engine by builder. ON146181
1912 Delivered to Entreprise Générale du Port de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina. Named Albatros. 1917 Acquired on behalf of War Office renamed Verdun for delivery voyage. 1917 Owner UK War Office (Director of Inland Waterways), London, renamed HS 49. 1921 Sold to Crichton Thompson & Co Ltd., London. 1925 Owners British & International Investment Trust Ltd.,London. 1927 Sold to Remorquage A. Letzer SA, Antwerp, renamed Richard. 6-1940 Req by MOWT, managed by Risdon Beazley Ltd., Southampton. 1943 Renamed Richard II. 2-1944 Transferred to Admiralty service. 6-1944 At Dungeness pumping out Mulberry units. 1945 Returned to owners, re-renamed Richard. 1953-1954 Chartered to Maatschappij der Brugsche Zeevaart-Inrichtingen, Zeebrugge. 1961 Scrapped at Antwerp.
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ROODE ZEE
Built 1938 by L Smit and Zoon, Kinderdijk, YN889 L45.24m. B 8,10m. D4,85m. 468grt. 1240bhp. 2x 6cyl MAN diesel engines.
25-4-1938 Launched. 19-7-1938 Delivered to L. Smit & Co's Internationale Sleepdienst, Rotterdam. 1940 Escaped Holland to England, placed by UK Admiralty in Rescue Tug Section, pennant W 162, stationed at Bermuda. 7-1942 Returned to UK. 24-4-1944 Torpedoed by German E-boat S-100, near Dungeness whilst towing Phoenix caisson for 'parking' at Selsey. Hit in bunker she sank with loss of all crew.
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SABINE W74
British commercial tug req by RN operating under White ensign. Allocated to SNO Selsey for towing Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1917 by Spedden Shipbuilding Co., Baltimore MD. YN248 L151.9'. B26.3'. D15.1'. 488grt. 1900ihp 3cylTE 21"x32"x54"x26"s oil fired steam engine. ON180600 Callsign LHFC later GLBQ. Armament 1x12pdr AA 2x MG.
1917 Delivered to Freeport Sulphur Transportation Co Inc., New York named Freeport Sulphur No 2. 1930 Owners Sabine Towing Co Inc., Port Arthur, Texas, renamed Sabine. 1932 Owners restyled Sabine Transportation Co Inc. 1933 Appeared in film Tugboat Annie. 1940 Purchased by Overseas Towage and Salvage Co Ltd., London. managers C Rowbotham and Sons, London. 1940 Sold to UK Admiralty. 1941 Managers Overseas Towage and Salvage Limited, London. 1944 Returned to control of MoWT. 1945 Sold to Salvedor Co Ltd, London, manager Philip Bauer. Engaged on salvage work at Le Havre. 1-1950 Sold to Henry G. Pounds Ltd., Portsmouth. 6-11-1950 Scrapped by J.J. King & Co Ltd., Gateshead.
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SAINT MARTIN W27
British RN tug. Allocated to SNO Portland to tow Bombardons. Later towed Phoenix units and an American floating crane.
Built 1919 by Livingstone & Cooper Ltd., Hessle. YN 189. Saint class tug. L135'6". B29'. D14'6". 444grt. 860disp. 1250ihp 3cylTE coal fired steam engine by Earles, Hull. Bunkers 240 tons. 12 knots. armament 1x 12pdr AA. Complement 30 ON143453. callsign MCKK.
9-1919 Launched. 11- 1919 Delivered to Royal Navy. 1926 Recommissioned as tender to HMS Tiger, Portsmouth. 9-4-1927 Tender to HMS Excellent. 1934 Based Portsmouth on fleet target towing service for HMS Excellent gunnery school. 22-8-1936 Arrived Portland. 28-5-1940 Arrived Scapa Flow. 1-1-1941 At Greenock. WW2 based Lamlash, Arran on target towing duties. 21-5-1946 Paid off. 11-1946 Sold to Wheelock Marden & Co Ltd., London. The vessel was intended to be based in Far East but tug failed surveys and was laid up. 1-1952 Scrapped in UK.
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SAINT MELLONS W81
Photog unknown
British RN tug. Allocated to SNO Portland to tow Bombardons.
Built 1918 by Harland & Wolff Ltd., Govan. YN 563G. Saint class tug. L134'6". B29'. D14'6". 422grt. 860disp. 1200ihp 3cylTE coal fired steam engine by builder. Bunkers 240 tons. 12 knots. Complement 30. Armament 1x12pdr AA. ON142750
30-11-1918 Launched. 12-1918 Delivered to Royal Navy, based Portsmouth dockyard. 4-7-1920 Departed Fayal towing Yorck for Falmouth. 28-8-1920 Arrived Fayal enroute for Colon. 4-10-1932 Left Portland to assist salvaging sunken submarine M2. 1940 Based Kirkwall. 2-1940 Towed stern section of torpedoed SS Loch Maddy ex convoy HX19 into Inganess Bay and beached her. 15-2-1940 Towed collision damaged destroyer HMS Duncan from Invergordon to Rosyth. 8-1940 Sank following air attack at Falmouth. Later salved. 13-11-1940 Shot down Messerschmit aircraft and damaged another in North Sea. 6-1944 Towed Ammunition barges Falmouth to Southampton. 12-1944 Towed NI Pontoon from Bosham to Ostend. 9-12-1944 Weatherbound in Downs with tow for Antwerp. 6-5-1945 Departed Antwerpin convoy ATM146. 7-5-1945 Arrived Southend. 7-1949 Scrapped by H.G. Pounds, Portsmouth.
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SAMSONIA W23 [later A218]
British RN tug. Allocated to SNO Corncob, Portland to specifically tow obsolete French battleship Courbet with Growler. Later towed Phoenix units.
Built 1942 by Henry Robb Ltd., Leith. YN322. Bustler class tug. L205'. B40'5". D16'11". 1100grt. 3020bhp. 2x 8cyl Atlas Polar M48M diesel engines. Single screw. BP30t. Range 5000 miles @ 12 knots. Armament 1x 3"AA, 1x 2pdr AA, 2x20mm AA, 4xMG. Complement 42. ON181181 callsign MFML.
1-2-1941 Keel laid. 1-4-1942 Launched. 11-1942 Delivered to UK Admiralty named Samson. 1943 Renamed Samsonia, based Campbeltown as convoy rescue tug. 13-7-1943 Rescue tug with convoy HX247. 21-8-1943 Salvaged Lockheed Bomber adrift on Pontoon from freighter torpedoed in Atlantic and towed to UK. 3-5-1944 Towed torpedoed USS Donnell DE56 from 450 miles SW of Cape Clear to Dunnstaffnage Bay, Scotland. 15-6-1944 16.00 Arrived Mulberry A towing Phoenix unit 24/A1. 17.15 Released. 26-6-1945 Allocated to Tilbury for Phoenix towage. 1947 Charter to Foundation Maritime Ltd., Halifax, NS. renamed Foundation Josephine. 10-1948 Towed abandoned SS Leicester into Bermuda. 7-10-1948 Caught in hurricane and driven ashore with tow, later salvaged and towed to Halifax. 1952 Returned to UK Admiralty, re-renamed Samsonia (pennant A 218) 1958 Based at Portsmouth. 1958 Towed British submarine Turpin with engine defect from Kingston, Jamaica to Portsmouth. 8-1960 With Bustler towed battleship Vanguard from Portsmouth to Faslane for scrapping.15-9-60 Arrived Barrow towing floating dock AFD59 from Portsmouth. 1965 Based at Devonport. 6-5-1965 Towed tug Careful from Portsmouth to Pembroke Dock. 1970 Assisted by HMS Andromeda after suffering engine breakdown in Pentland Firth whilst towing HMLSI Stalker. 25-8-1973 Advertised for disposal 'as lying' at Devonport. 28-2-1974 Sold to Brodus Split, Salvage, Towage and Demolition Enterprises, Split. 6-1974 renamed Jaki, Refitted on Tyne. 11-5-1979 Deleted from Register and laid up at Sveti Kajo. Cannibalised for parts for Smjeli [ex Bustler]. 3-9-1987 Scrapped.
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SAUCY W131
British RN tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1942 by Cochrane & Sons Ltd., Selby YN 1257. Assurance class tug. L156'6". B35'. D16'6". 588grt. 1100ihp 3cylTE oil fired steam engine by C D Holmes Ltd., Hull. BP13.5t. Fuel 250 tons. 13 knots. ON182196 Callsign MFZY.
30-6-1942 Keel laid. 26-10-1942 Launched. 27-2-1943 Delivered to UK Admiralty. Based Portsmouth and later Portland on target and coastal towing. 19-3-1943 Assisting torpedoed SS Carras with convoy SC122. 12-1944 Towed BK barge 6165, rescued in channel to Newhaven. 4-1945 Towed SS Solomon Juneau ex Downs to Gravesend. 1945 Assisted towing floating dock AFD17 Iceland to Cochin. 1949 Civilian manned under RFA conditions. 1950 Towed HMS Musketeer from Harwich to Liverpool for refit. 11-11-1960 In operational reserve at Pembroke Dock. 1-3-1965 Sold to Tsavliris Salvage and Towage Ltd., Piraeus, renamed Nissos Chios. 1971 Scrapped in Greece.
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SEA GIANT W125
British RN tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1920 by Staten Island Shipbuilding Co., Mariners Harbor, NY. YN706. L148.3'. B20'. D15.1'. 508grt. 2400ihp 3cylTE 21"x33.5"x55.5"x42"s. coal fired steam engine. Armament 2x.5" AA, 2xMG. Complement 50. ON[US]236962. Callsign WPQM.
12-1-1920 Launched. 20-8-1920 Delivered to US Navy named Contocook AT-36. 27-11-1933 Decommissioned and laid up at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Cal. 8-2-1934 Sold to Shipowners and Merchants Tugboat Co., San Francisco. 193? Converted to oil firing by Pacific Dry Dock. 1938 Renamed Sea Giant. 1940 Purchased by Overseas Towage and Salvage Ltd, London, C Rowbotham and Sons managers. 4-6-1940 Departed Los Angeles for UK. 1940 Sold to UK Admiralty as rescue tug, managers Overseas Towage and Salvage Ltd., London. 27-3-1941 Towing SS Somali, bombed off Blyth. Off Seahouses SS Somali burst into flames, exploded and sank. 9-1943 Towed HMS Sherwood from Chatham to Humber estuary for use as target. 3-1945 At Terneuzen. 7-1946 Returned to MoWT. 3-5-1948 Sold to Garnet W Stevens, USA. 1950 Deleted from LR.
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SEAMAN W44
Photog unknown
British commercial tug serving under White ensign. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1924 by Cochrane and Sons Lts., Selby. YN943 L125'. B28.1'. D13.8'. 369grt. 1200ihp 3cylTE 16.5"x27"x46"x30"s 190psi steam engine by Earles Ltd., Hull. Armament 1x 12pdrAA, 1x 20mm AA, 2x .5" AA. ON148409. Callsign KRVW later GKXT.
15-9-1924 Launched. 12-1924 Delivered to United Towing Co Ltd., Hull. 5-1925 Towed Minesweepers Stepdance and Quadrill from Boston, Lincs to Buenos Aires for £3600. Quadrill foundered in Bay of Biscay but Stepdance delivered safely. 26-9-1930 Recovered tow of cruiser HMS Conquest which had broken away from tug Kings Cross in heavy weather off Flamborough Head whilst under tow Portsmouth to Faslane for scrap. Towed cruiser into Hull. 11-8-1932 Departed St Patrick, Jersey, towing SS St Patrick to PLymouth. 3-1936 Towed scrap cruiser Garibaldi from Bahia Blanca to Blythe, 6843 miles in 115 days. 1-12-1939 Req by UK Admiralty. 10-1-1940 Shot down German FW200 aircraft 200 miles NW of Ireland. 12-1944 Towed SS Saltflat from Gravesend to S. Shields with Empire Rupert. 12-1944 Towed pierhead ex Arromanche to Portsmouth. 12-1944 Towed hopper Millwall from Portsmouth to Tilbury. 2-1945 Towed VIC29? ex Ramsgate to Antwerp. 4-1945 Towed LC26 ex Middlesborough to London. 4-1945 Towed crane MoWT14 ex London to Antwerp. 17-4-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM127. 18-4-1945 Arrived Southend. 18-4-1945 Allocated as Rescue Tug to Nore command, relieving Justice. 5-1945 Departed Portsmouth towing barge Eagle but tow lost on passage. 5-1945 Towed barge Tetrarch ex Portsmouth to Dover. 2-11-1945 Returned to owners 10-1964 Scrapped by Lacmots Ltd., Queenborough, Kent.
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SEINE
Dutch commercial tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1908 by Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij., Rotterdam. YN 16. L130.2'. B24.4'. D12.4'. 308grt. 750ihp 3cylTE 15"x25"x41"x30"s 180psi steam engine by builder.Callsign PRWK.
18-6-1908 Launched. 7-1908 Delivered to Internationale Sleepdienst Maatschappij., Rotterdam. 8-1914 With Dutch Royal Marine. 1918 Returned to owners. 1923 Transferred to L. Smit & Co's Internationale Sleepdienst Mij NV., Rotterdam. 1-1-1941 Based Milford Haven. 12-3-1941 Towing bombed freighter Empire Frost ex convoy SC23 in St Georges Channel. Empire Frost later attacked again by aircraft and sank at 51.36N 05.40W. 7-6-1944 Departed Cardiff towing barges for Normandy beaches. 2-1945 Towed barge Australia ex Richborough to Terneuzen. 22-2-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM72. 23-2-1945 Arrived Southend. 19-3-1945 Departed Antwerp in convoy ATM97. 20-3-1945 Arrived Southend. 4-1945 Towed hopper W31 ex Southampton to Fowey. 5-1945 Towed barge Dorset ex Falmouth to Gravesend. 5-1945 Towed VIC86 ex Terneuzen to Hull. 5-1945 Towed barge BK8 ex Bromborough to Flushing. 6-1945 Towed balloon barge Hooke ex Terneuzen to Goole. 1-1946 Scrapped by Frans Rijsdijk's Industriële Ondernemingen, Hendrik Ido Ambacht.
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SESAME W144
Photog unknown
British RN tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1943 by Cochrane and Sons Ltd., Selby. YN1275. Assurance class tug. L156'7". B34'9". D16'6". 588grt. 1350ihp 3cylTE oil fired steam engine by C D Holmes Ltd., Hull. BP13.5t. 13 knots. Bunkers 250 tons.
9-6-43 Keel laid. 1-10-1943 Launched. 18-1-1944 Delivered to UK Admiralty. 11-6-1944 Torpedoed amidships, starboard side, by an E-boat of 5th flotilla based at Le Havre, sank in five minutes at 49 27.564N 00 54.720W. Some survivors were picked up by HMRT Stormking. 18 crew lost. The wreck has been dived and identified and lies upright, minus superstructure, at a depth of 20 metres.
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SIMLA
See in William Watkins fleet lists.
STOKE
Allocated SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whales units. See Elliott S. T. page as Security.
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SUNSHINE
See under Sun Tugs [2] page.
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STORMKING W87
Photog unknown
British RN tug. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1942by Cochrane & Sons Ltd., Selby. YN 1258. Assurance class tug. L156'7". B34.9". D16'6". 588grt. 1350ihp oil fired steam engine by C D Holmes Ltd., Hull. BP23.5t. 13knots. Bunkers 250 tons. ON301044.
30-7-1942 Keel laid. 24-11-1942 Launched. 4-1943 Delivered to UK Admiralty named Stormcock. 1943 Renamed Stormking. 6-1944 Towed Whale units to Mulberry B. 11-6-1944 Rescued survivors from tug Sesame. 6-1944 Towed Euston Cross Portsmouth to Tilbury. 12-1944 Based Pembroke Dock. 1947 Renamed Tryphon. 1-7-1957 For sale at Sheerness for commercial use. 11-1958 Sold to Foremost Marine Transporters Ltd., London, renamed Melanie Fair. 1961 Sold to Imprese Marittime e Portuali SpA., Genoa, renamed Toro. 3-1962 L.R. class withdraw. 1969 Scrapped in Italy.
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SUPERMAN W89
Photog unknown
British commercial tug operating under White ensign. Allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale units.
Built 1933 by Cochrane & Sons Ltd., Selby. YN 1110. L120.2'. B27.2'. D14.2'. 359grt. 900ihp 3cylTE steam engine by C D Holmes Ltd., Hull. Armament 1x 20mm AA. 2x.5in AA, 4x MG. ON163129. Callsign GWFJ.
3-1933 Delivered to United Towing Co Ltd., Hull. 1-11-1939 Requisitioned for Admiralty service. Initially based Grimsby, later used as ocean rescue tug. 17-6-1944 09.45 Arrived Mulberry A towing whale unit S21. 10.00 Released. 6-1944 Towed LCT727 Portsmouth to Plymouth. 12-1944 Based Pembroke Dock. 14-12-1945 Returned to owners. 9-1964 Scrapped at Queenborough, Kent.
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TID Tugs.
It is thought that some TID class tugs took the tows over from the larger tugs when they reached the Mulberry B site off Arromanche, and carried out the actual positioning and assembly of the various units. Completion dates and other information can narrow the numbers of the TID's that MAY have been used to :-
TID1-TID7: TID11-TID12; TID14-TID16. TID18-TID50; TID52-TID83.
The only TID so far definitely established as being present was TID33 which foundered off Arromanche in heavy weather during the storm of 19th June 1944 which severely damaged the US Mulberry A. There is a photo in existence however that shows at least two TID's were present. If you have any info PLEASE CONTACT ME.
Further research and personal contact has established that the following TID.s served in French waters during the Cotug period [5-1944 - 13-7-1945] although not necessarily in connection with the Mulberry Harbour operations.
TID 15
Built 1943 by Richard Dunston Ltd., Thorne YN T.415. 54grt. 71.0'(65.0')x17.0'x7.4' . 220ihp , C2cyl by John Dickinson & Son Ltd Sunderland. ON 169305
10-6-1943 Launched. 11-8-1943 Completed for MoWT and allocated to naval duties. 9-1944 Transferred to US army 329th Harbor Craft Coy. 18-7-1944 Departed Southampton for Cherbourg towing J 1070. 1-3-1945 Returned to MoWT. 13-10-1945 Chartered to Milford Dock Company. 2-2-1946 Returned to naval service. 1-9-1946 Laid up. 10-1947 Chartered to Milford Dock Company. 1949 Sold to Benjamin Perry & Sons Ltd., Bristol, renamed B.P. 2. 1952 New funnel fitted by Charles Hill Ltd. 1957 renamed Salisbury.1964 Re-engined 365bhp Ruston type 6VCBXM diesel by Charles Hill Ltd. 1980 Sold to Frederick Oldham Ltd. Liverpool. 1981 Sold to Laxey Towing Co., Isle of Man. 1992 Sold to Hunter Marine, Wicklow, renamed Delgany. 1996 Sold to E. Harrington, Eire. 1998 Sold to Bere Island Ferries. 2010 Derelict at Castletownbere, Bere Island.
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TID 18
Built 1943 by Richard Dunston Ltd, Thorne. YN T418. TID class tug. 54grt. 71.0'(65.0')x17.0'x7.4' 220ihp C2cyl by John Dickinson & Son Ltd., Sunderland. ON169315
20-7-1943 Launched. 9-1943 Completed for Ministry of War Transport , allocated to War Dept. Navy. 26-6-1944 Crossed to Omaha beach area ex Weymouth. [Unofficially named Eileen] 1948 Scrapped by Van Heyghen Frères, Gent.
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TID 22
Built 1943 by Richard Dunston Ltd., Thorne. YN T.422. 54GRT. 71.0'(65.0')x17.0'x7.4'. -220ihp by "Worsley Mesnes Ironworks Ltd. Wigan. ON 169323
4-8-1943 Launched. 10-1943 Completed for MoWT. 14-10-1943 In service with Great Western Railway Co Ltd., Cardiff. 23-2-1944 Transferred to US Army 329th Harbor Craft Coy. 18-7-1944 Departed Southampton for Cherbourg towing J1073. Later lost convoy in fog and returned to Portland. 10-7-1945 Transferred to War Office Service. 1948 Scrapped by Van Heyghen Frères, Gent.
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TID 30
Built 1943 by Richard Dunston Ltd., Thorne. YN T.430. 54grt. 71.0'(65.0')x17.0'x7.4'. 220ihp , C2cyl by Central Marine Engineering Works., West Hartlepool. ON 169287.
21-5-1943 Launched. 8-6- 1943 Completed for MoWT, allocated to coastal towing, managers C. Rowbotham & Sons Ltd., Harwich. 7-1944 Transferred to US Army 329th Harbor Craft Coy. 18-7-1944 Departed Southampton for Cherbourg towing J1080. 23-12-1944 Returned to British control. 25-12-1944 Laid up at Portsmouth. 15-1-1945 Transferred to Portsmouth Dockyard. 12-4-1945 Transferred to Great Western Railway Co Ltd., Port Talbot. 31-1-1946 Laid up at Port Talbot. 27-9-1946 Sold to Finnish Government, Helsinki, renamed B 4. (convoy of 8 sailing 10/1946: 1,7,25,30,35,40,41,74) 17-1-1948 Sold to Oulu O/Y Oulu, renamed OULU 12. 1965 Laid up at Oulu. 24-11-1970 Deleted from register converted to barge. 5-5-1976 Sold to Veijo Vuolijoki, Oulu, renamed RELLU 2, rebuilt as fishing vessel. Reengined 2x 115bhp 4cyl Volvo diesels 6-1979 Sank off Kemi after propeller shaft had broken.
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TID 33
Built 1943 by Richard Dunston Ltd., Thorne. YN T.433. 71.0'(65.0')x17.0'x7.4'. 54grt. 220ihp C2cyl by Central Marine Engineering Works, West Hartlepool. ON 169298.
23-6-1943 Launched. 9-1943 Completed for MoWT, allocated to commercial service. 12-1943 Transferred to 21st Army Group. 7-6-1944 Off Normandy beachhead positioning Mulberry units. 19-6-1944 Sank at Arromanches during gales following D-day landings.
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TID 35
Built 1943 by Richard Dunston Ltd., Thorne, YN T.435. 54grt. 71.0'(65.0')x17.0'x7.4'. 220ihp C2cyl by Central Marine Engineering Works Ltd., West Hartlepool. ON 169316.
7-7-1943 Launched. 20-9-1943 Completed for MoWT, allocated to commercial service. 12-1943 Allocated to US Army 329th Harbor Craft Coy. 18-7-1944 Departed Southampton for Cherbourg towing J1081. 19-7-1944 Arrived Cherbourg towed by MTL497 after towing hawser fouled prop. 22-12-1944 Laid up at Portsmouth. 1-1945 Transferred to naval duties. 1945 Refitted at Southampton between 10/01/45 and 02/04/45. 4-4-1945 In service with Great Western Railway Co Ltd., Port Talbot. 31-1-1946 Laid up at Port Talbot. 27-9-1946 Sold to Finnish Government, Helsinki, renamed B 5. (convoy of 8 sailing 10/1946: 1,7,25,30,35,40,41,74). 14-1-1947 Sold to Savon Uittoyhdistys, Kuopio, renamed TOMMI. 1970 Laid up at Kerma, later at Laitaatsilta. 1984 Sold to Jorma Kurppa for use as pleasure craft. 1986 Owner Jouko ja Aila Kurppa, Vantaa. 1992 Owners Miikka Kurppa, Jan ja Peter Snellman ja Inka Ruohela, Vantaa. 2000 Owners Miikka Kurppa, Pasi Alhainen (Helsinki), Jan ja Peter Snellman, Vantaa, still sailing as steamer on Lake Saimaa.
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TID 37
Built 1943 by Richard Dunston Ltd., Thorne YN T.437. 54grt. 71.0'(65.0')x17.0'x7.4'. 220ihp C2cyl by Walmsleys (Bury) Ltd. ON 169322.
4-8-1943 launched. 28-9-1943 Completed for MoWT, on commercial service with Great Western Railway Co., Cardiff 24-2-1944 Allocated to US Army service. 6-1944 Allocated to 940 IWT Operating Coy. Royal Engineers. 12-1945 Allocated to War Dept.- Army. 1948 Scrapped by Van Heyghen Frères, Gent.
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TID 38
Built 1943 by Richard Dunston Ltd., Thorne. YN T.438. 54grt. 71.0'(65.0')x17.0'x7.4'. 220ihp C2cyl by Walmsleys (Bury) Ltd. ON 169324.
16-8-1943 Launched. 4-10-1943 Completed for MoWT, on commercial service with R. & J.H. Rea Ltd., London. 1-2-1944 Allocated for US Army service. 6-1944 Allocated to 940 IWT operating coy., Royal Engineers. 23-7-1944 Allocated to War Office service. 1948 Scrapped by Van Heyghen Frères., Gent.
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TID 57
Built 1943 by Richard Dunston Ltd., Thorne. YN T.466. 54grt. 71.0'(65.0')x17.0'x7.4'. 220ihp C2cyl by John Dickinson & Son Ltd., Sunderland. ON 169357
10-12-1943 Launched. 29-2-1944 Completed for MoWT Ministry of War Transport, allocated to US Army. 1-11-1944 Laid up and returned to British control. 18-12-1944 Reallocated to Small Vessels Pool, Nore after repairs completed at Portsmouth. 4-1945 Allocated to Admiralty service. 29-4-1945 Sailed Southend to Rosyth and allocated to Captain of the Dockyard on harbour towing duty. 14-6-1947 Permanent allocation to Director of Dockyard. 30-10-1952 Placed in reserve. 6-3-1957 Hull badly corroded and considered BER. 27-5-1958 Declared surplus and of no sale value. 16-9-1958 Handed over to P. & W. MacLellan Ltd., Bo'ness for scrapping.
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TID 72
Built 1944 by Richard Dunston Ltd, Thorne. YN T481. TID class tug. 54grt. 71.0'(65.0')x17.0'x7.4' 220ihp C2cyl by John Dickinson & Son Ltd., Sunderland. ON180234
6-3-1944 Launched. 7-4-1944 Completed for Ministry of War Transport, allocated to US Army. 26-6-1944 Aground off Omaha Beachhead, Normandy. 23-12-1944 Returned to MOWT. 30-6-1945 Laid up 2-10-1945 Transferred to War Dept.-Army. 1947 Sold to River Wear Commissioners, Sunderland, renamed Evelyn. 1948 Renamed Pallion. 1972 Sold to Port of Sunderland Authority, Sunderland, re-engined with 406bhp Lister-Blackstone diesel engine and extensively modernised. 19?? Sold to Wear Dockyard & Engineering Co., Sunderland. 29-12-2001 Laid up at Hudson Dock, Sunderland. 2008 Scrapped.
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TID 82
Built 1944 by Richard Dunston Ltd., YN T491 TID class tug. 54grt. 71.0'(65.0')x17.0'x7.4' 220ihp C2cyl (12.5 x 26 x 18in), by
Central Marine Engineering Works, West Hartlepool. ON180255
21-4-1944 Launched. 6-1944 completed. 7-1944 Allocated to War Dept. - Army. 1948 Sold to Belgian buyer No further trace.
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TROON
Photog unknown
Built 1902 by J.P. Rennoldson & Sons Ltd., South Shields (YN 220) Iron Paddle tug. 130 GRT, 19 NRT. L100.0' B19.1' D9.6'. 450ihp. 2-cyl. (28" x 50") side lever engine by the shipbuilder.
ON 115733.
1902 Delivered to The Glasgow & South Western Railway Co Ltd., Glasgow, based in Troon harbour. 1922 Transferred to London, Midland & Scottish Railway Co Ltd.
1930 Sold to Alice M. Fairweather, operated by Middlesbrough Towage Co Ltd., Middlesbrough. 9-10-1934 Sold to Bridget-Corristine Lamey & William Lamey, mng W.H. Lamey., Liverpool 1939 Transferred to J.H. Lamey Ltd., Liverpool. 1944 Involved in towing prototypes of the Mulberry Harbour components at Morfa Beach, Conwy. 1948 Scrapped at Tranmere after sinking in Liverpool Docks when metal thieves removed piping.
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VINCIA
See under William Watkins fleet lists.
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WATERCOCK
Employed at Selsey pumping out and refloating parked Phoenix units. See Ship Towage [2] page.
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Other tugs to come under COTUG control included:-
Abeille's 3, 6, 14, 16;, Alliance, Amsterdam, Aube [Fr], Bustler, Cherbergouise 1, Danube V, Danube VI, Director, Diversion, Empire Alfred, Empire Ben, Empire Harry, Empire Folk, Empire Imp, Empire Jane, Empire Jean, Empire Mary, Empire Nicholas. Empire Polly, Empire Roger, Empire Sandy, Empire Sprite, Empire Susan, Empire Vincent, Enchanter, Encore, Enigma, Enticer, Gatteville [Fr], Isere [Fr], Jaunty, Justice, Marauder, Mastodonte [Fr], Nancy Moran, Nessus [Fr], Palencia, Reward, Richard Lee Barber, Schelde, Sun XII, Thames, Zeeleeuwe, Zwarte Zee.
The following are all believed to be trawlers pressed into service for towing under COTUG control:-
Athenian, Cumco, Cyelbe, Damito, Goosander, Libyan, Milford King, New Comet, Raetia, Star of Britain, Strathcoe,
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