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Isles-class trawler

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Isles-class trawler
HMT Ailsa Craig IWM FL 292
HMT Ailsa Craig in 1944
Class overview
Operators: Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom Royal Navy
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom Royal Canadian Navy
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom Royal New Zealand Navy
Flag of Portugal Portuguese Navy
Naval Ensign of Italy Marina Militare
Subclasses: Naval Ensign of Germany German Navy: Type 139 patrol trawler
Built: 1939–1945
Completed: 197 (of four subclasses - Isles (145), Dance (20), Shakespearian (12), and Tree (20))
Lost: 23
General characteristics
Type: Naval trawler
Displacement: 545 long tons (554 t)
Length: 164 ft (50 m)
Beam: 27 ft 8 in (8.43 m)
Draught: 11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) (mean)
Propulsion: 1 triple expansion reciprocating engine, 1 shaft, 850 ihp (634 kW)
Speed: 12 knots (14 mph; 22 km/h)
Complement: 40
Armament: See text

The Isles-class trawlers were a class of naval trawler used by the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II.

The type comprised 197 vessels built between 1939 and 1945 in the nearly identical Isles, Dance, Tree and Shakespearian classes. Generally similar to the Castle class naval trawlers of 1916-18, though somewhat larger, they were mainly used on minesweeping and harbour defence duties. Most were armed with one 12-pounder gun and three or four 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns with 30 depth charges. In the Dance class a 4-inch AA gun was fitted in place of the 12-pdr, and there were six 20 mm Oerlikons in Annet, Bressay, Damsay, Fiaray, Foulness and Lindisfarne. Four of the trawlers were given 'Bird' names when converted to controlled minelayers in 1943-44: Blackbird (M15), Dabchick (M22), Stonechat (M25) and Whitethroat (M03). A total of 23 of these trawlers were lost during the war.[1] Six trawlers were loaned to Canada in 1942-45 and five to Norway in 1943-45.

Postwar, 17 of the trawlers were disarmed as wreck disposal vessels: Bardsey (DV13), Bern (DV4), Caldy (DV5) Coll (DV6), Earraid (DV7), Fetlar (DV8), Flatholm (DV9), Graemsay (DV10), Lindisfarne (DV11), Lundy (DV12), Neave (DV14), Scalpay (DV15), Skomer (DV16), Steepholm (DV17), Switha (DV18), Tiree (DV19), and Trondra (DV20). At least five were employed as danlayers (laying and retrieving dan buoys during minesweeping operations): Imersay (J422), Sandray (J424), Shillay (J426), Sursay (J427) and Tocogay (J451). After decommissioning, Switha and Coll were converted to oil tank cleaning vessels for dockyard service in 1949-50.

By 1949 there remained in service of this type 31 trawlers and four controlled minelayers in the Royal Navy, one controlled minelayer in the Royal Canadian Navy, and four trawlers in the Royal New Zealand Navy. An additional 16 were in service in the Italian Navy and six in the Portuguese Navy.[2] Most of the surviving Royal Navy examples were discarded in the 1950s, but a few remained until the 1960s. Two acquired postwar by the Federal German Navy remained in service as training vessels well into the 1970s, with one, Trave (ex-Dochet), resold to Turkey for further service in 1977.

Builders[]

  • Ardrossan Dockyard Company, Ardrossan, UK
  • George Brown & Company (Marine) Ltd., Greenock, UK
  • Cochrane & Sons, Ltd., Selby, UK
  • Collingwood Shipyards, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada
  • Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley, UK
  • John Crown & Sons Ltd., Sunderland, UK
  • G.T. Davie & Sons, Lauzon, Quebec, Canada
  • Ferguson Bros. Ltd., Port Glasgow, UK
  • Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley, UK
  • Goole Shipbuilding & Repair Company, Goole, UK
  • Alexander Hall & Company, Aberdeen, UK
  • Hall, Russell & Company, Aberdeen, UK
  • A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow, UK
  • Kingston Shipyards, Kingston, Ontario
  • John Lewis & Sons, Aberdeen, UK
  • Midland Shipyards, Midland, Ontario, Canada
  • Henry Robb Ltd., Leith, UK
  • Smiths Dock Company Ltd., South Bank-on-Tees, UK

Ships in class[]

Royal Navy[]

Ship Builder Laid Down Launched Commissioned Paid Off Fate
Ailsa Craig Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1943 Sold 1946
Annet[3] Cook, Welton & Gemmell 25 March 1943 Still in service 1949 - believed to be the last coal-burner to fly the White Ensign
Anticosti Collingwood Shipyards 1942 Transferred to RCN as Anticosti.
Arran Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1940 Sold 1946
Baffin Collingwood Shipyards 1942 Transferred to RCN as Baffin
Balta Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1940 Sold 1946
Bardsey Fleming & Ferguson 17 July 1943 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV13)
Benbecula Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1943 Sold 1946, bought by HRMC and served as HMRC Vigilant
Bern Cook, Welton & Gemmell 2 May 1942 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV4)
Biggal Ferguson Bros. 1944 Sold 1946
Blackbird (ex-Sheppey) Cook, Welton & Gemmell 20 February 1943 Converted to controlled minelayer (M15) 1943: still in service 1949
Bressay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1942 Sold 1946
Brora Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1940 Grounded off Hebrides 6 September 1941
Bruray Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1942 Transferred to Portugal 1943 as Sam Miguel (P1)
Bryher Cook, Welton & Gemmell 8 April 1943 Still in service 1949
Burra Goole S.B. & R. Co. 1941 Transferred to Italy 1946 as DR 301
Bute Goole S.B. & R. Co. 1941 Sold 1946
Cailiff Collingwood Shipyards 1942 Transferred to RCN as Cailiff.
Caldy John Lewis & Sons 1943 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV5)
Campobello Collingwood Shipyards 1942 War loss 16 Mar 1943.
Copinsay Cochrane & Sons 1940 Sold 1946
Crowlin Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1943 Sold 1946
Cumbrae Cochrane & Sons 1940 To Italy 1946 as DR 302
Damsay George Brown & Co. 27 June 1942 Still in service 1949
Dochet G.T. Davie & Sons 1942 Acquired by Federal German Navy postwar and renamed Trave (A51) as a Type 139 patrol trawler; sold to Turkey in 1977
Earraid (ex-Gruna) John Crown & Sons 18 Dec 1941 Later wreck disposal vessel (DV7); sold 1948
Eday Cochrane & Sons 1941 Loaned to Norway as Tromöy (i) 1943-44; sold into mercantile use 1946
Egilsay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1942 To Italy 1946 as DR 306
Ensay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1942 To Italy 1946 as DR 314
Eriskay Fleming & Ferguson 1942 To Portugal 1943 as P8
Fara Cochrane & Sons 1941 Sold 1946
Farne Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1943 Sold 1946
Fetlar Cochrane & Sons July 1941 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV8)
Fiaray Goole S.B. & R. Co. 1942 Sold 1946
Filla John Crown & Sons 1942 To Italy 1946 as DR 305
Flatholm Cook, Welton & Gemmell 8 May 1943 Later wreck disposal vessel (DV9); sold 1948
Flint G.T. Davie & Sons 1942 Acquired by Federal German Navy postwar and renamed Eider (A50) as a Type 139 patrol trawler
Flotta Cochrane & Sons 1941 Grounded off East Scotland 6 Nov 1941.
Foula Cochrane & Sons 1941 To Italy 1946 as DR 313
Foulness John Lewis & Sons 23 March 1942 Still in service 1949
Fuday Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1944 Sold 1946
Gairsay Ardrossan Dockyard Co. 1942 War loss 4 Aug 1944.
Ganilly Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1943 War loss 5 July 1944
Gateshead G.T. Davie & Sons 1942 Sold 1947
Gillstone Cochrane & Sons 1943 Sold 1946
Gorregan Ardrossan Dockyard Co. 30 December 1943 Still in service 1949
Graemsay Ardrossan Dockyard Co. 3 August 1942 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV10)
Grain Cochrane & Sons 1943 To Italy 1946 as DR 309
Grassholm John Lewis & Sons 1943 Sold 1946
Gruinard John Crown & Sons 1943 To Portugal 1943 as P7
Gulland Cook, Welton & Gemmell 30 April 1943 5 August 1943 30 October 1943 Sold to mercantile use 1946; renamed Henken 1947 and Arab Trader 1949; wrecked north of Mombasa 13 April 1951
Gweal (ex-Boreray) Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1943 Sold 1946
Hanneray Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1944 Sold 1946
Harris Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1944 Sold 1946
Hascosay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1944 Sold 1946
Hayling Cook, Welton & Gemmell 17 August 1942 To Portugal 1943 as Terceira (P3)
Hellisay Cochrane & Sons 1944 Sold 1946
Hermetray Cochrane & Sons April 1944 Sold 1947
Herschell G.T. Davie & Sons 1942 Sold 1946
Hildasay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1941 War loss 21 Jun 1945
Hoxa Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1941 Sold 1946
Hoy Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1941 Sold 1946
Hunda Ferguson Bros. 1942 Sold 1946
Imersay Cochrane & Sons August 1944 Still in service 1949 as danlayer (J422)
Inchcolm Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1941 Sold 1946
Inchmarnock John Lewis & Sons 1941 Loaned to Norway as Karmöy 1944-45; sold mercantile 1946
Ironbound Kingston Shipyards 1942 Transferred to RCN as Ironbound.
Islay Smith's Dock Co. 1941 Sold 1946
Jura Ardrossan Dockyard Co. 1941 War loss 7 Jan 1943
Kerrera Ferguson Bros. 1941 Loaned to Norway as Oksöy 1944-45; sold mercantile 1946
Kintyre Ardrossan Dockyard Co. 1941 Sold 1946
Kittern Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1943 Sold 1946
Lindisfarne Cook, Welton & Gemmell 17 June 1943 Still in service as wreck disposal vessel (DV11)
Lingay Cochrane & Sons 1944 Sold 1946
Liscomb Kingston 1942 Transferred to RCN as Liscomb.
Longa Cochrane & Sons 1943 Sold 1946
Lundy Cook, Welton & Gemmell 29 August 1942 Still in service in 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV12)
Magdalen Midland Shipyards 1942 Transferred to RCN as Magdalen.
Mewstone Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1943 Sold 1946
Minalto Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1943 Sold 1946
Mincarlo Ardrossan Dockyard Co. 1944 Loaned to Norway as Tromöy (ii) 1944-45, sold mercantile 1946
Mousa Goole S.B. & R. Co. 1942 To Italy 1946 as DR 311
Mull Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1941 Sold 1946
Neave Cook, Welton & Gemmell 16 July 1942 Still in service in 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV14)
Orfasy A. Hall & Co. 1942 War loss 22 October 1943
Oronsay Cochrane & Sons 30 October 1943 Still in service 1949
Oxna A. & J. Inglis 1943 Sold 1946
Pladda Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1941 Sold 1946
Porcher Midland Shipyards 1942 Sold 1946
Prospect Midland Shipyards 1942 Sold 1946
Ronaldsay Cochrane & Sons 1941 Sold 1946
Rosevean Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1943 Sold 1946
Rousay Goole S.B. & R. Co. 1941 Sold 1946
Ruskholm Goole S.B. & R. Co. February 1942 To Portugal 1945 as Baldaque da Silva
Rysa Cochrane & Sons 1941 War loss 8 Dec 1943
Scalpay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 2 June 1942 Later wreck disposal vessel (DV15); sold 1948
Shapinsay Cochrane & Sons 1941 Sold 1946
Shiant Goole S.B. & R. Co. 1941 Loaned to Norway as Jelöy 1944-45; sold mercantile 1946
Skokholm Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1943 Sold 1946
Skomer John Lewis & Sons 17 June 1943 Still in service 1949
Skye Henry Robb 17 March 1943 Still in service 1949
Sluna Cochrane & Sons 1941 Sold 1946
St. Agnes John Lewis & Sons 1943 Sold 1946
St. Kilda A. Hall & Co. 1942 Sold 1946
Staffa Henry Robb 1942 Sold 1946
Steepholm John Lewis & Sons 15 July 1943 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV17)
Stroma Hall, Russell & Co. 1941 To Italy 1946 as DR 315
Stronsay A. & J. Inglis 1942 War loss 5 Feb 1943
Switha A. & J. Inglis 3 April 1942 Later wreck disposal vessel (DV18); converted to oil fuel tank cleaning vessel 1949-50
Texada Midland Shipyards 1942 Sold 1946
Tiree Goole S.B. & R. Co. 6 September 1941 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV19)
Trondra John Lewis & Sons 4 October 1941 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV20)
Ulva Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1942 Sold 1946
Unst Ferguson Bros. 1942 To Italy 1946 as DR 303
Vatersay Cochrane 1943 Sold 1946
Wallasea Henry Robb 1943 War loss 6 Jan 1944.
Westray John Lewis & Sons 1941 Sold 1946
Whalsay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 15 February 1940 To Portugal 1943 as Santa Maria (P4)
  • The following 21 trawlers may be[citation needed] described as comprising the Repeat Isles class:
    • Calvay, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; launched 1943; sold 1946
    • Canna, built by Cochrane & Sons; launched 1940; war loss 1942
    • Cava, built by Fleming & Ferguson; launched 1941; sold 1946
    • Coll, built by Ardrossan Dockyard Co.; launched 7 April 1942; later wreck disposal vessel (DV6); converted to oil fuel tank cleaning vessel 1949-50
    • Colsay, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; launched 1943; war loss 1944
    • Dabchick (ex-Thorney), built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; launched 9 March 1943; converted 1943 to controlled minelayer (M22); still in service 1949
    • Orsay, built by Cochrane & Sons; launched January 1945; still in service 1949
    • Rona, built by Cochrane & Sons; launched February 1945; still in service 1949
    • Sandray, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; launched 5 October 1944; still in service 1949 as danlayer (J424)
    • Scaravay, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; launched 1944; sold 1946
    • Sheppey (ex-Raasay), built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; launched 1943; sold 1946
    • Shillay, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; launched 18 November 1944; still in service 1949 as danlayer (J426)
    • Stonechat, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; completed 1944 as controlled minelayer (M25); still in service 1949
    • Sursay, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell, launched 16 December 1944; still in service 1949 as danlayer (J427)
    • Tahay, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; launched 31 December 1944; still in service 1949
    • Tocogay, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; launched 7 February 1945; still in service 1949 as danlayer (J451)
    • Trodday, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; launched 3 March 1945; still in service 1949
    • Vaceasay, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; launched 17 March 1945; still in service 1949
    • Vallay, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; launched 10 April 1945; still in service 1949
    • Whitethroat, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; launched 6 September 1944; completed in 1944 as controlled minelayer (M03); still in service 1949
    • Wiay, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell; launched 26 April 1944; still in service 1949

Royal Canadian Navy[]

Ship Builder Laid Down Launched Commissioned Paid Off Fate
Anticosti Collingwood Shipyards 1942 Formerly HMS Anticosti (T274) Sold 1946
Baffin Collingwood Shipyards 14 October 1941 13 April 1942 Formerly HMS Baffin (T275) 20 Aug 1945 Sold mercantile 1947; renamed Niedermehnen 1952
Cailiff Collingwood Shipyards 1942 Formerly HMS Cailiff (T276) 10 June 1945 Sold mercantile 1946; converted to Norwegian commercial trawler Borgenes. Laid up in 1990s, but proposals to restore her as a steam trawler [4] were unfulfilled. Sold for demolition in Oct 2012 [5][6]
Ironbound Kingston Shipyards 1942 Formerly HMS Ironbound Sold 1946
Liscomb Kingston Shipyards 1942 Formerly HMS Liscomb Sold 1946
Magdalen Midland Shipyards 1942 Formerly HMS Magdalen Sold 1946
Manitoulin Midland Shipyards 1942 Sold 1946
Miscou Collingwood Shipyards 1942 Sold 1946

Royal New Zealand Navy[]

Ship Builder Laid Down Launched Comm'ed Paid Off Fate
Inchkeith John Lewis & Sons 10 July 1941 Still in service 1949
Killegray Cook, Welton & Gemmell 25 May 1941 Still in service 1949
Sanda Goole S.B. & R. Co. 12 July 1941 Still in service 1949
Scarba Cook, Welton & Gemmell 26 June 1941 Still in service 1949

See also[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Robert Gardiner (ed. dir.), Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946, p. 66. London: Conway Maritime Press, 1980.
  2. ↑ Francis E. McMurtrie and Raymond V.B. Blackman (eds.), Jane's Fighting Ships 1949-50, pp. 62, 63, 92, 94, 217, 258. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1949.
  3. ↑ HMS Annet T341 uboat.net
  4. ↑ [1] Steamtrawler Borgenes
  5. ↑ [2](Norwegian) Tidens Krav, Kristiansund
  6. ↑ [3] nauticapedia.ca
British naval ship classes of the Second World War
Aircraft carriers
Escort carriers
Battleships
Battlecruisers
Heavy cruisers
Light cruisers
Minelayers
Destroyer leaders
Destroyers
Frigates
Corvettes
Sloops
Minesweepers
Submarines
Other
A
American built
X
Cancelled
C
Completed after the war


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