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NORTHLYN (FD90)
Ad.No.4256. O.N. 144393. 324g 148n 138.3 x 23.7 x 12.7 feet
Built Selby 1919 as Robert Murray ("Castle" class)
7. 10.1939: Requisitioned for war service and converted for boom defence duties (P.No.Z.103).
23.5.1944: Assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings (at Falmouth). 3.7.1944:
Operation Neptune ended. 6.1946: Returned.
(Note: As Robert Murray. 1926: Cygnet Steam Fishing Co Ltd and registered at Fleetwood (FD90).
1938: Sold to Cardwell & Bagshaw. Renamed Northlyn (FD90).
1939: Sold to Mason Trawlers Ltd.
1943: Sold to Cevic.
1955: Sold to St. Andrews, Hull).
SCOMBER (2) (FD98)
O.N. 136898 321g (319g) 127n 130.3 x 24.0 x 13.1 feet
Built Selby 1914
5.1940: Requisitioned for war service and converted for boom defence duties (P.No.Z.183).
23.5.1944: Assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings
5.6.1944: Sailed Solent for Mulberry B with Convoy ETC27W.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
2.1947: Returned. (Note: Built for Mount Steam Fishing Co Ltd).
1947: Sold to Granton.
PLUTO (Pipe Line Under The Sea) Assisting Trawlers
In the run up to D-Day preparations were made to supply fuel to the beachheads and this was achieved by putting the tankers on the newly laid offshore moorings and pumping ashore. The long term plan however was to lay pipe lines across the channel to the ports of Cherbourg and Boulogne. Only three trawlers were involved in this project and two of them were subsequently to fish from Fleetwood.
HMS CEDAR
O.N. 163160. 422g 162n 154.6x25.6x Built Beverley 1933 as Arab (H516)
19.11.1935: Sold to the Admiralty and converted to a minesweeper ("Tree"). Renamed HMS Cedar (P.No.T.01).
23.5.1944: Assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings. Assigned PLUTO (Pipe Line Under The Sea) project.
6.1944: Carried PLUTO (Pipe Line Under The Sea) reconnaissance party to beach head.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
7.1946: Sold.
(Note: 1946: Sold to lago and registered at London (L033). Later renamed Red Gauntlet (L033)).
HMS LILAC
O.N. 162210. 379g 140n 150.5 x 25.5 x 13.1 feet Built Selby 1930 as Beech flower (H??)
1935: Sold to the Admiralty and fitted out as a minesweeper ("Tree"). Renamed HMS Lilac (P.No. T.26).
23.5.1944: Assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings. Assigned PLUTO (Pipe Line Under The Sea) project.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
1946: Sold. (Note: 1946: Sold to Great Northern Fishing Co Ltd (Hewett) and renamed Robert Hewett (L0427)
19??: Transferred to Heward Trawlers.).
Fuelling Trawlers
With limited bunker capacity many of the landing craft would require fuelling once they reached the beach head and to provide facilities a number of requisitioned trawlers that had been converted for magnetic minesweeping were converted to this role. This involved the fitting of a 33 ton diesel tank with suitable connections and hoses. Each beach head landing Force had between six and nine fuelling trawlers allocated.
CEVIC (FD7)
O.N. 124578. 248g 94n 125.6 x 22.0 x 11.9 feet
Built Aberdeen 1908 as Pelican (PH98)
1943: Requisitioned for war service and converted for minesweeping duties (magnetic).
1944:
Converted as a fuelling trawler (33 ton tank for refuelling diesel landing craft) (P. No.Y7.16). Assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
23.5.1944: Assigned as a fuelling trawler to Force 0.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
1944: Prior to return operating as a water carrier.
8.1944:
Returned.
(Note: as Pelican 1 1919: Sold to Red Rose Steam Trawlers Ltd (New Docks) and registered at
Fleetwood (FD7).
1928?: Sold to Cevic and renamed Cevic(FD7).
1953: Sold to Aberdeen.
CLYTH NESS (H173)
Ad.No.4488. O.N. 144651. 276g 107n 125.4 x 23.4 x 12.6 feet
Built South Shields 1919 as Daniel Dick ("Castle" class)
18.1939: Requisitioned for war service and converted for minesweeping duties (magnetic) (P.No. FY.1596).
1944: Converted as a fuelling trawler (33 ton tank for refuelling diesel landing craft) (P.No.Y7.16). Assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
23.5.1944: Assigned as a fuelling trawler to Force 0.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
7.1945: Returned. (Note: 1945: Sold to Dinas and registered at Fleetwood (FD131).
1952: Sold to Aberdeen.)
CONGRE (French)
Ad.No. 3794. O.N. 143896. 278g (299g) 77n 125.6 x 23.6 x 12.8 feet
Built Troon 1918 as John Geoghan ("Castle" class)
1940: Escaped from France.
4.1940: Hired by the Admiralty and converted for minesweeping duties (magnetic) (FY1919).
1944: Converted as a fuelling trawler (33 ton tank for refuelling diesel landing craft). Assigned Operation Neptune-Normandy Landings.
23.5.1944: Assigned as a fuelling trawler to Force G.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
1.1946: Returned. (Note: 1924: Sold to Boston and renamed Miningsby(FD25).
1928: Sold to France and renamed Congre.
1952: Sold to Boston and renamed Boston Wayfarer (FD110), 1955: Sold to Milford.)
CYELSE (FD67)
O.N. 128762. 237g 93n 120.0x21.5 x 11.8 feet
Built Selby 1912
8.1940: Requisitioned for war service and converted for water tank duties (boiler feed) (P.No. Y.7.8).
1944: Converted as a fuelling trawler (33 ton tank for refuelling diesel landing craft) (P-No.Y7.16). Assigned Operation Neptune-Normandy Landings.
23.5.1944: Assigned as a fuelling trawler to Force 0.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
1944: Reverted to water tank duties. 3.
1946:
Returned. (Note: 1934: Sold to Mason Trawlers and registered at Fleetwood (FD67).
Smoke Making (ESSO) Trawlers
In order to make it difficult for enemy aircraft to attack the Mulberry harbours and the ships discharging it was planned to use requisitioned trawlers to create a defensive smoke screen. In all 30 requisitioned trawlers were allocated to each Mulberry with 15 on task at any one time and with the others stood down at Portland or the Solent working a similar pattern as the minesweepers and danlayers.
Many of the trawlers were only requisitioned for this task and were returned to fishing once the War had turned in the Allies favour. Others were converted from already requisitioned minesweepers and these reverted to the minesweeping role until returned at the end of the War.
ALL HALLOWS (ex JAMAICA (LO-I86))
O.N. 136220. 205g 77n 112.2 x 22.5 x 12.4 feet Built Selby 1914
3.1944: Requisitioned for war service and renamed All Hallows; converted to a smoke making (Esso) trawler and assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
9.6.1944: Arrived Mulberry A from Yarmouth with Group A1. Employed smoke making with replenishment at Portland.
3.7.1944:
Operation Neptune ended.
3.1945: Returned after restoration and survey at Fleetwood. Reverted
to Jamaica(L0186).
(Note: 1937: Sold to Howard Trawlers (Hewett) and registered at London (L0186)).
AMBITION (ex THRUSH ( H703))
O.N. 116106. 166g 63n 110.0 x 21.0 x11.1 feet
Built Goole 1902
4.1944: Requisitioned for war service and renamed Ambition, converted to a smoke making (Esso) trawler and assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
11.6.1944: Sailed Thames for Mulberry A with Group A2. Employed smoke making.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended. 1944:
Employed on auxiliary patrol duties (P.No.4.434).
1945: Returned and reverted to Thrush (H703). (Note: 1938: Sold to Brixham Trawlers.)
CREVETTE ( GY??)
Ad.No.3821. O.N. 143887. 203g 88n 115.4 x 22.2 x 12.1 feet
Built Leith 1918 as Thomas Henrix ("Strath" class)
11.1939: Requisitioned for war service and converted for auxiliary patrol duties (P.No.4.435).
3.1944: Converted to a smoke making (Esso) trawler and assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
9.6.1944: Arrived Mulberry A from Yarmouth with Group A1. Employed smoke making.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
10.1944: Returned. (Note: 1944: Ordered to fish from Fleetwood.
1946: Sold to Aberdeen and renamed Pern (A160).
1948: Sold to Brixham Trawlers.)
GENERAL BIRDWOOD (H121)
Ad.No.4250. O.N. 144023. 327g 129n 138.3 x 23.7 x 12.7 feet
Built Selby 1919 as James McLaughlin ("Mersey" class)
8.1939: Sold to the Admiralty and converted for minesweeping duties (FY724).
3.1944: Converted to a smoke making (Esso) trawler and assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
11.6.1944: Sailed Solent for Mulberry B with Group A1 as part of Convoy ETC6. Employed smoke making.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
5.1946: Sold. (Note: 1933: Sold to Boston.
1939: Sold to the Admiralty).
HEROINE (ex HERO (FD227))
O.N. 127403. 217g 81 n 120.0 x 21.6 x 11.4 feet
Built Dundee 1907
16.1940: Requisitioned for war service and converted for minesweeping duties (P.No. FY1866) and renamed Heroine. 3.1944: Converted to a smoke making (Esso) trawler and assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
9.6.1944: Sailed Solent for Mulberry B with Group B2 as part of Convoy ETC6. Employed smoke making.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
11.1944:
Returned and renamed Hero (FD227).
(Note: 1920: Sold to Ashworth, Norris & Taylor (New Docks) and registered at Fleetwood (FD227).
1946: Sold to Milford).
Wreck Dispersal Trawlers
It was inevitable in an operation of this magnitude that there would be vessels and craft disabled and/or sunk and provision was made for their removal by equiping a small fleet of requisitioned trawlers and coasters as wreck dispersal vessels. During the landings and follow up supply at the beach head and the Mulbery harbours several vessels and craft were removed to provide clear access and in addition the trawlers were employed on anchor recovery.
ADMIRAL SIR JOHN LAWFORD (L042)
O.N. 161474. 338g 127n 133.7 x 25.0 x 13.6 feet
Built Stockton 1930
8.1939: Requisitioned for war service and converted for minesweeping duties (P.No.FY.533).
3.1944: Converted for wreck dispersal duties (P.No. 4.415) and assigned to Operation Neptune -Normandy Landings; in readyness at Penarth.
11.6-1944: Sailed Plymouth for Normandy. Employed on wreck dispersal and anchor recovery work.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
1.1946:
Returned. (Note: lago from build.
1958: Transferred to Milford. 1961: Sold.)
JACINTA (1) (FD235)
O.N. 139206. 289g 115n 130.2 x 23.5 x 12.8 feet
Built Selby 1915.
5.1940: Requisitioned for war service and converted for auxiliary patrol duties (P.No.4.138).
26.5 -4.6.1940: At Dunkirk evacuation.
1941: Converted for minesweeping duties
3.1944: Converted for wreck dispersal duties based at Sheerness and assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings;
held in readyness at Sheerness.
3.7.1944; Operation Neptune ended. v1944: Sold.
5.1946:
Returned. (Note: Marr from build).
1944: Sold to B. Ingram.
LUNE (GY??)
O.N. 162056. 310g 119n 131.0 x 24.5 x 13.4 feet
Built South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough 1917
9.1939: Requisitioned for war service and converted for minesweeping duties (P.No.FY.588).
3.1944: Converted for wreck dispersal duties (P.No.4.416) and assigned to Operation Neptune -Normandy landings; held in readyness at Cardiff.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
7.1946:
Sold. (Note: Wards from build registered at Fleetwood (FD59).
1938: Sold to Grimsby.
1946: Sold.)
HMS LAUREL (PATRICIA HAGUE (FD58)) O.N. 162175. 366g 158n 140.3 x 24.6 x 13.3 feet Built Beverley 1930 as Kingston Cyanlte (H237)
25.11.1935: Sold to the Admiralty and converted for minesweeping and dan laying duties. Renamed HMS Laurel (P.No.T.29).
3.1944: Converted for wreck dispersal duties (P.No.4.417) and assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings; held in readyness at Port Talbot.
22.6.1944: Sailed Thames for Solent.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
1.1948: Sold (Note: 1951: Sold to Clifton Steam Trawling Co Ltd and renamed Patricia Hague (FD58).
References:
The D-Day Ships - John de S. Winser (WSS 1994)
Warships of World War II - H. T. Lenton & J. J. Colledge (lan Allan 1963)
Lloyd's Register of Ships
Naval Historical Branch
Bristol Central Library
Marine News - The journal of the World Ship Society
Notes by Alan Hirst, Fleetwood
Notes by Gil Mayes, Launchertey S St. Anne's
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