The Bosuns Watch! The Fleetwood Trawler FD 74 Macbeth

The Bosun's Watch

Technical

History

1938	Built as AYRESHIRE for Ayreshire Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Grimsby (GY250).
August 1939	Transferred to Hull.
September 1939	Requisitioned and converted to A/S. Joined the 11th A/S Striking Force, based at Rosyth.
February 20 1940	In company with FIFESHIRE, her sister ship, she was attacked by 2 Heinkel 111s 70 miles E of Copinsay. FIFESHIRE was sunk in a bombing attack but AYRESHIRE drove off the attackers using her secondary armament of Lewis guns..
August 1941	Transferred to the Iceland Command for Russian convoys.
1942	Acted as escort in convoy PQ17. After the convoy was forced to scatter she found several stragglers and guided them up to the ice. Her CO had the idea of painting the ships white on the south facing sides to blend in with the ice. They reached Russia in safety.
1945	Returned to owners.
1946	Acquired by Devon Fishing Co, Hull, and renamed MACBETH (H113).
1963	Transferred to Fleetwood.
1964	Registration transferred to Fleetwood.
1966	Scrapped.