Trawlers of the Royal Navy

List of trawlers of the Royal Navy

Naval trawlers were purpose-built or requisitioned and operated by the Royal Navy (RN), mainly during World Wars I and II. Vessels built to Admiralty specifications for RN use were known as Admiralty trawlers. All trawlers operated by the RN, regardless of origin, were typically given the prefix HMT, for "His Majesty's Trawler".

Summary

First World War

Class[1] Builders Dates Built Lost Dspl
(tons) 		Length
(feet) 		Power
(ihp) 		Speed
(kts) 		Crew Armament
Mersey Admiralty trawler Cochrane

Lobnitz Ferguson Goole Shipbuilders

1917-1919 112[2] 438 148 600 11 up to 20 usually one QF 12-pdr 12 cwt gun
Castle Smith's Dock

and others

145 360 18
Strath Hall Russell 167[3] 311 18

The trawler Viola, built in 1906 at Hull and requisitioned September 1914 is the oldest surviving steam trawler in the world. She is currently beached at Grytviken in South Georgia, though there are currently plans to return her to Hull.[4]

Second World War

Class[1] Builder Dates Built Lost Dspl
(tons) 		Length
(feet) 		Power
(ihp) 		Speed
(kts) 		Crew Armament
*Basset 18[5] - 460 12 33 3 in gun
Tree 20[6] 6 530 164 850 11.5 35 12-pdr gun, 2 × .5 in, 2 × twin MG
Dance 20[7] 1 530 161 850 11.5 35 4 in gun, 3 × 20 mm
Shakespearian 12[8] 3 545 164 950 12 35 12-pdr gun, 3 × 20 mm
Isles 112[9] 12 545 164 850 12 40 12-pdr gun, 3 × 20 mm
Portuguese CUF (Lisbon)
Arsenal do Alfeite (Lisbon)
Mónica (Aveiro) 		12[10] 550 11 30 12-pdr gun
Brazilian 680 12.5 40
Castle 625 10 32
Hills 8[11] 2 750 181 970 11 35 (40?) 12-pdr gun, 3 × 20 mm
Fish 10[12] 1 670 167 700 11 35 4 in gun, 3 × 20 mm
Round Table 8[13] - 440 137 600 12 35 12-pdr gun, 1 × 20 mm, 2 × MG
Military 9[14] - 750 193 1000 11 40 4 in gun, 4 × 20 mm
Requisitioned 215[15] 72 These were ships taken over by the Admiralty

Requisitioned trawlers

There were also 215 trawlers of no specific class[15] These were commercial trawlers that the Admiralty requisitioned. The Royal Navy classified requisitioned trawlers by manufacturer, although such classes were more diverse than traditional naval classifications. Seventy-two requisitioned trawlers were lost.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b "Anti-Submarine Trawlers - Fighting the U-boats - uboat.net". uboat.net.
  2. ^ Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 155
  3. ^ Gardiner 1986, p. 130.
  4. ^ Blower, Janis (19 May 2015). "World War One-era steam trawler remembered on stamp - Shields Gazette". Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Basset class MS Trawlers - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net.
  6. ^ "Tree class MS Trawlers - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net.
  7. ^ "Dance class ASW Trawlers - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net.
  8. ^ "Shakespearian class MS Trawlers - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net.
  9. ^ "Isles class MS Trawlers - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net.
  10. ^ "Naval Trawlers, Admiralty trawlers". www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk.
  11. ^ "Hill class ASW Trawlers - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net.
  12. ^ "Fish class ASW Trawlers - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net.
  13. ^ "Round Table class MS Trawlers - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net.
  14. ^ "Military class ASW Trawlers - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net.
  15. ^ a b "ASW Trawlers - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net.

References

  • Cocker, M P (1993) Mine Warfare Vessels of the Royal Navy – 1908 to date. Airlife Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85310-328-5
  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0380-7.
  • Gardiner, R. (1986). All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-245-5.
  • Lund, Paul and Ludlam, Harry (1971) The Trawlers go to War ISBN 978-0-572-00768-3
  • Lund, Paul and Ludlam, Harry (1978) Out Sweeps! - The Story of the Minesweepers in World War II. New English Library Ltd ISBN 978-0-450-04468-7
  • McKee, Alexander (1973) The Coal-Scuttle Brigade : The splendid, dramatic story of the Channel convoys. New English Library ASIN B000RTAX2Y
  • RNPS Book list
  • Royal Naval Patrol Service Booklist
  • Books about the RNPS

External links

  • A/S Trawlers (uboat.net)>
  • The Trawlers go to War
  • The Battle of Mesco Point
  • The Dover Convoys
  • The 'Art' of Minesweeping
  • Naval Trawlers
  • Trawlers lost in the Namsen Fjord
  • The Loss of HMT Cap d'Antifer
  • The Loss of the Rutlandshire
  • HM Trawler Orfasy
  • List of all trawlers lost during WW2
  • Memorial site to a trawler skipper
  • HMS Almond Memorial Site