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Official Number:                      135160

Laid down:

Builder:                                  S.P. Austin & Son, Wear Dock, Sunderland

Launched:                              24 October 1912

Into Service:                           4 August 1914

Out of service:                        13 February 1919

Fate:                                     3 June 1940 scuttled as a block ship

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA

Career Data:

24 October 1912 launched by S.P. Austin & Son, Wear Dock, Sunderland as Yard Nr 265 named COVE for Wm Cory & Son Ltd, London

November 1912 completed

4 August 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a Commissioned Mine Carrier, name unchanged. Lieutenant T Howard RNR in command and Engineer John W Smith RNR as Chief Engineer Officer

1916 owners restyled as Cory Colliers Ltd, London name unchanged

13 February 1919 paid off from her Commissioned service and  returned to her owners

1920 renamed CORCOVE by her owners

3 February 1926 in the Thames Estuary while towing the ss Maitland which had lost all power. In fog the tow broke and the ss Maitland dropped anchor. Three other ships rammed the Maitland which sank. One ship, the ss Marcato, was so badly damaged that she sank also.

24 March 1926 to 31 March 1926 in the Admiralty DIvision of the High Court the above collisions were the subject of proceedings.

1927 purchased by Westwick SS Co Ltd (James Westoll Ltd., Managers) Sunderland and renamed WESTCOVE

9 May 1927 arrived at the River Tyne

2 December 1939 sailed the River Tyne in unescorted convoy FS47 to Southend arriving the next day

3 January 1940 sailed the River Tyne in unescorted convoy FS63 to Southend arriving 5 January 1940

15 January 1940 sailed Southend in unescorted convoy FN72 to the River Tyne arriving 18 January 1940

17 April 1940 sailed the River Tyne in unescorted convoy FS148 to Southend arriving 19 April 1940

26 April 1940 sailed the River Tyne in unescorted convoy FS156 to Southend arriving 28 April 1940

5 May 1940 sailed the River Tyne in unescorted convoy FS163 to Southend arriving 7 May 1940

14 May 1940 sailed the River Tyne in unescorted convoy FS170 to Southend arriving 16 May 1940

21 May 1940 sailed the River Tyne in unescorted convoy FS176 to Southend arriving 23 May 1940

3 June 1940 scuttled at Dunkirk as a blockship