Official No: 166293
Builder: Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd., Dundee
Launched: 18 July 1939
Pennant No: 4.196
Into Service: 21 October 1939
Out of service: 3 March 1948
Fate: 9 June 1971 broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW2 to augment the ships of the RFA
Career Data:
18 July 1939 launched by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd., Dundee as Yard Nr: 372 named GLENGYLE
121 October 1939 requisitioned for Admiralty service as a Fast Fleet Supply Ship
6 April 1940 commissioned as HMS GLENGYLE
10 September 1940 converted at Glasgow for service as an Infantry Assault Ship – name unchanged
31 January 1941 sailed for the Mediterranean to serve as part of Commando Assault Z Force along with her sister HMS GLENEARN
16 April 1941 sailed Alexandria escorted by HMS’s CARLISLE and WRYNECK and HMAS’s STUART and VOYAGER
19 April 1941 and 20 April 1941 participated in the Commando Raid on Bardia, Cyrenaica
24 April 1941 to 28 April 1941 assisted the 15th Cruiser Squadron in the evacuation of Greece and lifted 4,500 troops from Raphto
16 May 1941 sailed Alexandria for Port Said escorted by HMS DECOY to embark new landing craft
17 May 1941 sailed Port Said
19 May 1941 carried 3,000 troops to Suda Bay, Crete
29 May 1941 and 30 May 1941 along with the former Anchor Line HMS CAMERONIA they lifted 6,000 troops of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders from Sphakia, Crete. By the end of the month along with HM warships, they had evacuated 18,000 men
8 June 1941 along with HMS’s CALCUTTA and PHOEBE and HMAS PERTH took part in the invasion of Syria
August 1941 & September 1941 undertook training landings in the Great Bitter Lakes in the Suez Canal
5 January 1942 was used on the Malta supply route from Alexandria
2 April 1942 sailed Suez for Aden
7 April 1942 sailed Aden on passage to the UK
April 1942 returned to Glasgow to train for the Dieppe Raid
19 August 1942 was present at Dieppe disguised as an oil tanker
November 1942 participated in Operation Rorch – the North africa Landings – carrying US troops to Oran
1943 participated in Operation Husky – the Sicily landings
5 October 1943 arrived at Port Said
18 October 1943 at Suez the Flag of Naval Commander Force “A” was struck at sunset and the title lapsed.
November 1943 detached to Bombay but was recalled for the Anzio landings
January 1944 participated in the Anzio landings
June 1944 refitted by Harland & Wolff Ltd., Liverpool for service as a Landing Ship Infantry (Large)
May 1945 conversaion completed
14 July 1945 recommissioned
27 July 1945 sent to the Far East carrying the 5th Airborne Brigade to Bombay
31 August 1945 joined Operation Armour at Trincomalee and assisted in taking the 3rd Commando Brigade to the relief of Hong Kong2 September 1945 arrived at Hong Kong shortly after the War had ended
1 October 1945 operated for the Australian Naval Board transporting Australian troops from around the Pacific back to Australia
29 January 1946 sailed Australia for Kure, Japan with Garrison troops then sailed to Subic Bay to evacuate for British Prisoners of War and bring them back to the UK
13 June 1946 arrived on the River Clyde
17 July 1946 released for return to her owners and was reconverted for commercial service by Vickers Armstrong at Newcastle on Tyne
3 March 1948 redelivered to her owners with the name reverted to Glengyle and with accommodation for 19 x 1st Class and 2 x 2nd Class passengers
1949 resumed her owners’ Far East service October
1970 transferred to Ocean Steamship Co Ltd., (A Holt & Co, Managers) Liverpool and renamed Deucalion
9 June 1971 arrived Kaohsiung for demolition
Notes:
Was initially requisitioned along with her sister ships Glenearn, Glenroy and Breconshire as commissioned transports