Official Number:                     169110

Class:                                      Miscellaneous Harbour Tug – WARRIOR Class

Pennant No:                           A369

Laid down:
Builder:                                  J Crown & Sons at Monkwearmouth
Launched:                              31 December 1942
Into Service:                          15 March 1943

Base Port:                              Londonderry
Out of service:
Fate:                                      14 March 1966 Broken Up at Dublin, Eire

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:   There were a number of vessels which fell into the category of Miscellaneous Harbour Tugs which all belonged to different Classes and which were based at various Naval Bases for general duties

31 December 1942 launched by J. Crown & Sons Ltd, Sunderland as Yard Nr 207 named EMPIRE DEMON for the MoWT

12 March 1943 registered at Sunderland as EMPIRE DEMON and entered as 4/43 in the Registry

15 March 1943 completed and placed under management of Rowbotham  & Sons, London

1943 taken over by the Admiralty

15 June 1944  off Selsey had under tow Phoenix Unit A2-70 handed the tow over to USS ATA-125

16 July 1944 Acting Able Seaman Wilfred Borrett D/JX 254307 discharged dead (borne on HMS President III) he is buried in Hartlepool North Cemetery and is commemorated on a screen wall in Hartlepool (Stranton) Cemetery

2 September 1944 sailed Southend in escorted convoy ETC87 to Southampton arriving the next day

1945 transferred back to the MoWT

1946 managed by Risdon Beazley Ltd., Southampton

2 April 1949 permanently allocated to the Admiralty civilian manned under RFA conditions

4 April 1949 Captain W J Finlay appointed as Master

3 June 1949 vide AFO 1872/49 allocated to Londonderry as her Base Port

31 December 1951 Mr A Begg appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

2 October 1953 grounded along with RFA SPARKLER when attending the French Steamer Formigny at Londonderry on a mud bank by the Aberfoyle light

ss Formigny

3 October 1953 all three ships refloated all undamaged

13 August 1956 the Birmingham Daily Post reported –

3 March 1962 chartered to the US Navy for duties in the River Clyde area

1964 owners became the Secretary of State for Defence and was transferred to Londonderry for use by HMS SEA EAGLE, the anti-submarine training school and  was later chartered to the local Harbour Commissioners.

26 March 1965 involved in an accident with m/v Norse Lion while manoeuvering her in Lough Foyle and was sent to Belfast for dry-docking and survey

14 July 1965 after surveys declared beyond economical  repair

16 November 1965 offered for sale in the Times of this day ‘as lying’ at Belfast

24 January 1966 sold for breaking up to Haulbowline Industries Ltd, Passage West, Eire

15 February 1966 while under tow enroute to ship breakers at Passage West lost her tow from Dredger No 2 Wexford. Put into Dublin for stores and water. The crew deserted. Re-sold to local ship breakers.

14 March 1966 Broken Up at Dublin, Eire