Subsequent name: Eyforia Eforia Captain Spyromilios
Official Number 182198
Class: ASSURANCE Class Tug
Pennant No: W96 / A254
Laid down: 9 March 1942
Builder: Cochrane, Selby
Launched: 29 June 1942
Into Service: 21 November 1942
Out of service: Sold out of service
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: There were originally twenty one ships in this Class, seven of which saw service as RFA’s. Of 700t standard displacement and 1350t full load displacement, they had a complement of thirty one and a bollard pull of 13½ tons. In wartime they were armed with 1 x 3“ gun, 1 x 20mm AA gun and 2 x .303 machine guns
29 June 1942 launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd:, Selby as Yard Nr: 1251 named HMS PROSPEROUS. Sub Lieutenant (E) J Fyfe RNR was the Chief Engineer Officer
21 November 1942 completed
15 December 1942 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EN173 to Loch Ewe arriving 17 December 1942
8 January 1943
The Captain and Officers of HMS PROSPEROUS (L to R), Sub Lieutenant J L Goodwin, RNR (Navigator), Sub Lieut A McLean, RNR (1st Lieutenant), Lt John E L Brice, MID RNR, (Captain), Sub Lieut (E) Christopher H Hall, RNVR (Chief Engineer)
© IWM (A 13863)
18 January 1943 the Licolnshire Echo reported –
9 May 1943 sailed Milford Haven to ss Jutland in difficulties in heavy weather 140 degrees St. Ann’s Head 3½ miles. SS Jutland capsized and drifted ashore west Freshwater Bay. Prosperous returned to Milford Haven having rescued all the crew – souce Admiralty War Diary
22 June 1943 Temporary Lieutenant John Edgar Leonard Brice RNR awarded Additional Membership of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) while in command of the Prosperous for coolness and courage in saving the lives of a sinking merchant ship and for towing the damaged vessel to port. (London Gazette 36062) in addition for courage and skill Temporary Acting Sub-Lieutenant (E) Christopher Horace Hall RNVR was mentioned in despatches and Storekeeper Jack Everett the award of the Distinguished Service Medal for courage and skill in the same matter
4 July 1943 sailed the Clyde in escorted Convoy KMS 20G as a rescue tug arriving at Gibraltar on the 14 July 1943 RFA DINGLEDALE bwas the escort oiler
30 July 1943 with ss Halizones in tow on Gibraltar UK convoy route – Halizones sank (not through enemy action) at 37°22N 13°03W Prosperous returned to Gibraltar – source Admiralty War Diary
ss Halizones
30 August 1943 escorted vessel Ulster Queen into Gibraltar – source Admiralty War Diary
5 September 1943 sailed Gibraltar with another tug towing ss Fort Babine back to the UK. The Fort Babine had been hit by an aerial torpedo in February 1943 with some of the crew killed. Towed to Oran for discharge of cargo and repairs. Towed to Gibraltar for more repairs
10 October 1943 suffering boiler defects which prevented her sailing – souce Admiralty War Diary
November 1943 berthed at Gibraltar
18 December 1943 sailed in escorted convoy MKS 043 from Bone to Gibraltar arriving on the 24 December 1943
24 January 1944 off Anzio towing USS Mayo (DD422) which had been mined and suffered considerable damage with loss of six members of her crew and a further twenty injured injured to Naples for repairs. Subject to air attack during the tow
USS Mayo (DD422)
1 February 1944 sailed Anzio to Naples under escort of US Navy
21 February 1944 off Green Beach, Anzio Beach head in tandem with USS Hopi (ATF71) commenced towing USS LCT 34 – subject of enemy shelling – tow abandoned
22 February 1944 off Green Beach, Anzio Beach head suffered a fouled screw – taken under tow by USS Hopi (ATF71). Screw cleared recommenced towing USS LCT 34 with USS Hopi (ATF71)
During February 1944 and early March 1944 assisted US forces in the refloating of USS Edenshaw, a naval tug, which had gone aground on 4 February 1944 in heavy seas at the Anzio Beach head. The Edenshaw was subject to heavy enemy air attach while aground. The ship was refloated after 32 days on 7 March 1944 (Source reported by the Flag Secretary Eighth Amphibious Force)
7 March 1944 alongside USS LCI(L) 41 anchored off Anzio
17 March 1944 with USS Restorer (ARS17) attempted unsuccessfully to tow pontoons off Anzio Green Beach
4 April 1944 berthed at Naples with USS Moreno (AT-87) berthed outside of her
6 April 1944 USS Moreno (AT-87) shifted berth
12 July 1944 sailed Naples to Piombino escorted by USS PC-1227 arriving on 14 July 1944
19 July 1944 and 20 July 1944 alongside berth 9 at Naples Harbour with USS Extricate (ARS16) outboard
1 August 1944 towed HMS ITHURIEL from Gibraltar to Plymouth – she was later sold for scrap
8 August 1944 arrived at Plymouth
23 February 1945 USS PC-1595 berthed alongside at Dorsena Nuova, Leghorn, Italy then assisted the US warship into dry dock (Source the US warships log)
29 May 1945 towed German type VIIC submarine U907 from Bergen, Norway to Scapa Flow and then to Loch Ryan to be sunk on 7 December 1945 under Operation Deadlight at position 55°17N, 05°59W
26 November 1945 towed the German type XXII submarine U2345 through the North Channel to be sunk under Operation Deadlight on 27 November 1945 by demolition charges in position 56°10N, 10°05W
28 November 1945 sailed through the North Channel towing German type V11C submarine U968 for destruction under Operation Deadlight. The submarine foundered the next day and anchored the tug to the sea bed in 80 fathoms at 55°24N 06°22W. The tow had to be cut to save the towing vessel
5 December 1945 sailed through the North Channel towing German type V11C submarine U994 for destruction under Operation Deadlight. The submarine foundered while under tow at 55°50N x 08°30W
7 December 1945 sailed through the North Channel towing German type V11C submarine U907 for destruction under Operation Deadlight. Sunk by gunfire in position 55°17N, 05°59W
13 December 1945 sailed through the North Channel towing German type V11C submarine U1002 for destruction under Operation Deadlight. Sunk by HMS/m TANVITY north west of Bloody Foreland at 56°10N x 10°05W
17 December 1945 sailed through the North Channel towing German type V11C submarine U956 to be sunk under Operation Deadlight Sunk by naval gunfire at 55°50N 10°05W
21 December 1945 towed German submarine U155 through the North Channel to be sunk under Operation Deadlight – tow broke in heavy weather – submarine sunk by gunfire in position 55°35N, 07°39W
9 February 1945 towed German submarine U975 from Lisahally in company with HMS LOCH ARKAIG and HMS LOCH SIN – submarine sunk the next day by a Squid attack from the Royal Naval frigates at 55.°42N 09°01W
11 February 1946 took part in Operation Deadlight (2) when together with HMS LOCH ARKAIG and with gunfire and ‘Shark’ anti submarine weapon sank the German submarine U3514 (A type XXI submarine) off the coast of Northern Ireland at 56°00N 10°05W. This was the last submarine to be disposed of under Operation Deadlight (2).
German Submarines waiting to be sunk in Operation Deadlight
1 May 1946 sailed Lisahally to give assistance to the US steamship Georgetown Victory aground at Killard Point as the entrance to Strangford Lough, south of Belfast while on passage from Sydney to Glasgow with British troops and Naval personel returning to the UK for demobilisation. The ship began to break up and with the assistance of lifeboats the crew and passengers were safely landed
ss Georgetown Victory
1 May 1947 Mr L N Cottrell appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
3 May 1947 Captain J E Noble appointed as Master
12 May 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
6 August 1947 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour returning to her berth later the same day
4 November 1947 took in tow a 400 ton lifting craft which broke away during a gale for Milford Haven while escorted by HMS WIZARD
HMS WIZARD
30 December 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
30 January 1948 berthed on No: 7 Tier, at South Shields on the River Tyne
16 February 1948 arrived at Devonport from Hull towing a ‘Spud’ pontoon similar to ones used with the Mulberry Harbour
24 March 1948 Captain W A Fletcher appointed as Master
3 April 1948 the Torbay Express & South Devon Echo reported –
29 April 1948 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
8 August 1948 while towing HMS WILTON from Plymouth to Harwich hove to in a gale for several hours 18 miles SSW of Portland Bill
1949 under RFA Conditions as PROSPEROUS, based at Portsmouth
24 June 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard with tow steaming westwards
27 June 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard with tow steaming westwards
8 July 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard steaming eastwards in company of RFA JAUNTY and a tow
19 July 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard steaming westwards
18 November 1949 sailed from Portsmouth
30 November 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard steaming westwards
5 December 1949 arrived at Portsmouth
9 December 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard steaming eastwards
19 December 1949 sailed from Portsmouth
24 January 1950 arrived at Dover from Harwich
3 March 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing south with a tow bound for Harwich
12 June 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard steaming eastwards
19 June 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard with tow steaming westwards
30 June 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard with tow steaming eastwards
5 July 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
14 October 1950 sailed from Plymouth with tow
16 October 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound with a tow
17 October 1950 while towing HMS TRAFALGAR to Birkenhead for refit, the tow broke in Cardigan Bay. The tow was reconnected. The incident was reported in the Scotsman newspaper –
18 October 1950 arrived at Birkenhead sailing the next day for Plymouth
20 October 1950 arrived at Plymouth
25 November 1950 before Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court Assistant Cook Cecil Albert Turnbull was charged aiding and abetting another person taking and driving away a motor cycle without the owners consent. He pleaded ‘Guilty’ and was fined £5
6 December 1950 sailed Dover
7 December 1950 arrived at Sheerness
13 December 1950 arrived at Plymouth
15 December 1950 sailed Plymouth for Pembroke Dock
16 December 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard with tow steaming westwards. Arrived at Pembroke Dock
20 December 1950 sailed Plymouth for Portsmouth Harbour arriving the same day
18 March 1951 arrived River Tyne from Harwich with HMS BRAVE in tow – the tow parted at the entrance to the River Tyne and HMS BRAVE ran aground with the 14 members of the crew being rescued by breeches buoy
21 March 1951 sailed the River Tyne for Sheerness towing HMS COCKATRICE
22 March 1951 put back into the River Tyne with her tow due to very bad weather
3 April 1951 sailed from Portsmouth
27 April 1951 arrived at Portsmouth
10 May 1951 sailed Sheerness in company of the tug RFA SAUCY towing HMS DIADEM to Portsmouth
19 June 1951 arrived at Portsmouth
11 July 1951 sailed Bermuda as back up tug to WARDEN and REWARD who were towing an Admiralty Floating Dock to Falmouth – arrived on 11 August 1951
4 May 1953 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing south bound
22 July 1953 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
7 February 1954 arrived River Tyne from Harwich
8 February 1954 sailed from the River Tyne for Portsmouth
12 February 1954 at Portsmouth with orders to sail to Trincomalee, Ceylon when it was found that the steering had been maliciously damaged. The Admiralty Constabulary were advised and an investigation started.
26 March 1954 Seaman Thomas Evans Armour appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court charged with ‘malicious damage’ to the ship steering. He pleaded Guilty and was fined £10 and ordered to pay £20 cost of the damage
17 August 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing southbound
27 October 1954 the frigate HMS RELENTLESS was in collision with HMS VIGILANT while on anti submarines exercises off the Hebrides and suffered damage. Prosperous sailed from the Clyde to tow HMS RELENTLESS back to safety on the Clyde
HMS RELENTLESS
28 October 1954 the Northern Daily Mail reported –
24 March 1955 entered Chatham Dockyard from the River Medway
25 April, 1955 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Dover west bound with a tow
26 October 1956 the Hampshire Telegraph reported –
2 June 1957 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing north and bound for Rosyth
22 July 1957 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamorough Head sailing south with a tow bound for Portsmouth
2 September 1959 berthed at Malta from Gibraltar
December 1960 completed a refit for Reserve at Portsmouth Dockyard
12 May 1961 in Chatham Dockyard in reserve
28 June 1961 in Chatham Dockyard
3 November 1964 still at Chatham Dockyard – offered for sale in the Times newspaper –
7 January 1965 purchased by Aegean Steam Nav Typaldos Bros Ltd, Piraeus and renamed EYFORIA
1967 purchased by Varnima Corp, Piraeus and renamed EFORIA
1968 purchased by Seka SA, Piraeus and renamed CAPTAIN SPYROMILIOS and subsequently saw employment as a Pilot Cutter at Piraeus
23 August 1980 arrived at United Shipbreakers, Eleusis to be broken up