Previous name: HMS Saucy
Subsequent name: Nisos Chios
Class: Assurance Class Tug
Pennant No: W131 / A386
Laid down: 30 June 1942
Builder: Cochrane & Sons, Selby
Launched: 26 October 1942
Into Service: 1949
Out of service: 11 November 1960
Fate: Sold commercially
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 1350 t full load displacement, they had a complement of 31 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
26 October 1942 launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby as Yard Nr: 1257 named HMS SAUCY
27 February 1943 completed and was allocated to SNO Selsey to tow Phoenix and Whale Units across the Channel to the Normandy Beaches
7 March 1943 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EN202 for och Ewe to arrive 9 March 1943
19 March 1943 assisted in the rescue of the ship CARRAS which had been torpedoed and damaged while part of Convoy SC122 in the North Atlantic while on passage to the UK
11 April 1943 at Reykjavik after USS Aries (AK51) requested the assistance of a tug due to engine trouble – sailed to assist
USS Aries (AK51)
22 April 1943 sailed to assist vessel Brynhild in location 130 degrees Reykjnes 6 miles with main engine defects. Vessel Brynhild was ex Convoy RU 71 (souce Admiralty War Diary)
ss Brynhild
26 September 1943 at 01:00 sailed with vessel Nemesis in tow to be at the Clyde light vessel by 11:00 and r/v’ed with HMS BOMBARDIER as escort thence to Ewe Buoy (souce Admiralty War Diary)
HMS BOMBARDIER
28 September 1943 at Ewe Buoy, still escorted by HMS BOMBARDIER, for vessel Nemesis to join convoy UR92 to Reykavik, Iceland (source Admiralty War Diary)
11 October 1943 at Reykjavik waiting for better weather to put to sea to assist the SS Selfoss. Weather moderated and the request for a tug by the Selfoss was cancelled
8 November 1943 sailed Reykjavik in unescorted convoy RU96 for Loch Ewe arriving 12 November 1943
16 November 1943 sailed Loch Ewe in the company of tug Empire Pixie to provide assistance to vessel Markay aground on Eugenie Rock, Isle of Skye. HMS (later RFA) BUSTLER sailed from Cambletown. Markay refloated (souce Admiralty War Diaries)
25 January 1944 sailed by NOIC Greenock to vessel Lena Luckenbach which had lost her rudder. Also required to assist vessel Vansittart ashore in Loch Scrisain, Isle of Mull – was safely refloated (souce Admiralty War Diary)
10 July 1944 sailed Seine Bay in escorted convoy FTC32 arriving at Southend the next day towing Barness
13 September 1944 sailed with tug Lariat towing AFD 17 (ex USN BAT 5 on Lease-Lend) with AFD 17 in tow to Gibraltar and escorted by HMS’s NORTHERN SPRAY, NORTHERN REWARD and COLDSTREAMER (souce Admiralty War Diary). The AFD was destined for the British Pacific Fleet but only reached Sydney, NSW when the War ended
20 October 1944 berthed at Barry with tug Hesperia and vessel Trentonian
2 December 1944 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
December 1944 towed the BK Barge 6165, which she had rescued in the English Channel, to Newhaven
April 1945 towed the American Solomon Juneau from the Downs to Gravesend after she had been torpedoed off Boulogne
2 October 1945 sailed from Montrose with a tow for Falmouth
27 November 1945 towed the German submarine U2322 the North Channel for destruction under Operation Deadlight – sunk by gunfire. The submarine had surrended at Stavanger, Norway on 9 May 1945
German Submarine U2322
28 November 1945 towed the German submarine U2363 the North Channel for destruction under Operation Deadlight – sunk by gun fire. The submarine had surrended at Kristiansand Sud, Norway on 9 May 1945
German Submarine U2363 when in Allied hands
30 November 1945 towed the German submarine U868 through the North Channel for destruction under Operation Deadlight as an aircraft target but sank in a steep dive when the tow line parted at 55°48N 08°33W in 70 fathoms. The submarine had surrended at Bergen, Norway on 9 May 1945
4 December 1945 towed the German submarine U539 through the North Channel for destruction under Operation Deadlight – the submarine foundered when at sea under tow at 55°38N 07°57W. The submarine had surrended at Bergen, Norway on 9 May 1945
28 December 1945 towed the German submarine U680 through the North Channel for destruction under Operation Deadlight – the tow parted and the submarine was sunk by gunfire north of the Giants Causeway at 55°24N 06°29W. The submarine had surrended at Baring Bay, near Frederica, Denmark on 6 May 1945
29 December 1945 sailed from Lisahally with German type V11C submarine U 294 in tow for destruction under Operation Deadlight by HMS LOCH SHIN for destruction under Operation Deadlight. The tow parted and the submarine was returned to port by this tug. The submarine had surrended at Narvik, Norway on 9 May 1945
31 December 1945 sailed from Lisahally with German type V11C submarine U 363 in tow for destruction under Operation Deadlight. The tow parted and U363 was sunk by gunfire from Polish destroyer ORP Blyskawica at 55°45N 08°18W that day. The submarine had surrended at Narvik, Norway on 9 May 1945
5 January 1946 towed the German submarine U2506 from Lisahally for destruction under Operation Deadlight – sunk by gunfire north of Malin Head at 55°37N 07°30W. The submarine had surrended at Bergen, Norway on 9 May 1945
9 January 1946 towed the German submarine U1023 from Lisahally for destruction under Operation Deadlight – the submarine foundered while under tow north of Malin Head. The submarine had surrendered at Portland Harbour on 10 May 1945
German Submarine U1023 while still in German hands
22 May 1946 Lieutenant Tom Pickering MID RNR appointed as Commanding Officer
9 July 1946 sailed Portsmouth with the Admiralty tug Prudence towing HMS CERES to the ship breakers at Blyth
11 July 1946 arrived at Blyth with the Admiralty tug Prudence towing HMS CERES
31 January 1947 Captain Hilton John Jones MBE (Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
14 April 1947 with other tugs salvaged RMS Queen Elizabeth which ran aground in Southampton Water on the Brambles Bank. Refloated only after a quantity of fuel oil was pumped from the ship
2 July 1947 Mr A Rees appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 November 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east with a tow
19 March 1948 arrived at Rosyth from Falmouth in company with RFA EARNER
4 August 1948 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east with a tow
13 August 1948 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west with a tow
19 August 1948 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
1 September 1948 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
10 September 1948 with RFA EARNER sailed Plymouth with HMS ORION in tow to Scotland for trials
HMS ORION
28 November 1948 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east with a tow
1949 under RFA terms and conditions as SAUCY
2 January 1949 sailed Portsmouth to attend on the RMS Queen Mary which was aground off Cherbourg – the ship refloated herself and did not require the assistance of tugs
3 January 1949 sailed Portsmouth with HMS TUSCAN in tow to Birkenhead for refit
HMS TUSCAN
19 January 1949 sailed Birkenhead for Plymouth
21 January 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
17 March 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound with a tow
7 April 1949 together wih RFA ENVOY towed HMS ARETHUSA from Falmouth to an anchorage off Portsmouth for gamma ray tests
22 April 1949 entered Portsmouth Harbour berthing at Promontry
24 June 1949 based at Portland and with five other tugs based at Portsmouth the crews received salvage money for salvaging the liner RMS Queen Elizabeth which ran aground in Southampton Water on 15 April 1947
28 July 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
11 August 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east with a tow
21 August 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west with a tow
4 September 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east with a tow
15 September 1949 arrived at Rosyth from Plymouth
3 October 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west with a tow
2 November 1949 arrived at and later sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
4 November 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west with a tow
26 November 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east with a tow
2 December 1949 the Dover Express newspaper reported …
12 December 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
16 December 1949 the Dover Express newspaper further reported …
21 December 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east with a tow
6 January 1950 arrived at Dover
9 January 1950 sailed from Dover for Portsmouth
31 January 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
14 February 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
21 February 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
26 February 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east with a tow
7 June 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west with a tow
11 June 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
16 June 1950 the Hampshire Telegraph reported –
20 June 1950 Mr E J Blythe appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
31 July 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound with a tow
11 August 1950 passed the Lizard sailing westbound towing HMS ANSON together with RFA JAUNTY and RFA ENFORCER
17 August 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
22 September 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound with a tow
26 September 1950 while towing HMS MUSKETEER from Harwich to Liverpool for refit in a gale the warship broke her tow. The Barrow in Furness lifeboat stood by until the warship anchored about 20 miles off the light vessel at the entrance to Liverpool Channel
HMS MUSKETEER
29 September 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
19 December 1950 arrived at Harwich
21 December 1950 sailed the River Tyne for Portsmouth
3 January 1951 arrived at the River Tyne from Sheerness
8 January 1951 sailed the River Tyne towing HMS BRAMBLE to Sheerness
18 January 1951 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
6 March 1951 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
3 May 1951 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
10 May 1951 sailed Sheerness in company of the tug RFA PROSPEROUS towing HMS DIADEM to Portsmouth
11 August 1951 together with RFA JAUNTY passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing westbound while towing HMS ANSON to be laid up at the Gareloch
2 September 1951 RFA’s ENVOY, JAUNTY and SAUCY sailed from Spithead this day with HMS DUKE OF YORK in tow for the battleship to be laid up at the Gareloch
HMS DUKE OF YORK
7 September 1951 while arriving off the Gladstone Dock Liverpool with HMS DUKE OF YORK in tow the battleship was in collision with the m.v. Royal Iris 60 people on the m.v. Royal Iris were injured
19 October 1951 Mr G E Reay appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
31 May 1952 towed the wreck of NAV BEDENHAM from Gibraltar to the Tyne for breaking up by Clayton & Davie Ltd, Dunston-on-Tyne
27 December 1952 sailed Spithead towing HMS MIDDLETON to Penarth, Wales to joing units of the Reserve Fleet
13 April 1953 at No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard Donkeyman John Gilmartin from the ship discharged dead – found floating in the water having been drowned
9 July 1953 at Gibraltar Fireman Patrick Campbell discharged dead – died from a fractured skull after a fall onboard. He is buried in North Front Cemetery, Gibraltar in grave 1740 in Plot D
22 September 1953 sailed to assist RFA WAVE RULER which had broken down off Opporto, Portugal and disabled in very heavy seas while enroute from the Persian Gulf
15 October 1953 arrived at the River Tyne
17 October 1953 sailed from the River Tyne for Portsmouth
11 October 1954 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
27 October 1954 together with RFA’s ENFORCER and ENVOY towed HMS INDOMITABLE from Rosyth to the Clyde for the aircraft carrier to enter the Fleet Reserve. RFA CAUTIOUS was on stand by and RFA SAMSONIA joined the tow after it experienced heavy weather abreast of Stornaway
21 November 1955 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing south bound with a tow
3 May 1956 arrived at the River Tyne with HMS OBEDIENT in tow from Chatham for preservation work to be undertaken on the warship
19 July 1956 sailed the River Tyne with HMS LOCH MORE in tow for Hartlepool
28 June 1957 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing north bound with a tow for Hartlepool
9 January 1958 the submarine HMS/m TACITURN dragged her anchor and grounded at the entrance to Campbeltown Loch, Argyllshire. Refloated later with the assistance of RFA SAUCY and HMS KINGFISHER
HMS/m TACITURN aground
15 January 1958 with other ships assisted in the search for and recovery of injured crew members of HMS BARCOMBE which had run aground on the east coast of Loch Buie, south of the Isle of Mull
HMS BARCOMBE
19 March 1959 in collision with mt CARISBROOKE at Portsmouth
19 December 1959 in collision with ISMS REEDHAM at Portsmouth
1960 laid up at Pembroke Dock
December 1964 on the Disposal List Pembroke Dock
21 January 1965 and 28 January 1965 advertised for sale ‘as lying’ at HM Dockyard, Pembroke Dock in The Times on these dates
1 March 1965 Sold for £17,300 to Tsavliris (Salvage and Towage) Ltd; Piraeus, Greece and renamed Nisos Chios.
1971 reported as broken up in Greece