HM Trawler Force

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HM Trawler Force
Career (UK)
Name: HM Trawler James Bucham
Builder: Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd., Selby
Yard number: 825
Launched: 18 September 1917
Fate: Sold 1922
Career (UK)
Name: Stoneferry
Owner: City Steam Fishing Company
Acquired: 1922
Homeport: Kingston upon Hull
Fate: Sold, 1934
Career (UK)
Name: Cape Tarifa
Owner: Hudson Fishing Company Ltd.
Acquired: 1934
Homeport: Kingston upon Hull
Fate: Sold, 1938
Career (Poland) Polish Merchant Navy Ensign
Name: Franciska
Owner: Towarzystwo Dalekomorskiz Polowow
Acquired: 1938
Homeport: Gdynia
Fate: Sold, 1939
Career (UK)
Name: Force
Owner: Adam Steam Fishing Company Ltd.
Acquired: 1939
Homeport: Fleetwood
Fate: Requisitioned, February 1940
Career (UK)
Name: HM Trawler Force
Acquired: February 1940
Fate: Sunk, 27 June 1941
General characteristics
Type: Naval trawler
Tonnage: 438 long tons (445 t) gross
Length: 138 ft (42 m) o/a
Beam: 23 ft (7.0 m)
Depth: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Propulsion: 3-cylinder triple-expansion steam engine
1 screw
Armament: 2 × 12 pounder guns AA

HM Trawler Force was a British trawler built for the Royal Navy in the First World War and subsequently requisitioned for service in the Second World War. She was sunk by air attack in June 1941.

Career

Force was built at Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd at Selby in Yorkshire in 1917 (shipyard number 825), commissioned as the trawler James Bucham. She was an armed trawler built for the Royal Navy. She had a 3-cylinder triple expansion engine from C.D. Holmes of Hull. She was launched on the 18 September 1917.

In 1922, after five years' service in the Royal Navy, she was sold to the City Steam Fishing Company Ltd of Kingston upon Hull and re-named as Stoneferry. She remained with them for twelve years and, in 1934, she was sold again and re-named. The new owners were the Hudson Fishing Company Ltd of Kingston upon Hull, who renamed her as Cape Tarifa. In 1938, she was sold to the Polish company Towarzystwo Dalekomorskiz Polowow of Gdynia and again renamed, as Franciska. After a year she returned to British ownership with the Adam Steam Fishing Company Ltd of Fleetwood, Lancashire, who renamed her Force.

World War II

Position of the wreck of the Force

In February 1940, after the outbreak of the Second World War, Force returned to the Royal Navy and was fitted with two 12-pounder anti-aircraft guns.

The end came for Force off the north east Norfolk coast, six miles from Winterton Ness. On 27 June 1941, Force was attacked by German aircraft and was sunk at 52°48′55″N 001°47′48″E / 52.81528°N 1.79667°E / 52.81528; 1.79667Coordinates: 52°48′55″N 001°47′48″E / 52.81528°N 1.79667°E / 52.81528; 1.79667.

References

  • Tikus, Ayer (2004): The Ship-wrecks off North East Norfolk Pub: Ayer Tikus Publications, ISBN

External links