HMT Arab
HM Trawler Arab was a naval trawler serving in the Royal Naval Patrol Service (RNPS; aka “Harry Tate’s Navy” or “Churchill’s Pirates”) during World War II. Lt. Richard Been Stannard won the Victoria Cross (VC) while serving as her commander during the Namsos campaign in 1940.
Arab was built by Smith's Dock Co. of South Bank-on-Tees, (Middlesbrough), with Hull Name Arab H293. (Smith’s Dock Company also built a number of other trawlers that would serve in the RNPS such as Phyllis Rosalie, which became HMT Amethyst.) Arab had a displacement of 531 tons. She was launched 19 June 1936 and worked as a trawler for her owners, Hellyer Brothers Ltd., of Hull.[1]
The Admiralty commissioned her in September 1939 with the Pennant FY202, equipping and arming her for anti-submarine warfare. Lt. Richard Been Stannard, Royal Navy Reserve, became her captain.
On 12 March 1940, Arab was escorting a convoy during which the German air force bombed the SS Statira. For his actions, Stannard received a mention in despatches.
In late April 1940, the Admiralty sent the 15th Anti-Submarine Striking Force, under Commander Sir Geoffrey Congreve, to Namsos, Norway, about 100 miles north of Trondheim. The task force was to evacuate troops that had landed there on 14 April as part of the unsuccessful Namsos Campaign.[2]
During the five days, 28 April to 2 May, that Arab was in the fjord, she endured 24 dive bomber attacks, and seven higher altitude (8000/10,000 ft.) bombing attacks. The Luftwaffe sank three other naval trawlers from A/S SF 15 at Namsfjord: HMT Aston Villa, HMT Gaul, and HMT St. Goran.
On May 3, as Arab was leaving Namsos, taking St. Goran’s crew with her, Arab managed to shoot down a Heinkel HE 111 that had ordered her to ‘steer east (i.e., back to Namsos and captivity) or be sunk’. Stannard then brought Arab safely home in spite of her damaged engines. It was for his actions and leadership during the five days at Namsos that Stannard received the VC.
Arab, with Stannard in command, served at the Dunkirk evacuation during May 26 and June 4 1940. On 29 June 1940, the Admiralty promoted Stannard to Lieutenant Commander, RNR. At the end of the year he left Arab and went on to command destroyers, earning a DSO (Distinguished Service Order) while captain of the HMS Vimy.
On 29 January 1941, Arab, under the command of Lt C.A. Shillan, was escorting Convoy SC-19. About 150 miles southwest of Rockall, U-93 was able to torpedo the W.B. Walker. Arab came to the aid of the torpedoed vessel, and together with HMS Anthony, took her into tow. The Walker eventually broke in half and sank, but Arab landed her master and 42 crew members (four had been lost in the torpedoing), at Gourock.[3]
In 1945, the Admiralty returned Arab to her owners, Prince Fishing Co. Ltd., (Owen S. Hellyer, Manager). In 1947 Loch Fishing Co., Ltd., of Hull, bought her and renamed her Loch Seaforth. Loch Fishing operated her until 1963, when she was scrapped at Ghent, Belgium.[4]
