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HMTAilsa Craig in 1944 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators | |
| Subclasses | |
| Built | 1939–1945 |
| Completed |
|
| Lost | 23 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Naval trawler |
| Displacement | 545 long tons (554 t) |
| Length | 164 ft (50 m) |
| Beam | 27 ft 8 in (8.43 m) |
| Draught | 11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) (mean) |
| Propulsion | 1 triple expansionreciprocating engine, 1 shaft, 850 ihp (634 kW) |
| Speed | 12knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement | 40 |
| Armament | See text |
TheIsles-class trawlers were a class ofnaval trawler used by theRoyal Navy,Royal Canadian Navy andRoyal New Zealand Navy duringWorld War II.
The type comprised 197 vessels built between 1939 and 1945 in the nearly identical Isles,Dance,Tree andShakespearian classes. Similar to theCastle-class trawlers of 1916–1918, though somewhat larger, they were mainly used onminesweeping and harbour defence duties. Most were armed with one12-pounder gun (76 mm) and three or four20 mm Oerlikon AA guns with 30depth charges. In the Dance class a 4-inch AA gun (102 mm) was fitted in place of the 12 pdr, and there were six 20 mm Oerlikons inAnnet,Bressay,Damsay,Fiaray,Foulness andLindisfarne. Four of the trawlers were given "bird" names when converted to controlled minelayers in 1943–44:Blackbird (M15),Dabchick (M22),Stonechat (M25) andWhitethroat (M03). A total of 23 of these trawlers were lost during the war.[1] Six trawlers were loaned to Canada in 1942–1945 and five to Norway in 1943–1945.
Postwar, 17 of the trawlers were disarmed as wreck disposal vessels:Bardsey (DV13),Bern (DV4),Caldy (DV5)Coll (DV6),Earraid (DV7),Fetlar (DV8),Flatholm (DV9),Graemsay (DV10),Lindisfarne (DV11),Lundy (DV12),Neave (DV14),Scalpay (DV15),Skomer (DV16),Steepholm (DV17),Switha (DV18),Tiree (DV19), andTrondra (DV20). At least five were employed asdanlayers (laying and retrieving dan buoys during minesweeping operations):Imersay (J422),Sandray (J424),Shillay (J426),Sursay (J427) andTocogay (J451). After decommissioning,Switha andColl were converted to oil tank cleaning vessels for dockyard service in 1949–1950.
By 1949, there were 31 trawlers and four controlled minelayers in Royal Navy service, one controlled minelayer in the Royal Canadian Navy and four trawlers in the Royal New Zealand Navy. Sixteen were in service in theItalian Navy and six in thePortuguese Navy.[2] Most of the surviving Royal Navy examples were discarded in the 1950s but a few remained until the 1960s. Two acquired post-war by the FederalGerman Navy remained in service as training vessels well into the 1970s, with one,Trave (ex-Dochet), resold to Turkey for further service in 1977.
| Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned/ | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ailsa Craig | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 16 October 1943[3] | 24 December 1943[4] | Sold 1946 and renamedVeslemoy. RenamedToran in 1952. Lost 19 February 1955.[3] | |
| Annet[5] | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 25 March 1943[3] | 19 June 1943[4] | Became a Wreck disposal vessel in 1946.[3] Still in use as diving Vessel for clearance diving in 1953.[6] Sold 1957.[7] Became fishery protection vessel FPVUlva forFishery Board for Scotland in 1958. Withdrawn from use 1971 and scrapped 1972.[3][8] | |
| Arran | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 16 November 1940[3] | 1 May 1941[9] | Sold 1946 and renamedAssan Reis. RenamedProfessor Henking 1952.[3] | |
| Balta | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 2 December 1940[3] | 19 May 1941[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Bardsey | Fleming & Ferguson | 17 July 1943[3] | 15 September 1943[4] | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV13) | |
| Benbecula | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 28 October 1943[3] | 13 January 1944[4] | Sold 1946, bought byHM Customs and Excise and served asHMRCVigilant | |
| Bern | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 2 May 1942[3] | 9 October 1942[10] | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV4) | |
| Biggal | Ferguson Bros. | 4 December 1944[3] | Sold 1946 | ||
| Blackbird (ex-Sheppey) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 20 February 1943[11] | Converted to controlled minelayer (M15) 1943: still in service 1949 | ||
| Bressay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 20 January 1942[3] | 10 May 1942[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Brora | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 18 December 1940[3] | 11 June 1941[10] | Grounded off Hebrides 6 September 1941 | |
| Bruray | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 16 May 1942[3] | 1 December 1942[10] | Transferred to Portugal 1943 asSam Miguel (P1) | |
| Bryher | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 8 April 1943[3] | 20 July 1943[4] | Still in service 1949 | |
| Burra | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 29 March 1941[3] | 18 July 1941[10] | Transferred to Italy 1946 asDR 301 | |
| Bute | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 12 May 1941[3] | 15 September 1941[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Caldy | John Lewis & Sons | 31 August 1943[3] | 14 December 1943[4] | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV5) | |
| Campobello | Collingwood Shipbuilding | 19 June 1942[12] | War loss 16 Mar 1943. | ||
| Copinsay | Cochrane & Sons | 12 April 1940[13] | 25 April 1941[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Crowlin | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 15 November 1943[13] | 28 January 1944[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Cumbrae | Cochrane & Sons | 20 December 1940[13] | 17 May 1941[10] | To Italy 1946 asDR 302 | |
| Damsay | George Brown & Co. | 27 June 1942[13] | 3 September 1942[10] | Still in service 1949 | |
| Dochet | G.T. Davie & Sons | 26 June 1942[12] | 13 November 1942[15] | Acquired by Federal German Navy postwar and renamedTrave (A51) as aType 139 patrol trawler; sold to Turkey in 1977 | |
| Earraid (ex-Gruna) | John Crown & Sons | 18 December 1941[16] | 11 May 1942[10] | Later wreck disposal vessel (DV7); sold 1948 | |
| Eday | Cochrane & Sons | 26 June 1941[13] | 22 November 1941[10] | Loaned to Norway asTromöy (i) 1943–44; sold into mercantile use 1946 | |
| Egilsay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 7 February 1942[13] | 28 May 1943[10] | To Italy 1946 asDR 306 | |
| Ensay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 5 March 1942[13] | 15 June 1942[10] | To Italy 1946 asDR 314 | |
| Eriskay | Fleming & Ferguson | 28 August 1942[13] | 28 October 1942[10] | To Portugal 1943 as P8 | |
| Fara | Cochrane & Sons | 27 January 1941[13] | 28 June 1941[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Farne | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 22 April 1943[13] | 31 August 1943[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Fetlar | Cochrane & Sons | 10 July 1941[13] | 13 December 1941[10] | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV8) | |
| Fiaray | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 13 June 1942[13] | 27 September 1942[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Filla | John Crown & Sons | 2 April 1942[13] | 28 August 1942[10] | To Italy 1946 asDR 305 | |
| Flatholm | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 8 May 1943[13] | 20 August 1943[14] | Later wreck disposal vessel (DV9); sold 1948 | |
| Flint | G.T. Davie & Sons | 14 July 1942[12] | 13 November 1942[15] | Acquired by Federal German Navy postwar and renamedEider (A50) as aType 139 patrol trawler | |
| Flotta | Cochrane & Sons | 13 February 1941[13] | 7 June 1941[10] | Grounded off East Scotland 6 Nov 1941. | |
| Foula | Cochrane & Sons | 28 July 1941[13] | 3 January 1942[10] | To Italy 1946 asDR 313 | |
| Foulness | John Lewis & Sons | 23 March 1942[13] | 30 June 1943[14] | Still in service 1949 | |
| Fuday | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1 January 1944[13] | 24 March 1944[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Gairsay | Ardrossan Dockyard Co. | 28 May 1942[13] | 2 September 1943[14] | War loss 4 Aug 1944. | |
| Ganilly | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 22 May 1943[13] | War loss 5 July 1944 | ||
| Gateshead | G.T. Davie & Sons | 1 August 1942[12] | 11 May 1943[15] | Sold 1947 | |
| Gillstone | Cochrane & Sons | 19 July 1943[16] | 13 November 1943[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Gorregan | Ardrossan Dockyard Co. | 30 December 1943[16] | 16 June 1944[14] | Still in service 1949 | |
| Graemsay | Ardrossan Dockyard Co. | 3 August 1942[16] | 16 June 1943[10] | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV10) | |
| Grain | Cochrane & Sons | 17 August 1943[16] | 16 November 1943[14] | To Italy 1946 asDR 309 | |
| Grassholm | John Lewis & Sons | 20 April 1943[16] | 17 August 1943[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Gruinard | John Crown & Sons | 20 November 1943[16] | 1 March 1943[10] | To Portugal 1943 as P7 | |
| Gulland | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 30 April 1943 | 5 August 1943[16] | 30 October 1943[14] | Sold to mercantile use 1946; renamedHenken 1947 andArab Trader 1949; wrecked north of Mombasa 13 April 1951. Boiler and wreckage still on reef.[17] |
| Gweal (ex-Boreray) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 17 June 1943[3] | 3 November 1942[4] | Sold 1946 | |
| Hannaray | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 12 February 1944[16] | 3 May 1944[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Harris | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 29 January 1944[16] | 12 April 1944[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Hascosay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 28 March 1944[16] | 26 May 1944[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Hayling | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 17 August 1942[16] | To Portugal 1943 asTerceira (P3) | ||
| Hellisay | Cochrane & Sons | 27 March 1944[16] | 17 July 1944[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Hermetray | Cochrane & Sons | 11 April 1944[16] | 22 August 1944[14] | Sold 1947 | |
| Herschell | G.T. Davie & Sons | 5 November 1942[12] | 29 May 1943[15] | Sold 1946 | |
| Hildasay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 29 April 1941[16] | 30 September 1941[10] | Grounded on Diani reef south of Mombasa, Kenya on 21 Jun 1945. Broke up during the next three months. Boiler visible at low tide. | |
| Hoxa | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 15 January 1941[16] | 18 July 1941[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Hoy | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1 February 1941[16] | 10 July 1941[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Hunda | Ferguson Bros. | 4 February 1942[16] | 31 March 1942[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Imersay | Cochrane & Sons | 21 August 1944[16] | 8 December 1944[14] | Still in service 1949 asdanlayer (J422) | |
| Inchcolm | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 3 March 1941[16] | 25 July 1941[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Inchmarnock | John Lewis & Sons | 25 August 1941[18] | 28 November 1941[10] | Loaned to Norway asKarmöy 1944–45; sold mercantile 1946 | |
| Islay | Smith's Dock Co. | 10 April 1941[18] | 17 June 1941[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Jura | Ardrossan Dockyard Co. | 22 November 1941[18] | War loss 7 Jan 1943 | ||
| Kerrera | Ferguson Bros. | 22 September 1941[18] | 31 October 1941[10] | Loaned to Norway asOksöy 1944–45; sold mercantile 1946 | |
| Kintyre | Ardrossan Dockyard Co. | 21 October 1941[18] | 24 April 1942[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Kittern | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 28 August 1943[18] | 13 November 1943[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Lindisfarne | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 17 June 1943[18] | 17 August 1943[14] | Still in service as wreck disposal vessel (DV11) | |
| Lingay | Cochrane & Sons | 6 September 1944[18] | 6 January 1945[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Longa | Cochrane & Sons | 15 October 1943[18] | 13 February 1944[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Lundy | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 29 August 1942[18] | 15 January 1943[4] | Still in service in 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV12) | |
| Mewstone | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 16 September 1943[18] | 26 November 1943[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Minalto | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 3 July 1943[18] | 30 September 1943[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Mincarlo | Ardrossan Dockyard Co. | 28 March 1944[18] | 24 October 1944[14] | Loaned to Norway asTromöy (ii) 1944–45, sold mercantile 1946 | |
| Mousa | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 1 June 1942[18] | 30 August 1942[10] | To Italy 1946 asDR 311 | |
| Mull | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 27 March 1941[18] | 19 August 1941[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Neave | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 16 July 1942[18] | 25 November 1942[4] | Still in service in 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV14) | |
| Orfasy | A. Hall & Co. | 17 March 1942[18] | War loss 22 October 1943 | ||
| Oronsay | Cochrane & Sons | 30 October 1943[18] | 16 February 1944[14] | Still in service 1949 | |
| Oxna | A. & J. Inglis | 26 January 1943[11] | 18 July 1943[4] | Sold 1946 | |
| Pladda | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 16 April 1941[11] | 19 August 1941[4] | Sold 1946 | |
| Porcher | Midland Shipyards | 26 May 1942[19] | 27 October 1942[15] | Sold 1946 | |
| Prospect | Midland Shipyards | 16 June 1942[19] | 4 November 1942[15] | Sold 1946 | |
| Ronaldsay | Cochrane & Sons | 14 February 1941[11] | 17 July 1941[4] | Sold 1946 | |
| Rosevean | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 17 July 1943[11] | 16 October 1943[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Rousay | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 20 December 1941[11] | 17 April 1942[4] | Sold 1946 | |
| Ruskholm | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 4 February 1942[11] | 10 May 1942[4] | To Portugal 1945 asBaldaque da Silva | |
| Rysa | Cochrane & Sons | 15 March 1941[11] | 9 August 1941[4] | War loss 8 Dec 1943 | |
| Scalpay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 2 June 1942[11] | 20 October 1941[4] | Later wreck disposal vessel (DV15); sold 1948 | |
| Shapinsay | Cochrane & Sons | 29 March 1941[11] | 5 September 1941[4] | Sold 1946 | |
| Shiant | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 9 August 1941[20] | 24 November 1941[4] | Loaned to Norway asJelöy 1944–45; sold mercantile 1946 | |
| Skokholm | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 29 September 1943[20] | 10 December 1943[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Skomer | John Lewis & Sons | 17 June 1943[20] | 4 November 1943[14] | Still in service 1949 | |
| Skye | Henry Robb | 17 March 1942[20] | 22 July 1942[10] | Still in service 1949 | |
| Sluna | Cochrane & Sons | 14 April 1941[20] | 10 October 1941[4] | Sold 1946 | |
| St. Agnes | John Lewis & Sons | 19 May 1943[11] | 21 September 1943[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| St. Kilda | A. Hall & Co. | 29 May 1942[11] | 30 September 1942[4] | Sold 1946 | |
| Staffa | Henry Robb | 15 June 1942[20] | 31 August 1942[4] | Sold 1946 | |
| Steepholm | John Lewis & Sons | 15 July 1943[20] | 1 December 1943[14] | Converted to wreck disposal vessel December 1945. Still in use as the last of 18 wreck disposal vessels in 1958.[21] | |
| Stroma | Hall, Russell & Co. | 19 November 1941[20] | 22 January 1942[4] | To Italy 1946 asDR 315 | |
| Stronsay | A. & J. Inglis | 4 March 1942[20] | War loss 5 Feb 1943 | ||
| Switha | A. & J. Inglis | 3 April 1942[20] | 15 June 1942[4] | Later wreck disposal vessel (DV18); converted to oil fuel tank cleaning vessel 1949–50 | |
| Texada | Midland Shipyards | 27 July 1942[12] | 17 November 1942[15] | Sold 1946 | |
| Tiree | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 6 September 1941[20] | 12 January 1942[4] | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV19) | |
| Trondra | John Lewis & Sons | 4 October 1941[20] | 16 January 1942[4] | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV20) | |
| Ulva | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 30 July 1942[20] | 15 December 1942[4] | Sold 1946 | |
| Unst | Ferguson Bros. | 28 May 1942[20] | 31 July 1942[4] | To Italy 1946 asDR 303 | |
| Vatersay | Cochrane | 13 November 1943[12] | 9 March 1944[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Wallasea | Henry Robb | 22 April 1943[20] | 26 July 1943[15] | War loss 6 Jan 1944. | |
| Westray | John Lewis & Sons | 4 November 1941[12] | 2 March 1942[4] | Sold 1946 | |
| Whalsay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 4 April 1942[12] | 28 August 1942[4] | To Portugal 1943 asSanta Maria (P4) |
The following 21 trawlers may be[citation needed] described as comprising theRepeat Isles class:
| Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned/ | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calvay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 29 November 1943[3] | 16 February 1944[14] | Sold 1946 | |
| Canna | Cochrane & Sons | 18 November 1940[3] | 3 March 1941[10] | War loss 5 December 1942[3] | |
| Cava | Fleming & Ferguson | 3 March 1941[3] | 3 March 1941[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Coll | Ardrossan Dockyard Co. | 7 April 1942[13] | 21 September 1942[10] | Later wreck disposal vessel (DV6); converted to oil fuel tank cleaning vessel 1949–50 | |
| Colsay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 15 December 1943[13] | war loss 1944 | ||
| Dabchick (ex-Thorney) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 9 March 1943[20] | converted 1943 to controlled minelayer (M22); still in service 1949 | ||
| Orsay | Cochrane & Sons | 1 January 1945[18] | still in service 1949 | ||
| Rona | Cochrane & Sons | February 1945 | still in service 1949 | ||
| Sandray | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 5 October 1944[11] | 27 December 1944[15] | Still in service 1949 asdanlayer (J424) | |
| Scaravay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 22 October 1944[11] | 14 January 1945[15] | Sold 1946 | |
| Sheppey (ex-Raasay) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1 April 1942[11] | 18 September 1942[10] | Sold 1946 | |
| Shillay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 18 November 1944[20] | 30 January 1945[15] | Still in service 1949 as danlayer (J426) | |
| Stonechat | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 22 August 1944[12] | 1944 as controlled minelayer (M25); still in service 1949 | ||
| Sursay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 16 December 1944 | 26 February 1945[15] | Still in service 1949 as danlayer (J427) | |
| Tahay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 31 December 1944[20] | 23 March 1945[15] | Still in service 1949 | |
| Tocogay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 7 February 1945[20] | still in service 1949 as danlayer (J451) | ||
| Trodday | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 3 March 1945[20] | still in service 1949 | ||
| Vaceasay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 17 March 1945[12] | still in service 1949 | ||
| Vallay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 10 April 1945[12] | still in service 1949 | ||
| Whitethroat | Welton & Gemmell | 6 September 1944[12] | 1944 | 1944 as controlled minelayer (M03); still in service 1949 | |
| Wiay | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 26 April 1944[12] | still in service 1949 |
| Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid off | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anticosti | Collingwood Shipbuilding | 1 April 1942[3] | 8 August 1942[22] | Sold 1946 to Norway asGuloy, to Sweden asBarbro and to Ethiopia asGiuseppina in 1968. Wrecked in Massawa in 1996.[23] | ||
| Baffin | Collingwood Shipbuilding | 14 October 1941 | 13 April 1942[12] | 20 August 1942[22] | 20 Aug 1945 | Sold mercantile 1947; renamedNiedermehnen 1952, Broken up 1983. |
| Cailiff | Collingwood Shipbuilding | 30 April 1942[12] | 19 September 1942[22] | 10 June 1945 | Formerly HMS Cailiff (T276). Sold mercantile 1946; converted to Norwegian commercial trawlerBorgenes. Laid up in 1990s, but proposals to restore her as a steam trawler[24] were unfulfilled. Sold for demolition in Oct 2012[25][26] | |
| Ironbound | Kingston Shipyards | 14 January 1942[12] | 5 October 1942[22] | Sold 1946 | ||
| Liscomb | Kingston Shipyards | 23 March 1942[12] | 3 September 1942[22] | Sold 1946 | ||
| Magdalen | Midland Shipyards | 7 March 1942[12] | 19 August 1942[22] | Sold 1946 | ||
| Manitoulin | Midland Shipyards | 23 April 1942[19] | 8 September 1942[22] | Sold 1946 | ||
| Miscou | Collingwood Shipbuilding | 1 June 1942[12] | 20 October 1942[22] | Later HMSCampenia and HMSBowell. Lent to RCN by RN. Sold to Bergen asCleveland, 1946; to Nordlandslinjen and renamedSigurd Hund, 1950; to Ålesund and renamedVestfar, 1963; to Hans Hansen in 1971 to Faroe Islands. Broken up in 1974. |
| Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm. | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inchkeith | John Lewis & Sons | 16 November 1940[27] | 10 July 1941[18] | 24 October 1941[10] | Still in service 1949 |
| Killegray | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 24 January 1941[27] | 27 May 1941[18] | 14 October 1941[10] | Still in service 1949 |
| Sanda | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 23 December 1940[27] | 12 July 1941[11] | 3 November 1941[4] | Still in service 1949 |
| Scarba | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 6 March 1941[27] | 25 November 1941[4] | 25 June 1941[11] | Still in service 1949 |