 Port Napier's wreck inLoch Alsh in 2010 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Port Napier |
| Namesake | Napier Port |
| Owner | Port Line |
| Operator | Royal Navy |
| Port of registry | London |
| Builder | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson,Wallsend |
| Yard number | 1569 |
| Launched | 23 April 1940 |
| Completed | June 1940 |
| Commissioned | 12 June 1940 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Fire & explosion, November 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Auxiliaryminelayer |
| Tonnage | 9,847 GRT, 5,906 NRT |
| Length | 503.3 ft (153.4 m) |
| Beam | 68.2 ft (20.8 m) |
| Depth | 29.8 ft (9.1 m) |
| Installed power | 7,500bhp |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h) |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
| Notes | sister ships:Port Jackson,Port Phillip,Port Victor |
HMSPort Napier was a Britishmotor ship that was designed and laid down as a civiliancargo ship but completed in 1940 as an auxiliaryminelayer for theRoyal Navy. Anengine room fire caused an explosion that destroyed her in November 1940. Her remains inLoch Alsh in Scotland are now a recreationalwreck diving site.
She was the third of four ships calledPort Napier to be owned byPort Line. She was named afterNapier Port on theNorth Island ofNew Zealand.
Between 1937 and 1942Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson'sWallsend shipyard built four twin-screw motor ships for Port Line. The first was therefrigerated cargo shipPort Jackson, launched in November 1936 and completed in January 1937.[1] Hersister shipsPort Napier,Port Phillip andPort Victor were launched in 1940, 1941 and 1942 respectively. Their dimensions and appearance were similar to that ofPort Jackson, but their engines were five-cylinder instead of four-cylinder.[2][3][4]
Port Napier was built as yard number 1569. She was launched on 23 April 1940 and completed that June. Her registered length was 503.3 ft (153.4 m), her beam was 68.2 ft (20.8 m) and her depth was 29.8 ft (9.1 m). Hertonnages were 9,847 GRT and 5,906 NRT.[5]
She had a pair of five-cylinder, single-acting,two-stroke diesel engines,[5] built byWilliam Doxford & Sons ofSunderland,[2] which between them developed a total of 7,500bhp[6] and gave her a speed of 16 knots (30 km/h).[7]
Port LineregisteredPort Napier atLondon. Her UKofficial number was 167578 and herwireless telegraphcall sign was GLSK.[5] But she never entered merchant service. TheAdmiralty requisitioned her, and had her completed as an auxiliary minelayer.
Port Napier's holds were adapted to carry 600mines,[7] and chutes were installed in her stern to lay them. A pair ofnarrow-gauge railways was laid inside the ship, one on each side, to carry each mines on a trolley from her holds to her stern chutes.[8] She was armed with twoQF 4-inch naval gun Mk Vs, twoQF 2-pounder naval guns and fourOerlikon 20 mm cannons,[6] and protected with 2-inch (51 mm) armour plate.[9]
On 12 June 1940 the ship was commissioned as HMSPort Napier, with thepennant number M32. By mid-August she had joined the 1st Minelaying Squadron atKyle of Lochalsh (Port ZA), along with four other auxiliary minesweepers, and an escort of Royal Navydestroyers.[6]
On 17 August 1940 the Squadron includingPort Napier left Kyle of Lochalsh on minelaying mission SN 12. They returned on 19 August. On 11 September 1940 the Squadron includingPort Napier left Kyle of Lochalsh on minelaying mission SN 41. They returned on 12 September.[6] It was claimed thatPort Napier "had proved to be an excellent minelayer".[7]
In November 1940 the Squadron prepared at Kyle of Lochalsh for minelaying mission SN 11.[7]Port Napier loaded 600 mines. Most of the mines had their detonator inserted, as it was easier to do this in port than at sea.[9]
On the evening of 26 November a gale blew, causingPort Napier to drag her anchor. Her anchor chain fouled that of acollier, and the two ships drifted until they ran aground on the shore of theIsle of Skye. Neither ship was damaged.[10]
On 27 NovemberPort Napier wasde-bunkered to lighten and re-float her. As de-bunkering was being completed, a fire was reported in her engine room. For safety, all ships, including the collier, left port, and local residents were evacuated.[10] Most ofPort Napier's crew abandoned ship, but her mining party remained and started removing detonators from her mines. After about 20 minutes her lower mine deck became too hot, so they abandoned ship.[9]
Port Napier did not explode, so the mining party returned. By now the heat was buckling the deck above her engine room, where the fire had started. They started jettisoning mines into the water via her stern chutes. The fire worsened, so the mining party abandoned ship a second time. Almost immediately after they had done so, there were two explosions. The first blew débris 200 feet (61 m) into the air. Large parts of herbridgesuperstructure landed on the shore of the Isle of Skye,1⁄4 mile (400 m) away. The second created a tall column of smoke and flame.[9]Port Napier rolled onto her starboard side, atotal loss. There were no fatalities.[10]
In 1944 some of her plates were salvaged for re-use.[10] In 1950 the Royal Navy began to remove her mines and the 6,000 rounds of ammunition for her guns.[11] The rest of the wreck remains, with her port side visible at low tide.[10]
The remains ofPort Napier's hull are on the south side of Loch Alsh at position57°15′57.24″N5°41′15.03″W / 57.2659000°N 5.6875083°W /57.2659000; -5.6875083. Parts of her superstructure are still on the beach nearby, but the main part of her wreck is in the water, where it attractsrecreational divers.Penetration diving is facilitated by large parts of her port side being missing.[8]
Her bow and the timber of her decking are fairly intact. Her four-inch guns were mounted aft of herforecastle, and at least one of them is still visible to divers.[9] Trolleys for transporting the mines are scattered on the seabed.[8]plumose anemones live on parts of the deck, including the timber decking and steel cables.[8][9]Scallops also inhabit the wreck.[9]
Media related toHMS Port Napier (ship, 1940) at Wikimedia CommonsShipwrecks and maritime incidents in November 1940 | |
|---|---|
| Shipwrecks |
|
| Other incidents |
|
