 LST 3041 entering harbour in Malta | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry |
|
| Route | Preston–Larne (1948–56) |
| Builder | Harland and Wolff,Govan |
| Yard number | 1297 |
| Launched | 31 October 1944 |
| Commissioned | 1944–48, 1956–60 |
| Decommissioned | 1948–56 |
| Fate | Scrapped 1960 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Landing Ship, Tank |
| Tonnage | 2,256 GRT |
| Displacement | 4,223long tons (4,291 t) |
| Length | 345 ft (105 m) |
| Beam | 54 ft (16 m) |
| Draught | 12 ft 5 in (3.78 m) |
| Propulsion | Steam engine |
LST 3041 was aLanding Ship, Tank that served in theRoyal Navy at the end ofWorld War II, before being converted to a commercial ferry. She was later requisitioned by the Navy during theSuez Crisis, and was scrapped in 1960.
The ship was 345 feet (105 m) long, with a beam of 54 feet (16 m). She had a draught of 12 feet 5 inches (3.78 m)[1] and was assessed at 2,256 GRT.[2]
LST 3041 was built byHarland and Wolff at theirGovan shipyard (yard number 1267)[1] and was launched on 31 October 1944.[3]
The crew joined her in Scotland and took part in shakedown trials in which they would run the ship ashore and use the stern anchor to pull themselves off.[4]
In the summer of 1945, LMS 3041 sailed to theSuez Canal carrying tanks, troops, and a troop landing craft. After unloading there, she transited the Canal and headed towards Japan to support the Allied invasion efforts. She was also used to transport rice fromThailand toSingapore. During this time, she made a port call at Bombay (now Mumbai) where she engaged in a tug-of-war with a tugboat, surprisingly emerging victorious and capsizing the tug.[5]
After returning through the Suez, she was refitted, and the rivets in the bottom of the hull that had been worn by repeated landings were replaced indrydock. She finally returned to England in 1947 viaMalta andGibraltar.[6]
In 1948, she was chartered to F. Bustard & Sons, theAtlantic Steam Navigation Company and was renamedEmpire Doric.[7] Her port of registry wasLondon.[8] TheLSTs became one of the forerunners of the modern roll on-roll off (RO-RO) carferries. She was placed into service on thePreston –Larne route. ASN was nationalized under theBritish Transport Commission in 1954.[7]
During theSuez Crisis, the ship was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and renamedLST 3041.[7] She sailed toPort Said where she offloadedCenturion tanks, and where she struck a sunken vessel. As a result of this collision, she had to call in atNaples on the way home for repairs and was in drydock until early January 1957.[9] She remained in use until 1960.LST 3041 arrived on 13 January 1960 atGlasgow for scrapping by Smith, Houston & Co Ltd,Port Glasgow.[1]
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