Isles-class trawler

The Isles-class trawlers were a class of naval trawler used by the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II.

Isles class
HMT Ailsa Craig in 1944
Class overview
Operators
Subclasses German Navy: Type 139 patrol trawler
Built1939–1945
Completed
Lost23
General characteristics
TypeNaval trawler
Displacement545 long tons (554 t)
Length164 ft (50 m)
Beam27 ft 8 in (8.43 m)
Draught11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) (mean)
Propulsion1 triple expansion reciprocating engine, 1 shaft, 850 ihp (634 kW)
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement40
ArmamentSee text

The type comprised 197 vessels built between 1939 and 1945 in the nearly identical Isles, Dance, Tree and Shakespearian classes. Generally similar to the Castle-class trawlers of 1916–1918, though somewhat larger, they were mainly used on minesweeping and harbour defence duties. Most were armed with one 12-pounder gun (76 mm) and three or four 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns with 30 depth 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 in Annet, Bressay, Damsay, Fiaray, Foulness and Lindisfarne. Four of the trawlers were given "bird" names when converted to controlled minelayers in 1943–44: Blackbird (M15), Dabchick (M22), Stonechat (M25) and Whitethroat (M03). A total of 23 of these trawlers were lost during the war.[1] Six trawlers were loaned to Canada in 1942-45 and five to Norway in 1943–45.

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), and Trondra (DV20). At least five were employed as danlayers (laying and retrieving dan buoys during minesweeping operations): Imersay (J422), Sandray (J424), Shillay (J426), Sursay (J427) and Tocogay (J451). After decommissioning, Switha and Coll were converted to oil tank cleaning vessels for dockyard service in 1949–50.

By 1949 there remained in service of this type 31 trawlers and four controlled minelayers in the Royal Navy, one controlled minelayer in the Royal Canadian Navy, and four trawlers in the Royal New Zealand Navy. An additional 16 were in service in the Italian Navy and six in the Portuguese Navy.[2] Most of the surviving Royal Navy examples were discarded in the 1950s, but a few remained until the 1960s. Two acquired postwar by the Federal German Navy remained in service as training vessels well into the 1970s, with one, Trave (ex-Dochet), resold to Turkey for further service in 1977.

Builders

Ships in class

Royal Navy
Construction data for Isles-class trawlers of the Royal Navy
Ship Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned/​Completed Fate
Ailsa Craig Cook, Welton & Gemmell 16 October 1943[3] 24 December 1943[4] Sold 1946 and renamed Veslemoy. Renamed Toran 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 FPV Ulva for Fishery 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 renamed Assan Reis. Renamed Professor 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 by HM Customs and Excise and served as HMRC Vigilant
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 as Sam 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 as DR 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 Shipyards 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 as DR 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 renamed Trave (A51) as a Type 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 as Tromöy (i) 1943–44; sold into mercantile use 1946
Egilsay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 7 February 1942[13] 28 May 1943[10] To Italy 1946 as DR 306
Ensay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 5 March 1942[13] 15 June 1942[10] To Italy 1946 as DR 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 as DR 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 renamed Eider (A50) as a Type 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 as DR 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 as DR 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; renamed Henken 1947 and Arab 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 as Terceira (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.

[17]

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 as danlayer (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 as Karmöy 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 as Oksöy 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 as Tromöy (ii) 1944–45, sold mercantile 1946
Mousa Goole S.B. & R. Co. 1 June 1942[18] 30 August 1942[10] To Italy 1946 as DR 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 as Baldaque 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 as Jelöy 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 as DR 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 as DR 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 as Santa Maria (P4)

The following 21 trawlers may be described as comprising the Repeat Isles class:

Construction data for Repeat Isles–class trawlers of the Royal Navy
Ship Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned/​Completed 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 as danlayer (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

Royal Canadian Navy
Construction data for Isles–class trawlers of the Royal Canadian Navy
Ship Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Paid off Fate
Anticosti Collingwood Shipyards 1 April 1942[3] 8 August 1942[22] Sold 1946 to Norway as Guloy, to Sweden as Barbro and to Ethiopia as Giuseppina in 1968. Wrecked in Massawa in 1996.[23]
Baffin Collingwood Shipyards 14 October 1941 13 April 1942[12] 20 August 1942[22] 20 Aug 1945 Sold mercantile 1947; renamed Niedermehnen 1952, Broken up 1983.
Cailiff Collingwood Shipyards 30 April 1942[12] 19 September 1942[22] 10 June 1945 Formerly HMS Cailiff (T276). Sold mercantile 1946; converted to Norwegian commercial trawler Borgenes. 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 Shipyards 1 June 1942[12] 20 October 1942[22] Later HMS Campenia and HMS Bowell. Lent to RCN by RN. Sold to Bergen as Cleveland, 1946; to Nordlandslinjen and renamed Sigurd Hund, 1950; to Ålesund and renamed Vestfar, 1963; to Hans Hansen in 1971 to Faroe Islands. Broken up in 1974.

Royal New Zealand Navy
Construction data for Isles–class trawlers of the Royal New Zealand Navy
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

See also

References
  1. Robert Gardiner (ed. dir.), Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946, p. 66. London: Conway Maritime Press, 1980.
  2. Francis E. McMurtrie and Raymond V.B. Blackman (eds.), Jane's Fighting Ships 1949-50, pp. 62, 63, 92, 94, 217, 258. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1949.
  3. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 451
  4. Elliott 1977, p. 294
  5. HMS Annet T341 uboat.net
  6. Blackman 1953, p. 61
  7. Blackman 1960, p. 60
  8. "FISHERY PROTECTION VESSEL LIST: ULVA" (PDF). p. 33. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  9. Elliott 1977, p. 292
  10. Elliott 1977, p. 293
  11. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 455
  12. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 457
  13. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 452
  14. Elliott 1977, p. 295
  15. Elliott 1977, p. 296
  16. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 453
  17. Shipwrecks & Salvage on the East African Coast. 2006. Kevin Patience
  18. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 454
  19. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 458
  20. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 456
  21. Navy News June 1958, p. 9
  22. Elliott 1977, p. 351
  23. "GIUSEPPINA - IMO 5131531 - ShipSpotting.com - Ship Photos and Ship Tracker".
  24. Archived 8 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine Steamtrawler Borgenes
  25. (Norwegian) Tidens Krav, Kristiansund
  26. nauticapedia.ca
  27. Blackman 1953, p. 110
  • Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1953). Jane's Fighting Ships 1953–54. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company Inc.
  • Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1960). Jane's Fighting Ships 1960–61. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.
  • Elliott, Peter (1977). Allied Escort Ships of World War II. London: Macdonald & Jane's Publishers Limited. ISBN 0-356-08401-9.
  • "Last of the Wreck Dispersal Vessels" (PDF). Navy News. No. 49. June 1958. p. 9. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  • Lenton, H. T.; Colledge, J. J. (1973). Warships of World War II (Second ed.). London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0403-X.
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