PS Southsea (1930)

PS Southsea was a passenger vessel built for the Southern Railway in 1930.[1] Requisitioned by the Royal Navy for war service, she was wrecked after hitting a naval mine in 1941.

History
NamePS Southsea
OperatorSouthern Railway
Port of registryUnited Kingdom
BuilderFairfield, Govan
Yard number641
Launched2 April 1930
FateMined and wrecked 16 February 1941
General characteristics
Tonnage825 gross register tons (GRT)
Length244 feet (74 m)
Beam30.1 feet (9.2 m)
Draught10.5 feet (3.2 m)

History

The ship was built by Fairfield, Govan and launched on 2 April 1930[2] She was one of an order for two new ships, the other being Whippingham.

She was deployed on the Portsmouth to Ryde ferry service, but as one of the largest vessels commissioned for the company, also operated excursions from Portsmouth.

In February 1940, Southsea was requisitioned by the Admiralty as a minesweeper, the conversion was carried out by Camper and Nicholson at Northam, Southampton.[3] She went on to serve in the 8th Flotilla with the pennant number J.113.[4] Working off the coast of North East England, in November 1940 she was credited with shooting down an enemy aircraft.[3] She was mined at the mouth of the River Tyne on 16 February 1941 with the loss of two officers and five ratings. Although successfully run aground, she was declared wrecked.[5]

References
  1. Duckworth, Christian Leslie Dyce; Langmuir, Graham Easton (1968). Railway and other Steamers. Prescot, Lancashire: T. Stephenson and Sons.
  2. "Clyde Yard Forced to Pay Off". Aberdeen Journal. Scotland. 3 April 1930. Retrieved 14 November 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. Sherwood, Cynthia. "SOUTHERN RAILWAY FERRIES IN WORLD WAR II". www.historyinportsmouth.co.uk. Tim Backhouse/Community Internet Services. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  4. Plummer, Russell (1995). Paddle Steamers at War 1939-1945. Peterborough, England: GMS Enterprises. p. 10. ISBN 1-870384-39-3.
  5. "Naval Events, February 1941, Part 2 of 2, Saturday 15th – Friday 28th". Naval History. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
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