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.
Class overview | |
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Operators | list error: <br /> list (help)![]() ![]() ![]() |
Subclasses | ![]() |
Built | 1939 - 1945 |
Completed | 197 (of four subclasses - Isles (145), Dance (20), Shakespearian (12), and Tree (20)) |
Lost | 23 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Naval trawler |
Displacement | 545 tons |
Length | 164 feet |
Beam | 27 feet 8 inches |
Draught | 11 feet i inch (mean) |
Propulsion | 1x triple expansion reciprocating engine, 1 shaft, 850 ihp |
Speed | 12 kn (22.2 km/h) |
Complement | 40 |
Armament | See text |
The class comprised 198 vessels built between 1939 and 1945 in the nearly identical Isles, Dance, Tree and Shakesperian classes. Generally similar to the Castle class trawlers of 1916-18, though somewhat larger, they were mainly used on minesweeping and habour defence duties. Most were armed with one 12pdr. gun and three or four 20mm Oerlikon AA guns with 30 depth charges. In the Dance class a 4-inch AA gun was fitted in place of the 12pdr., and there were six 20mm 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, 16 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), 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.
Ships in class
- Builders
- Ardrossan Dockyard Company, Ardrossa, UK
- George Brown & Company (Marine) Ltd., Greenock, UK
- Cochrane & Sons, Ltd., Selby, UK
- Collingwood Shipyards, Collingwood, Ont.
- Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley, UK
- John Crown & Sons, Ltd., Sunderland, UK
- G.T. Davie & Sons, Lauzon, Quebec
- Ferguson Bros. Ltd., Port Glasgow, UK
- Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley, UK
- Goole Shipbuilding & Repair Company, Goole, UK
- Alexander Hall & Company, Aberdeen, UK
- Hall, Russell & Company, Aberdeen, UK
- A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow, UK
- Kingston Shipyards, Kingston, Ont.
- John Lewis & Sons, Aberdeen, UK
- Midland Shipyards, Midland, Ont.
- Henry Robb, Ltd., Leith, UK
- Smith's Dock Company, Ltd., South Bank-on-Tees, UK
Royal Navy
Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Comm'd | Paid Off | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HMS Ailsa Craig (T377) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Annet (T341) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 25 March 1943 | Still in service 1949 | |||
HMS Anticosti (T274) | Collingwood Shipyards | 1942 | Transferred to RCN as HMCS Anticosti (T274). | |||
HMS Arran (T06) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1940 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Baffin (T275) | Collingwood Shipyards | 1942 | Transferred to RCN as HMCS Baffin (T275) | |||
HMS Balta (T50) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1940 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Bardsey (T273) | Fleming & Ferguson | 17 July 1943 | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV13) | |||
HMS Benbecula (T379) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Bern (T294) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 2 May 1942 | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV4) | |||
HMS Biggal (T404) | Ferguson Bros. | 1944 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Blackbird (T404) (ex-Sheppey) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 20 February 1943 | Converted to controlled minelayer (M15) 1943: still in service 1949 | |||
HMS Bressay (T214) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1942 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Brora (T99) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1940 | War loss 6 Sep 1941 | |||
HMS Bruray (T236) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1942 | Transferred to Portugal 1943 as Sam Miguel (P1) | |||
HMS Bryher (T350) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 8 April 1943 | Still in service 1949 | |||
HMS Burra (T158) | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 1941 | Transferred to Italy 1946 as DR 301 | |||
HMS Bute (T168) | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 1941 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Cailiff (T276) | Collingwood Shipyards | 1942 | Transferred to RCN as HMCS Cailiff (T276). | |||
HMS Caldy (T359) | John Lewis & Sons | 1943 | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV5) | |||
HMS Campobello (T378) | Collingwood Shipyards | 1942 | War loss 16 Mar 1943. | |||
HMS Copinsay (T147) | Cochrane & Sons | 1940 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Crowlin (T380) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Cumbrae (T154) | Cochrane & Sons | 1940 | To Italy 1946 as DR 302 | |||
HMS Damsay (T208) | George Brown & Co. | 27 June 1942 | Still in service 1949 | |||
HMS Dochet (T286) | G.T. Davie & Sons | 1942 | Transferred to Federal German Navy postwar and renamed Trave (A51) as a Type 139 patrol trawler; sold to Turkey in 1977 | |||
HMS Earraid (T297) (ex-Gruna) | John Crown & Sons | 18 Dec 1941 | Later wreck disposal vessel (DV7); sold 1948 | |||
HMS Eday (T201) | Cochrane & Sons | 1941 | Loaned to Norway as Tromöy (i) 1943-44; sold mercantile 1946 | |||
HMS Egilsay (T215) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1942 | To Italy 1946 as DR 306 | |||
HMS Ensay (T216) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1942 | To Italy 1946 as DR 314 | |||
HMS Eriskay (T217) | Fleming & Ferguson | 1942 | To Portugal 1943 as P8 | |||
HMS Fara (T162) | Cochrane & Sons | 1941 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Farne (T353) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Fetlar (T202) | Cochrane & Sons | July 1941 | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV8) | |||
HMS Fiaray (T238) | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 1942 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Filla (T212) | John Crown & Sons | 1942 | To Italy 1946 as DR 305 | |||
HMS Flatholm (T354) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 8 May 1943 | Later wreck disposal vessel (DV9); sold 1948 | |||
HMS Flint (T287) | G.T. Davie & Sons | 1942 | Transferred to Federal German Navy postwar and renamed Eider (A50) as a Type 139 patrol trawler | |||
HMS Flotta (T171) | Cochrane & Sons | 1941 | War loss 6 Nov 1941. | |||
HMS Foula (T203) | Cochrane & Sons | 1941 | To Italy 1946 as DR 313 | |||
HMS Foulness (T342) | John Lewis & Sons | 23 March 1942 | Still in service 1949 | |||
HMS Fuday (T385) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1944 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Gairsay (T290) | Ardrossan Dockyard Co. | 1942 | War loss 4 Aug 1944. | |||
HMS Ganilly (T367) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1943 | War loss 5 Jul 1944. | |||
HMS Gateshead (T288) | G.T. Davie & Sons | 1942 | Sold 1947 | |||
HMS Gillstone (T355) | Cochrane & Sons | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Gorregan (T387) | Ardrossan Dockyard Co. | 30 December 1943 | Still in service 1949 | |||
HMS Graemsay (T291) | Ardrossan Dockyard Co. | 3 August 1942 | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV10) | |||
HMS Grain (T360) | Cochrane & Sons | 1943 | To Italy 1946 as DR 309 | |||
HMS Grassholm (T344) | John Lewis & Sons | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Gruinard (T239) | John Crown & Sons | 1943 | To Portugal 1943 as P7 | |||
HMS Gulland (T239) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 30 April 1943 | 5 Aug 1943 | 30 Oct 1943 | Sold mercantile 1946; renamed Henken 1947 and Arab Trader 1949; wrecked north of Mombasa 13 April 1951 | |
HMS Gweal (T246) (ex-Broreray) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Hanneray (T389) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1944 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Harris (T386) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1944 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Hascosay (T390) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1944 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Hayling (T271) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 17 August 1942 | To Portugal 1943 as Terceira (P3) | |||
HMS Hellisay (T391) | Cochrane & Sons | 1944 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Hermetray (T392) | Cochrane & Sons | April 1944 | Sold 1947 | |||
HMS Herschell (T289) | G.T. Davie & Sons | 1942 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Hildasay (T173) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1941 | War loss 21 Jun 1945 | |||
HMS Hoxa (T16) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1941 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Hoy (T114) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1941 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Hunda (T298) | Ferguson Bros. | 1942 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Imersay (T422) | Cochrane & Sons | August 1944 | Still in service 1949 as danlayer (J422) | |||
HMS Inchcolm (T18) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1941 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Inchmarnock (T166) | John Lewis & Sons | 1941 | Loaned to Norway as Karmöy 1944-45; sold mercantile 1946 | |||
HMS Ironbound (T284) | Kingston Shipyards | 1942 | Transferred to RCN as HMCS Ironbound (T284). | |||
HMS Islay (T172) | Smith's Dock Co. | 1941 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Jura (T169) | Ardrossan Dockyard Co. | 1941 | War loss 7 Jan 1943 | |||
HMS Kerrera (T200) | Ferguson Bros. | 1941 | Loaned to Norway as Oksöy 1944-45; sold mercantile 1946 | |||
HMS Kintyre (T165) | Ardrossan Dockyard Co. | 1941 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Kittern (T382) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Lindesfarne (T361) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 17 June 1943 | Still in service as wreck disposal vessel (DV11) | |||
HMS Lingay (T423) | Cochrane & Sons | 1944 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Liscomb (T285) | Kingston | 1942 | Transferred to RCN as HMCS Liscomb (T285). | |||
HMS Longa (T366) | Cochrane | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Lundy (T272) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 29 August 1942 | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV12) | |||
HMS Magdalen (T279) | Midland Shipyards | 1942 | Transferred to RCN as HMCS Magdalen (T279). | |||
HMS Mewstone (T374) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1943 | To Italy 1946 as DR307 | |||
HMS Minalto (T362) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Mincarlo (T388) | Ardrossan Dockyard Co. | 1944 | Loaned to Norway as Tromöy (ii) 1944-45, sold mercantile 1946 | |||
HMS Mousa (T295) | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 1942 | To Italy 1946 as DR 311 | |||
HMS Mull (T110) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1941 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Neave (T247) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 16 July 1942 | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV14) | |||
HMS Orfasy (T204) | A. Hall & Co. | 1942 | War loss 22 Oct 1943. | |||
HMS Oronsay (T375) | Cochrane & Sons | 30 October 1943 | Still in service 1949 | |||
HMS Oxna (T296) | A. & J. Inglis | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Pladda (T144) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1941 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Porcher (T281) | Midland Shipyards | 1942 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Prospect (T282) | Midland Shipyards | 1942 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Ronaldsay (T149) | Cochrane & Sons | 1941 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Rosevean (T363) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Rousay (T210) | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 1941 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Ruskholm (T211) | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | February 1942 | To Portugal 1945 as Baldaque da Silva | |||
HMS Rysa (T164) | Cochrane & Sons | 1941 | War loss 8 Dec 1943 | |||
HMS Scalpay (T237) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 2 June 1942 | Later wreck disposal vessel (DV15); sold 1948 | |||
HMS Shapinsay (T176) | Cochrane & Sons | 1941 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Shiant (T170) | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 1941 | Loaned to Norway as Jelöy 1944-45; sold mercantile 1946 | |||
HMS Skokholm (T376) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Skomer (T381) | John Lewis & Sons | 17 June 1943 | Still in service 1949 | |||
HMS Skye (T163) | Henry Robb | 17 March 1943 | Still in service 1949 | |||
HMS Sluna (T177) | Cochrane & Sons | 1941 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS St. Agnes (T352) | John Lewis & Sons | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS St. Kilda (T209) | A. Hall & Co. | 1942 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Staffa (T159) | Henry Robb | 1942 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Steepholm (T356) | John Lewis & Sons | 15 July 1943 | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV17) | |||
HMS Stroma (T150) | Hall, Russell & Co. | 1941 | To Italy 1946 as DR 315 | |||
HMS Stronsay (T178) | A. & J. Inglis | 1942 | War loss 5 Feb 1943 | |||
HMS Switha (T179) | A. & J. Inglis | 3 April 1942 | Later wreck disposal vessel (DV18); converted to oil fuel tank cleaning vessel 1949-50 | |||
HMS Texada (T283) | Midland Shipyards | 1942 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Tiree (T180) | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 6 Sept 1941 | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV19) | |||
HMS Trondra (T181) | John Lewis & Sons | 4 Oct 1941 | Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV20) | |||
HMS Ulva (T248) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 1942 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Unst (T213) | Ferguson Bros. | 1942 | To Italy 1946 as DR 303 | |||
HMS Vatersay (T378) | Cochrane | 1943 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Wallasea (T345) | Henry Robb | 1943 | War loss 6 Jan 1944. | |||
HMS Westray (T182) | John Lewis & Sons | 1941 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMS Whalsay (T293) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 15 February 1940 | To Portugal 1943 as Santa Maria (P4) |
Royal Canadian Navy
Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid Off | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HMCS Anticosti (T274) | Collingwood | 1942 | Formerly HMS Anticosti (T274) | Sold 1946 | ||
HMCS Baffin (T275) | Collingwood | 14 Oct 1941 | 13 April 1942 | Formerly HMS Baffin (T275) | Sold mercantile 1947; renamed Niedermehnen 1952 | |
HMCS Cailiff (T276) | Collingwood | 1942 | Formerly HMS Cailiff (T276) | Sold 1946 | ||
HMCS Ironbound (T284) | Kingston | 1942 | Formerly HMS Ironbound | Sold 1946 | ||
HMCS Liscomb (T285) | Kingston | 1942 | Formerly HMS Liscomb | Sold 1946 | ||
HMCS Magdalen (T279) | Midland | 1942 | Formerly HMS Magdalen | Sold 1946 | ||
HMCS Manitoulin (T280) | Midland | 1942 | Sold 1946 | |||
HMCS Miscou (T277) | Collingwood | 1942 | Sold 1946 |
Royal New Zealand Navy
Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Comm'ed | Paid Off | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HMNZS Inchkeith (T155) | John Lewis & Sons | 10 July 1941 | Still in service 1949 | |||
HMNZS Killegray (T174) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 25 May 1941 | Still in service 1949 | |||
HMNZS Sanda (T160) | Goole S.B. & R. Co. | 12 July 1941 | Still in service 1949 | |||
HMNZS Scarba (T175) | Cook, Welton & Gemmell | 26 June 1941 | Still in service 1949 |