Rudyard Kipling (ship)
.PNG) The steam trawler Rudyard Kipling.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Rudyard Kipling |
| Owner | list error: <br /> list (help) Newington Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull (1920–1934)[1] Sun Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood (1934–1939)[1] |
| Port of registry | list error: <br /> list (help) Hull, England (1920–1934)[1] Fleetwood, Enlgand (1934–1939)[1] |
| Builder | Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby[1] |
| Yard number | 686[2] |
| Launched | 11 November 1920[2] |
| Completed | February 1921[1] |
| In service | 1920–1939[1][2] |
| Identification | FD 33[1] |
| Fate | Sunk by U-27 on 16 September 1939.[1][2] |
| General characteristics [1][2] | |
| Tonnage | 333 |
| Length | 138.8 feet (42.3 m) |
| Draught | 12.9 feet (3.9 m) |
| Propulsion | T.3-cylinder by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull |
| Crew | 13 |
The Rudyard Kipling was a British steam trawler during World War II that was sunk by the German submarine U-27. On 11 November 1920, the ship was launched from Selby by the shipbuilding company Cochrane & Sons Ltd. The ship's owner, Newington Steam Trawling Co Ltd. christened it the Rudyard Kipling. By 1921, the trawler was registered and completed. The Rudyard Kipling remained in service with the Newington Steam Trawling Co Ltd. for a further 13 years until she was sold to the The Sun Steam Trawling Co Ltd. located in Fleetwood in 1934.
Under her new owner, the Rudyard Kipling continued to conduct fishing operations off of the coast of Ireland for a further 5 years. In one of the opening days of World War II-on 16 September 1939, the Rudyard Kipling was was heading from Fleetwood to one of the fishing grounds off of the west coast of Ireland about 100 miles (160 km) west of the city of Donegal when she was captured by the German U-boat U-27. After the Germans took the crew on board and provided them with food and warm clothes, the Rudyard Kipling was sunk by scuttling charges at about 3:53pm.
Eight hours after the sinking of the trawler, in the early hours of 17 September, the German crew of U-27 allowed the 13 crew members of the Rudyard Kipling to re-board their lifeboats and then set them adrift 5 miles (8.0 km) off Donegal Ireland. The crew later landed to the west at Killybegs. At the time of her sinking, the Rudyard Kipling was the 27th merchant ship, the 26th British merchant ship, and the 2nd British trawler to be sunk by a German U-boat in World War II.
Construction and design
The Rudyard Kipling was constructed in the city of Selby by the shipbuilder Cochrane & Sons Ltd. On 11 November 1920, the trawler was launched from yard number 686. Christened the Rudyard Kipling by the ship's owner Newington Steam Trawling Co Ltd. she was registered in the port of Hull on 4 February 1921 and completed later that same month. Her official number was 144068 and she had a net tonnage of 140 while her gross tonnage was 333. The trawler was 138.8 feet (42.3 m) from bow to stern and had a draught of 12.9 feet (3.9 m) and a breadth of 23.7 feet (7.2 m). Her engine was a T.3-cylinder from the C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, also of Hull.[1][2]
Service history
Early service
Following completion and registration, the Rudyard Kipling began fishing off of the coast of Ireland and Great Britain. In May 1934, the trawler was sold to The Sun Steam Trawling Co Ltd. which was located in Fleetwood. On 10 May, her registry from Hull was closed and 11 days later on 16 May, she was registered in the port city of Fleetwood where her new owners were stationed. The Rudyard Kipling remained with the The Sun Steam Trawling Co Ltd. for the rest of her career.[2]
Sinking
On 16 September 1939, the Rudyard Kipling left Fleetwood for a routine fishing trip off of the west coast of Ireland. The German submarine U-27 spotted the trawler under the command of Skipper Charles Robinson and his crew of twelve men. The submarine came aside the trawler about 100 miles (160 km) west of the city of Donegal and ordered the crew of the Rudyard Kipling to pull over to the submarine and surrender. The German crew then took the ships' food, including sugar, bread and fish as well as the trawler's wireless radios and transferred them over to the U-boat. Timed explosive charges were then placed on the trawler and three minutes later, at 3:53pm, the trawler exploded and sank.[3][2] While raiding the trawler, the Germans took the crew of the Rudyard Kipling on board and provided them with food and warm clothes.[1] Eight hours later, in the early hours of 17 September, the Germans allowed the crew of the Rudyard Kipling to re-board their lifeboats and set them adrift 5 miles (8.0 km) west of the port city of Donegal. The crew later landed at Killybegs to the west.[1][4] The Rudyard Kipling was the 27th merchant ship (the 26th one to be British) and the 2nd British trawler to be sunk by a German U-boat in World War II.[5][6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Helgason, Guðmundur. "Rudyard Kipling (Steam trawler)". Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "S.T. Rudyard Kipling FD33". fleetwood-trawlers.info. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ "First Trawler Loss of WWII". fleetwood-trawlers.info. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
- ^ "FV Rudyard Kipling". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
- ^ "S.T. Rudyard Kipling FD33". The Bosun's Watch. connectfree.co. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "September 1939". Ship losses by month. Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 June 2010.