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, England (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) |
| Beam | 23.7 feet (7.2 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 that undertook fishing operations off the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland for almost 20 years following her construction in 1920. She was sunk by the German submarine U-27 during the first month of World War II.
The Rudyard Kipling was launched in 1920 from Selby, England and operated under the ownership of the Newington Steam Trawling Co Ltd. for the first 13 years of her career. In 1934 she was sold to the Sun Steam Trawling Co Ltd. located in Fleetwood, England. She continued to conduct fishing operations off the coast of Ireland for a further five years.
On 16 September 1939, shortly after the outbreak of World War II, the trawler was captured by the German U-boat U-27, 40 miles west of Clare Island. After removing food, equipment and the crew from the ship, the Germans sunk her with the use of scuttling charges. Several hours later the crew of the Rudyard Kipling were cast adrift 5 miles (8.0 km) off the coast of Ireland. They eventually landed their lifeboats at Killybegs.
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 town of Selby by the shipbuilder Cochrane & Sons Ltd. On 11 November 1920, the trawler was launched from yard number 686. Named 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. On 10 May, her registry from Hull was closed and 11 days later on 16 May, she was registered in the English port town of Fleetwood where her new owners were based. The Rudyard Kipling remained with 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 to an area of sea off the west coast of Ireland. The German submarine U-27 spotted the trawler under the command of Skipper Charles Robinson and his crew of 12 men. The submarine came along side the trawler at a point about 100 miles (160 km) west of the Irish town 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 town of Donegal. Sometime later the crew landed at Killybegs to the west of the town.[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.