HMT Force facts for kids
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|} HM Trawler Force was a British ship. It was first built for the Royal Navy during World War I. Later, it was called back into service for World War II. Sadly, the Force was sunk by an air attack in June 1941.
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History | |
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Name | HM Trawler James Bucham |
Builder | Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd., Selby |
Yard number | 825 |
Launched | 18 September 1917 |
Fate | Sold 1922 |
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Name | Stoneferry |
Owner | City Steam Fishing Company |
Acquired | 1922 |
Homeport | Kingston upon Hull |
Fate | Sold, 1934 |
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Name | Cape Tarifa |
Owner | Hudson Fishing Company Ltd. |
Acquired | 1934 |
Homeport | Kingston upon Hull |
Fate | Sold, 1938 |
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Name | Franciszka |
Owner | Towarzystwo Dalekomorskich Połowów |
Acquired | 1938 |
Homeport | Gdynia |
Fate | Sold, 1939 |
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Name | Force |
Owner | Adam Steam Fishing Company Ltd. |
Acquired | 1939 |
Homeport | Fleetwood |
Fate | Requisitioned, February 1940 |
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Name | HM Trawler Force |
Acquired | February 1940 |
Fate | Sunk, 27 June 1941 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Naval trawler |
Tonnage | 438 long tons (445 t) gross |
Length | 138 ft (42 m) o/a |
Beam | 23 ft (7.0 m) |
Depth | 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) |
Propulsion |
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Armament | 2 × 12 pounder guns AA |
The Ship's Journey
The Force was built in 1917 at a shipyard in Selby, Yorkshire. It was first named James Bucham. This ship was a special kind of trawler built for the Royal Navy. It had a powerful 3-cylinder steam engine. The James Bucham was officially launched on September 18, 1917.
Life as a Fishing Boat
After serving in the Royal Navy for five years, the ship was sold in 1922. A company in Kingston upon Hull bought it and changed its name to Stoneferry. It worked as a fishing boat for twelve years.
In 1934, the ship was sold again. New owners, also from Hull, renamed it Cape Tarifa. It stayed with them for four years.
New Owners, New Names
In 1938, a Polish company from Gdynia bought the ship. They gave it a new name, Franciszka. But after only one year, it returned to British owners. The Adam Steam Fishing Company Ltd. from Fleetwood bought it. They renamed the ship Force.
World War II Service
In February 1940, World War II had already started. The Force was called back to serve in the Royal Navy. It was fitted with two special 12-pounder anti-aircraft guns. These guns helped protect it from enemy planes.
The Final Battle
The Force's journey ended off the coast of Norfolk, England. On June 27, 1941, German aircraft attacked the ship. The Force was sunk about 6 miles (10 km) from Winterton Ness. Its wreck now lies at these coordinates: 52°48′55″N 001°47′48″E / 52.81528°N 1.79667°E.