Coastal Class salvage vessel on trials, the HELP?
By 1943 the Admiralty were taking delivery new salvage vessels from shipyards in the UK and USA.  In addition to the 30 plus vessels that they already managed Risdon Beazley were given 30 more, making them the biggest civilian salvor in the World.  Their ships worked in the Mediterranean and east to Colombo.   They lost three ships due to enemy action. With the exception of three wreck clearance vessels, they managed all of the salvage ships and equipment that crossed the Channel for D-Day;  they went on to clear the ports in Northern Europe. Their shipyard built 22 Fairmile ML/MGB/MTBs, a number of smaller vessels and acted as an assembly point for equipment & stores.
Requisitioned vessels managed by Risdon Beazley Ltd as at 18th June 19451.

 

Ake Akershus

Alita                                      1920               109

Abeille No14 part wartime only - later transferred to Overseas Towage and Salvage

B.H.C. No.9                          1909          290

Carmenita                              1920         109

Dapper 1915 415

Doria

Dorita                                   1920           109

Dormouse 1924 41

East 1913 246

Empire Demon

Foremost 18 1911 583

Freija 1971 326

Gallions Reach 1936 797

Innishowen 1913 142

Lady Southborough 1923 704

Longtow 1919 258

Maggie Lough 1908 129

Miss Elaine 1933 364

Nessus MOWT 1912 328 TS Tug 328/302/1 tons built Nantes 1912 ex Fr Navy

Ogarita

Palmston 1907 430

Polita 1920 109

Ramier MOWT 1917 441

Recovery of Leith 1906 408

Reliable No.1. 1930 148

Richard ll MOWT 1912 181 ex Richard ex HS49 Dutch built

Roselyne 1918 138

Thoma II 1909 87 Harwich

Topmast No. 1 1902 106

Trela

Trottebec

Venture III

Watercock

Wayfarer

Based mainly on a fleet list passed to me by Mr Bert Maidens – Assistant Marine Superintendent, with additions from Mr David Sowden

RISDON BEAZLEY ADMIRALTY OWNED FLEET - RED ENSIGN FLEET (29 vessels).

All vessels were lightly armed.American Lease Lend Salvage Vessels

Part of a class of eight fully equipped salvage wooden vessels 183' x 37' x 14.75' Diesel Electric 1,200 BHP 12knots. Displacement 800 tons, Crew 35. Rest of the class were retained by the USN and were at the Utah and Omaha beaches on D-Day.

American Salvor (USN BARS 5)          1943      Barbour Boatworks, New Berne, North Carolina  (Returned 1946)

Boston Salvor (USN BARS 6)             1943         " "         (Reduced to wreck at Antwerp in flying bomb attack 1944)

Lincoln Salvor (USN BARS 9)             1943     Bellingham I W, Seattle (Returned to USN 9/46)

Southampton Salvor (USN BARS 10)  1943                 " " (Returned to USN 10/46)

King Salvor Class

Part of a class of twelve deep-sea salvage vessels; balance under the White Ensign. A thirteenth unit was completed as the Diving Vessel HMS Reclaim.

The RB managed vessels were assigned to the Mediterranean theatre they served in Oran, Algiers, Naples, Bari, At the end of 1945 for service in the newly liberated Far East where all salvage was to be a Naval activity 200' x 37' x 15'. Steam 1,500 IHP

Name                               Delivered                      Builder

Ocean Salvor                   1943-9                              Simons (Renfrew)

Prince Salvor                   1943-9                              Whites (Hebburn)

Salvage Duke                  1944-12                             Simons (Renfrew)

Salventure                       1942-11                             Simons (Renfrew)

Salviking                          1942-12                              Simons (Renfrew)           Lost 14.2.44, torpedoed

Sea Salvor                       1944-2                                Whites (Hebburn)

Coastal Salvage Vessels

Dispenser                      1943                       Smiths Dock 

Malta, Genoa and Marseilles, master Captain Frank Hunter made OBE

He1p                                1943                   Smiths Dock Chartered by RB ,then became Krab -Wijsmuller

Kinbrace                          1945                   Alexander Hall

Kinloss                            1945                    Alexander Hall

Kingarth                          1944                    Alexander Hall RHN 1946-9

Lifeline                            1944                    Smiths Dock

Sold to RB, converted to motor ship, scrapped in Singapore 1981

Swin                                  1944                   Alexander Hall

Lifting craft Numbers: 1, 3, 12, 15, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28.

VESSELS OPERATED BY OTHER MANAGERS

Liverpool & Glasgow Salvage Association, Manager G R Critchley, salvage officer Captain Kay

Ranger             L&G's own salvage vessel built 1880.

Salveda            Only example of class - tug/salvage vessel

Salvage Chieftain           King Salvor class? this may not be correct as a ship of the same name is listed as being in an HX convoy before this class was built.

L.C.14 and L.C. 20 Dumb lifting craft

Forde From 1943

Metal Industries, Commodore Thomas McKensie RNVR (Sp)

Succour            Coastal Salvage Class

Uplifter             Coastal Salvage Class

Abigail

Bertha

Matinda             Metal Industries vessel pre-war?

Le Luttier

Rounds

Foremost 17 Self propelled hopper, sister to Foremost 18 (RB)

L.C.16 and 19 Dumb lifting craftPLA (Port of London Authority)?? Own fleet?

Leith Towage & Salvage Ltd.

Bullger      Total loss 1941?, replaced by Rampant? ex Empire Sentinel. See page 440 The Empire Ships

Dover Harbour Board

Lady Brassey (Requisitioned - returned 1946) Manager not known