SHIPS AT WAR |
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Fleet Features
Ships at War |
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We all know of the phrase 'Lifeline services' and how its strongly
connected with Calmac, this was even more apparent when the Western Isles
were taken over during the Second World War by Aircrews from over the
world. The many bases needed many supplies and without MacBraynes this
would of been impossible. Many of the vessels found themselves many miles
away from there home ports, thankfully many returned to take up there
services after the war. As the book 'The Hebrides at War' notes, no story
passed through the crews stationed on the remote islands was complete
without the word 'MacBraynes'...
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Ships from the fleet who have seen active service or were involved in
World War II....
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SHIP
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SERVED AS:
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NOTES:
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SAINT COLUMBA
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Requisitioned as a troop transport ship from 1915 to 1919.
She also served during World War II as an accommodation ship at Greenock |
Rammed and sank a German U-Boat in WWI, she was also laid up in Greenock’s East
India Harbour to serve as an accommodation ship |
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LOCHNEVIS
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Minelayer
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Painted in Wartime Grey livery |
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GONDOLIER |
Blockage Vessel
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Jan 1940 - She was striped of all her fittings and towed to Scapa Flow where
she was sank to add to a underwater barrier |
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LOCHGARRY
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Dunkirk evacuation Boat + supply ship for bases in the Hebrides
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She became the only vessel lost to the war from the fleet when she sank in a
storm off Rathlin Island with the loss of 23 lives |
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KING GEORGE V |
Dunkirk evacuation Boat + ferry boat
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On return from Dunkirk she was heavily bombed and nearly sunk by German
aircraft. She was carrying 1000 troops and 100 tones of ammunition at the
time. She later spent time ferrying troops to Liners at Gourock |
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LOCHSHIEL
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Partially sank at Mingarry Pier while on her way to Kinlochleven - March
1942 |
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HEBRIDES
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Supply ship for bases on Tiree, Lochboisdale and Castlebay
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She was on loan from McCallum Orm and Co to MacBraynes due to there losses
to war. As the war drew to a close she struck rocks in the Gunna sound and
was towed into Gott Bay on 31st May 1945. |
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CLYDESDALE
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Supply ship for bases on Tiree, Lochboisdale and Castlebay
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LOCHALINE
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Royal Navy Examination Ship at Rothesay
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LOCHBUIE |
Hospital launch |
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1899 P.S. WAVERLEY |
Served as a minesweeper in both WWI and WWII |
Lost at Dunkirk (bombing) in May 1940 |
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1934 P.S. MERCURY |
Requisitioned for minesweeping duties
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Lost in December 1940 to a mine |
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PS PIONEER |
Headquarters Ship for the Royal Navy at Farlie
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Taken over by Admiralty early in 1944 and was anchored off Fairlie, on the
Clyde, to serve as Headquarters for the Submarine Control of the North
Atlantic |
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 Related Links: |
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'The Hebrides at War' - see the 'Books'
section for more.
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SoC
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