SAS Somerset, originally named HMS Barcross, was a Bar-class boom defence vessel of the South African Navy. It operated in Saldanha Bay, was transferred to South Africa Naval Forces during World War II, and was purchased by South Africa in 1947. From 1986 it was preserved as a museum ship in Cape Town, before being scrapped in April 2024.
In 1955, Somerset was recommissioned. During this period, she was tasked with salvaging the remains of two Harvardtrainer aircraft following a midair collision over Table Bay. Six weeks later, she recovered a third Harvard which had crashed into the sea off Bok Point. During a refit in 1959, Somerset had her coal-fired boilers converted to firing by furnace oil. She was responsible for the laying of an oil pipeline at the port of Mossel Bay to serve the oil terminal there.
In 1961, Somerset salvaged the South African RailwaystugSchermbrucker, which had sunk in the harbour at East London. In 1967, she was fitted with new boilers and a reconditioned main engine. In 1968, her services were called on again to assist the cable ship, John W. Mackay, in raising and repairing the newly inaugurated overseas telephone cable in the shallow waters of Melkbosstrand. In 1969, Somerset raised the old whale catcher, Wagter 11, in Saldanha Bay and subsequently towed her back to Simon's Town. During the same year, she salvaged a floating crane which had capsized and sunk at Port Elizabeth. In the early hours of 24 July 1974, Somerset was dispatched to Cape Agulhas to assist with the salvage of the Oriental Pioneer, but poor weather conditions and bad luck rendered this effort unsuccessful. In 1981, Somerset raised the fishing trawlerAldebaran, which had lain on the harbour bottom at Port Elizabeth for over two-and-a-half years. Somerset also acted as a standby vessel during submarine shallow-water diving operations. In 1983, she assisted in salvaging a barge and two whale catchers at Saldanha Bay.
Maritime museum
In March 1986, Somerset was finally paid off. In 1988, the old boom defence vessel was donated for use as a museum ship, moored at the waterfront at Cape Town. Her original Royal Navy badge can be seen displayed on the side of the Selbornedrydock.[4]
Somerset was moored on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town from 2 September 1988 as museum ship[5] until its scrapping in April 2024.[6] At the time of its scrapping it was the only boom defence vessel remaining in the world,[7] as well as the only remaining South African warship that served in World War II.
SAS Somerset's winching gear situated amidships, 2019
SAS Somerset's funnel and top deck in 2019
SAS Somerset from astern in 2019
Notes
^The ship was named after famous horse that carried Dick King from Durban to Grahamstown in 1842. The connection is perpetuated in the seahorse on the ship’s crest.
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