HMS LST 3041

LST 3041 entering harbour in Malta
LST 3041 entering harbour in Malta
History
Name
  • LST 3041 (1944–48)
  • Empire Doric (1948–56)
  • LST 3041 (1956–60)
Owner
  • Royal Navy (1944–48)
  • Ministry of Transport (1948–60)
Operator
  • Royal Navy (1944–48)
  • Atlantic Steam Navigation Company (1948–56)
  • Royal Navy (1956–60)
Port of registry
  • United Kingdom Royal Navy (1944–48)
  • United Kingdom London, United Kingdom (1948–56)
  • United Kingdom Royal Navy (1956–60)
RoutePreston–Larne (1948–56)
BuilderHarland and Wolff, Govan
Yard number1297
Launched31 October 1944
Commissioned1944–48, 1956–60
Decommissioned1948–56
FateScrapped 1960
General characteristics
TypeLanding Ship, Tank
Tonnage2,256 GRT
Displacement4,223 long tons (4,291 t)
Length345 ft (105 m)
Beam54 ft (16 m)
Draught12 ft 5 in (3.78 m)
PropulsionSteam engine

LST 3041 was a Landing Ship, Tank that served in the Royal Navy at the end of World War II, before being converted to a commercial ferry. She was later requisitioned by the Navy during the Suez Crisis, and was scrapped in 1960.

Description

The ship was 345 feet (105 m) long, with a beam of 54 feet (16 m). She had a draught of 12 feet 5 inches (3.78 m)[1] and was assessed at 2,256 GRT.[2]

History

LST 3041 was built by Harland and Wolff at their Govan shipyard (yard number 1267)[1] and was launched on 31 October 1944.[3]

The crew joined her in Scotland and took part in shakedown trials in which they would run the ship ashore and use the stern anchor to pull themselves off.[4]

World War II

In the summer of 1945, LMS 3041 sailed to the Suez Canal carrying tanks, troops, and a troop landing craft. After unloading there, she transited the Canal and headed towards Japan to support the Allied invasion efforts. She was also used to transport rice from Thailand to Singapore. During this time, she made a port call at Bombay (now Mumbai) where she engaged in a tug-of-war with a tugboat, surprisingly emerging victorious and capsizing the tug.[5]

After returning through the Suez, she was refitted, and the rivets in the bottom of the hull that had been worn by repeated landings were replaced in drydock. She finally returned to England in 1947 via Malta and Gibraltar.[6]

Commercial ferry

In 1948, she was chartered to F. Bustard & Sons, the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company and was renamed Empire Doric.[7] Her port of registry was London.[8] The LSTs became one of the forerunners of the modern roll on-roll off (RO-RO) car ferries. She was placed into service on the Preston – Larne route. ASN was nationalized under the British Transport Commission in 1954.[7]

Suez

During the Suez Crisis, the ship was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and renamed LST 3041.[7] She sailed to Port Said where she offloaded Centurion tanks, and where she struck a sunken vessel. As a result of this collision, she had to call in at Naples on the way home for repairs and was in drydock until early January 1957.[9] She remained in use until 1960. LST 3041 arrived on 13 January 1960 at Glasgow for scrapping by Smith, Houston & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "LST 3041: HMS LST 3041". Clydeships. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Atlantic Steam Navigation Company, 1946–1971". The Ships List. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  3. ^ Mitchell, W.H.; Sawyer, L.A. (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
  4. ^ Mitchell, W.H.; Mitchell, W H.; Sawyer, L A. (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85044-275-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "The Times of India: Archives". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  6. ^ Mitchell, W.H.; Mitchell, W H.; Sawyer, L A. (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85044-275-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ a b c "The 'Empire' Class, the pioneer ships of Roll on / Roll off ferries". The Maritime Steam Restoration Trust. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  8. ^ "Empire Doric - 03". Photoship. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  9. ^ Mitchell, W.H.; Mitchell, W H.; Sawyer, L A. (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85044-275-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)