E Coast R.N. Named Ships

[Hornbeam]

Interesting you should mention the Funnel of the Type 12 (Whitby Class) as the Funnel(s) had a a story of their own, as I indicated concerning the Tons and their modifications due to the Russian Bear having found the secret of Nuclear Explosions helped by a number of Western Traitors.
Modifications were made to the Type 12 Frigates including the Funnel which had to be redesigned on the earlier Tranche of vessels which were constructed to resist an Air Burst Nuclear Explosion which was thought the Russians would use over Convoys, as members are now aware Type 12s were high output high speed War Canoes, unfortunately the Nuclear Design caused problems with choking of fume output and a redesign had to be carried out with a distinctive “hat” I understand the “Scarborough”? retained hers although I stand to be corrected. There were other problems with the Y100 Steam Plant.
As you have previously mentioned the Hull was indeed a dramatic change in design however the design of the Canadian “St Laurent” to me looked better also propelled by the Y100 Plant the Canadians being the first user’s of the system.
My old War Canoe HMS Eastbourne look at the modified Funnel.

[Hornbeam]

Now the first design of Funnels on “Scarborough”

[E28]

The same time Berwick completed another significat event in Belfast was the launch of the intended Weymouth, consecutive yard no 1591 except when Lady Angela Dawnay did the honours 28 june 1961 she was the lead ship of a new improved type 12 general purpose frigate which would be referred to by her new name, Leander, which would be the largest class of western frigates built post 1960 outside the USA.

Meanwhile, the type 12's were proving their effectiveness through the early 1960's, this the era when new construction and WW2 built hulls were used 50/50 under the white ensign, Britain still had extensive commitments globally, and from commissioning Berwick would be a squadron captain as we see here...

closest to camera then sister Lowestoft, Type 15 Ursa then Type 12 Scarborough doing squadron officer of the watch evolutions at the traditional dinner time, the squadron comprising 4 or 5 frigates or half the old traditional flotilla in the days of Empire which in turn was divided into 2 squadrons. At this time the RN had over 70 frigates of all types, today we have 8.

[Hornbeam]

“Jolly Good Fun” for those on the Bridge Team, not so much for those in the Engineering Team who were sweating like a Glassblowers Backside especially on the “Type 12’s Tap Dancing to the clattering Clutches.
We can build the ships but it would appear we cannot get the folks Man/Women to sail on them which also applies to both Military and Civilian Vessels.
Conscription looms even closer, then there will be no problem manning both RN and MN vessels.

[E28]

Jolly good fun indeed, port 30 will stir the froverbial followed by a rapid starboard 30 soon sorts the sailors from the slackers, the galley will be in turmoil with all the sloshing hence navy chefs title.

Berwick remained captain F5 for her first commission then more senior duties as Captain of the newly formed 21st escort squadron comprising frigates and fleet destroyers when the new Leander having completed first in class trials joined, here she is immaculate with the pleasing clean lines the 40mm armed ships were blessed with and sporting the key and 21 funnel badge...

the principal 21st E S members being Berwick, Leander, Corunna, Decoy and once worked up the new Dido.

All the modified Type 12's, or Rothesay class, had pendant numbers in the F100 series as did the 7 Tribals, the first 4 Leanders where their hulls were not laid as such are easily recognised as also carried F100 series pendants, 109, 104, 114 and 127. Berwick duly completed 3 commissions when she paid off in august 1967 for the major conversion all 9 RN Rothesays would undergo, going into Chatham the time lead ship Rothesay emerged.

That is where she remained until march 1971 an almost new ship with a new company who commissioned her in Pompey that april 8th and service through the 70's.

Warships invariably have assorted affiliations, the King's Own Scottish Borderers was amongst Berwick's, link and contents within fully acknowledged...
https://kosb.co.uk/

[E28]

Messrs Lobnitz & Co Ltd of Renfrew specialised in certain types of vessel for much of their active operations, this trend took a turn in the run up to war in 1938 when they diversified building for the British Admiralty, admitedly as many other ship builders were obliged to accomodate, and this list shows their output in 1938 to 1942...

when upon the commencement of hostilities every Admiralty ship ordered was allocated a separate job number, in addition to the builders yard number, these job numbers all commenced with a J then 4 or 5 numerals, the 1st number identified the yard region. The exception was the Royal Dockyards which did not use yard numbers and the newly allocated job numbers started with D.

This December i will look at one Lobnitz built ship, job no J1092, which is in the attached list, she should be easily identified by her yard number, a remarkable career awaited.

In the interim, why not look at yard no 1005, her fate being one of unintended consequences.

[Hornbeam]

In regards to Bar Boats.

[E28]

It was time to discard their dredger activities and dredge up some Admiralty orders, the Bars and Bangors were a good match for their abilities and facilities on the Clydes south bank.

The naval emergency war construction programme was already in effect at the time hostilities commenced, Lobnitz contribution would initially be 6 triple expansion steel steamer twin screw minesweepers ordered that 9th september, they would also build the engines with the boilers from Babcock & Wilcox across the river in Clydebank.
The 6 comprised yard no 1027 Bude, 1028 Cromer, 1029 Eastbourne, 1030 Felixstowe, 1031 Fraserburgh and our subject sweeper Seaham, 1032. The same day Philip in Dartmouth won orders for Whitehaven & Worthing, albeit turbine driven.

The first war emergency destroyer flotilla, 8 x O class, was also ordered, this led to 112 of the type being constructed.

Lobnitz were ordered to construct Seaham job J1092 exactly as Fraserburgh, J1091, along the lines as Rhyl y 1025 and Romney 1026 already in hand.

What has always appealed to me with all the Bangors is their covered, partly enclosed bridge, well at least the front portion whilst the fleet had to contend with the weather...

yes, a genuine blue blueprint, so why not take a seat and enjoy the roughers as the sweeper men did, note the magnetic compass binnacle 10' radius, easy to get your bearings and situation.

Seaham, her story and others associated with her will be coming thick and fast this month, like a jigsaw, and once complete will be the perfect antidote to end 2024.

[E28]

Seaham was built to the identical plans as Fraserburgh shown here, that Scottish town is only a few miles further up the east coast...

albeit the latter became the flag or leader of her squadron which with the increasing demands placed upon the Bangors was not hugely significant except a few extra bods and big thick band adorning her funnel. She also lacks a painted pendant number and by 1943 each ship would carry different weapons and radars dependent on availability both operationally and logisticaly.

Lobnitz built the largest number of triple expansion Bangors in Britain, 11 of the 15, but far exceeded by the combined Canadian output which included 6 for the RN, given Canadian names and manned by Canada. Before they were done with their Bangors Lobnitz had already commenced construction of the next larger and more capable Algerine class where again they built virtually all the triple expansion versions, the Canadians far exceeding the British output as with the Bangors.

These sweepers roamed far and wide as the war at sea evolved, increasingly used as anti submarine escorts, i do not intend to detail all the different mine sweeper squadrons in which they served other than that they almost always stayed together where ever they operated.

[Hornbeam]

It would appear that after years of clearing the Minefields in the Baltic (are they all cleared yet?)it would appear that NATO Plan B is to put them back in place to protect the underwater water installations that festoon the areas ( did an aquaint on the old Plover a lovely old Girl) during a laying for Reserve Sweepers to have a go at
Interesting about Open verses Enclosed Bridges, one Old Hand told me that Enclosed was fine in Peace Time but he preferred Open in Wartime his experience was that if there was a large Bang under the ship with an open Bridge you would be ejected off the ship and depending if you survived the high dive would live to tell the tale, on the other hand with an enclosed Bridge you would smash your brain against the Deckhead even if you had a “Tin Topper” on.