HMT Force

HM Trawler Force was a British trawler built for the Royal Navy in the First World War and subsequently requisitioned for service in the Second World War. She was sunk by air attack in June 1941.

History
United Kingdom
Name: HM Trawler James Bucham
Builder: Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd., Selby
Yard number: 825
Launched: 18 September 1917
Fate: Sold 1922
United Kingdom
Name: Stoneferry
Owner: City Steam Fishing Company
Acquired: 1922
Homeport: Kingston upon Hull
Fate: Sold, 1934
United Kingdom
Name: Cape Tarifa
Owner: Hudson Fishing Company Ltd.
Acquired: 1934
Homeport: Kingston upon Hull
Fate: Sold, 1938
Poland
Name: Franciszka
Owner: Towarzystwo Dalekomorskich Połowów
Acquired: 1938
Homeport: Gdynia
Fate: Sold, 1939
United Kingdom
Name: Force
Owner: Adam Steam Fishing Company Ltd.
Acquired: 1939
Homeport: Fleetwood
Fate: Requisitioned, February 1940
United Kingdom
Name: HM Trawler Force
Acquired: February 1940
Fate: Sunk, 27 June 1941
General characteristics
Type: Naval trawler
Tonnage: 438 long tons (445 t) gross
Length: 138 ft (42 m) o/a
Beam: 23 ft (7.0 m)
Depth: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Propulsion:
  • 3-cylinder triple-expansion steam engine
  • 1 screw
Armament: 2 × 12 pounder guns AA

Career

Force was built at Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd at Selby in Yorkshire in 1917 (shipyard number 825), commissioned as the trawler James Bucham. She was an armed trawler built for the Royal Navy. She had a 3-cylinder triple expansion engine from C.D. Holmes of Hull. She was launched on 18 September 1917.

In 1922, after five years' service in the Royal Navy, she was sold to the City Steam Fishing Company Ltd of Kingston upon Hull and renamed as Stoneferry. She remained with them for twelve years and, in 1934, she was sold again and renamed. The new owners were the Hudson Fishing Company Ltd of Kingston upon Hull, who renamed her as Cape Tarifa. In 1938, she was sold to the Polish company Towarzystwo Dalekomorskich Połowów of Gdynia and again renamed, as Franciszka. After a year she returned to British ownership with the Adam Steam Fishing Company Ltd of Fleetwood, Lancashire, who renamed her Force.

World War II
Position of the wreck of the Force

In February 1940, after the outbreak of the Second World War, Force returned to the Royal Navy and was fitted with two 12 pounder 76 mm (3.0 in) anti-aircraft guns.

The end came for Force off the north east Norfolk coast, six miles (10 km) from Winterton Ness. On 27 June 1941, Force was attacked by German aircraft and was sunk at 52°48′55″N 001°47′48″E.

References
  • Tikus, Ayer (2004): The Ship-wrecks off North East Norfolk Pub: Ayer Tikus Publications, ISBN
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