Duke of York (1935)
Encyclopedia
The Duke of York was a steamer passenger ship
initially operated by the London Midland and Scottish Railway which saw service from 1935 to 1964. She was renamed HMS Duke of Wellington for the duration of World War II
.
, Belfast
and completed in 1935, she was designed to operate as a passenger ferry on the Heysham
to Belfast
, alongside the existing 1928 ships on that route, RMS Duke of Lancaster
, the RMS Duke of Rothesay
and the RMS Duke of Argyll
,
She introduced a new principle into the cross-channel trade, the tourist class, which had been in use on the Atlantic lines since 1928.
The Duke of York had one of the earliest automatic fire extinguishers, by Grinnell
. Small glass tubes contained a liquid which expanded on a given temperature being reached, and burst the containers, opening water valves above.
as there was a battleship with the name "Duke of York". She was converted to a "Landing Ship, Infantry
(Hand-Hoisting)" the latter part referred to her hand operated davits; abbreviated to LSI(H)
The conversions allowed her to carry 250 troops and ten Landing Craft Assault
to carry them to shore. For anti-aircraft defence a 12 pounder gun and eight 20 mm cannon were fitted.
She took part in Operation Jubilee, the abortive raid on Dieppe on 19 August 1942, carrying The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
.
She took part in the Normandy landings in 1944.
At the end of the War, she transported troops between Tilbury
and Ostend
.
to Hook of Holland service, alongside the Arnham.
Originally a twin funnel vessel, she was rebuilt in 1950 with a single funnel. She was upgraded from coal to oil firing and cabin accommodation for 520 passengers was provided.
On 6 May 1953, she collided in fog with the American freighter USNS Haiti Victory. Six passengers were killed and the bow was completely sheered off just in front of the bridge.
She was re-built by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company
of Jarrow-on-Tyne with a more modern shaped bow and lengthened by about 7 ft. She rejoined the Harwich fleet in 1954.
She was sold in August 1963.
Passenger ship
A passenger ship is a ship whose primary function is to carry passengers. The category does not include cargo vessels which have accommodations for limited numbers of passengers, such as the ubiquitous twelve-passenger freighters once common on the seas in which the transport of passengers is...
initially operated by the London Midland and Scottish Railway which saw service from 1935 to 1964. She was renamed HMS Duke of Wellington for the duration of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In service
Built at Harland and WolffHarland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and completed in 1935, she was designed to operate as a passenger ferry on the Heysham
Heysham
Heysham is a large coastal village near Lancaster in the county of Lancashire, England. Overlooking Morecambe Bay, it is a ferry port with services to the Isle of Man and Ireland. Heysham is the site of two nuclear power stations which are landmarks visible from hills in the surrounding area...
to Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, alongside the existing 1928 ships on that route, RMS Duke of Lancaster
RMS Duke of Lancaster (1928)
The RMS Duke of Lancaster was a steamer passenger ship operated by the London Midland and Scottish Railway from 1928 to 1956. -In service:She was commissioned with two other ships, the RMS Duke of Argyll and the RMS Duke of Rothesay....
, the RMS Duke of Rothesay
RMS Duke of Rothesay (1928)
The RMS Duke of Rothesay was a steamer passenger ship operated by the London Midland and Scottish Railway from 1928 to 1956. -In service:She was commissioned with two other ships, the RMS Duke of Argylll and the RMS Duke of Lancaster....
and the RMS Duke of Argyll
RMS Duke of Argyll (1928)
The RMS Duke of Argyll was a steamer passenger ship operated by the London Midland and Scottish Railway from 1928 to 1956. -In service:She was commissioned with two other ships, the RMS Duke of Lancaster and the RMS Duke of Rothesay....
,
She introduced a new principle into the cross-channel trade, the tourist class, which had been in use on the Atlantic lines since 1928.
The Duke of York had one of the earliest automatic fire extinguishers, by Grinnell
SimplexGrinnell
SimplexGrinnell, a subsidiary of Tyco International, is an American company specializing in active fire protection systems, communication systems and testing, inspection and maintenance services...
. Small glass tubes contained a liquid which expanded on a given temperature being reached, and burst the containers, opening water valves above.
HMS Duke of Wellington
The Duke of York was requisitioned in 1942 for war service. She was renamed as HMS Duke of WellingtonHMS Duke of Wellington
HMS Duke of Wellington was a 131-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. Launched in 1852, she was symptomatic of an era of rapid technological change in the navy, being powered both by sail and steam...
as there was a battleship with the name "Duke of York". She was converted to a "Landing Ship, Infantry
Landing Ship, Infantry
Landing Ship, Infantry was a British term for a type of ship used to transport infantry in amphibious warfare during the Second World War...
(Hand-Hoisting)" the latter part referred to her hand operated davits; abbreviated to LSI(H)
The conversions allowed her to carry 250 troops and ten Landing Craft Assault
Landing Craft Assault
The Landing Craft Assault was a British landing craft used extensively in World War II. Its primary purpose was to ferry troops from transport ships to attack enemy-held shores. The craft derived from a prototype designed by John I. Thornycroft Ltd. During the war it was manufactured throughout...
to carry them to shore. For anti-aircraft defence a 12 pounder gun and eight 20 mm cannon were fitted.
She took part in Operation Jubilee, the abortive raid on Dieppe on 19 August 1942, carrying The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
The Black Watch of Canada is a reserve infantry regiment in 34 Brigade Group, Land Force Quebec Area. The regiment is located on rue de Bleury in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and is currently commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Bruno Plourde...
.
She took part in the Normandy landings in 1944.
At the end of the War, she transported troops between Tilbury
Tilbury
Tilbury is a town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. As a settlement it is of relatively recent existence, although it has important historical connections, being the location of a 16th century fort and an ancient cross-river ferry...
and Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
.
Post World War II
She reverted to her original name after the war, and in 1949 she was transferred to the HarwichHarwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
to Hook of Holland service, alongside the Arnham.
Originally a twin funnel vessel, she was rebuilt in 1950 with a single funnel. She was upgraded from coal to oil firing and cabin accommodation for 520 passengers was provided.
On 6 May 1953, she collided in fog with the American freighter USNS Haiti Victory. Six passengers were killed and the bow was completely sheered off just in front of the bridge.
She was re-built by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company
Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company
Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne....
of Jarrow-on-Tyne with a more modern shaped bow and lengthened by about 7 ft. She rejoined the Harwich fleet in 1954.
She was sold in August 1963.
Fantasia
She was sold to Chandris Lines in 1963 and originally named York. However, she entered service in 1964 as the Fantasia. She ran mainly on cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean, with some winter charters to religious tour groups. She was withdrawn in the mid-seventies and scrapped in Spain.External links
- http://www.benjidog.co.uk/MiscShips/index_files/Page1608.htm