Previous name: Orchy
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 161920
Class: Special Service Freighter - Q-ship
Pennant No: X72
Laid down:
Builder: Ailsa, Troon
Launched: 1 May 1930
Into Service: March 1940
Out of service: 18 June 1941
Fate: 10 October 1959 broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: In 1939 Winston Churchill gave authority for a number of merchantmen to be requisitioned for service as Q-ships, although for security purposes they were referred to as Special service Freighters. A fleet of 9 small mainly coal-burning vessels were acquired , 6 for deep-sea work and 3 for coastal work. All were commissioned as HM ships under their original names but were given RFA cover names and on entering harbour and while in harbour they wore the Blue Ensign, behaved as RFA’s and adopted the RFA commercial practices. None of them was really suitable for their intended roles and met with a complete lack of success. Their Q-ship service officially ended on 2 March 1941
1 May 1930 launched by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Troon as Yard Nr 415 named ORCHY for Wm Sloan & Co, Glasgow
June 1930 completed
5 September 1939 requisitioned for Government Service and it was originally planned to use her as an Army Stores Carrier
11 September 1939 sailed Britol Channel in convoy BC 1S to the Loire arriving two days later
17 September 1939 sailed the Loire in convoy BC1SR to the British Channel arriving two days later
October 1939 transferred to the Admiralty for conversion into a Special Service Freighter at Portsmouth Dockyard
17 October 1939 commissioned as HMS Orchy
March 1940 conversion completed. Cover name RFA ANTOINE. Complement 69 under the command of Commander Charles V. Jack Royal Navy. Armed with 4 x single 4 -inch guns, 1 x 12 pdr gun, 4 x Lewis machine guns, 2 x single 21-inch torpedo tubes, 36 x depth charges and was fitted with Asdic
14 April 1940 Sailed Spithead for Portland after work-up to carry out Asdic trials, then to Holyhead at the start of her first cruise. Operated around the Home Coast - West Coast of Ireland - North of Scotland - SW Approaches
18 June 1941 as her presence in the SW Approaches did not attract any attacks from U-boats she was withdrawn from her Special Service role and was transferred to MoWT control as ORCHY
Between 22 July 1941 and 2 October 1942 undertook forty two sailings in convoy between Belfast Lough and Milford Haven or in reverse
3 January 1945 Able Seaman John Matheson awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division) - see the London Gazette page 136 of this date
1946 returned to her owners - name unchanged
9 January 1946 Fireman Edward Albert Hamilton awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division) - see the London Gazette page 325 of this date
31 January 1953 discovered the wreckage of the ferry Princess Victoria which had foundered with the loss of 133 lives in the Irish Sea. Vessels engaged in searching for the Princess Victoria had been provided with a incorrect location until the Orchy found the wreckage elsewhere and reported it by radio
1955 owners restyled as Wm Sloan & Co Ltd. Glasgow
1956 converted from coal to oil fuel burning
June 1958 owners taken over by Coast Lines Ltd., Liverpool - name unchanged
10 October 1959 arrived at Troon for breaking up by West of Scotland Shipbreaking Co Ltd.
Notes:
- RFA Antoine was a cover name for the 'Q' Ship HMS Orchy. The name Antoine was used when the ship was in port so her true identity was not disclosed.
