RFA Cautious
Previous name: HMS Prudent
Subsequent name: Rivtow Lion
Official Number: 182199
Class: ASSURANCE Class Tug
Pennant No: W73 / A385
Laid down: 11 March 1940
Builder: Cochrane, Selby
Launched: 6 August 1940
Into Service: 1947
Out of service: 1964
Fate: Sunk as an artificial reef
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data:
There were originally 21 ships in this Class, 7 of which saw service as RFA’s. Of 700 t standard displacement and 1350 t full load displacement, they had a complement of 31 and a bollard pull of 13½ tons. In wartime they were armed with 1 x 3“ gun, 1 x 20mm AA gun and 2 x .303 machine guns
6 August 1940 Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby as Yard Nr 1218 named HMS PRUDENT
19 November 1940 completed
30 November 1940 sailed Methil as a Rescue Tug in Convoy EN 34/1 to Oban arriving 4 December 1940
8 June 1941 sailed Liverpool as a Rescue Tug in Convoy OB 332 to Halifax arriving 23 June 1941
14 April 1942 sailed as a rescue tug in Convoy HX 185 from Halifax to Liverpool arriving 27 April 1942
3 July 1942 sailed as a Rescue tug in Convoy OG 086 from Oban to Gibraltar arriving 14 July 1942
November 1942 towed Mv Adviser which had been torpedoed by German submarine U178 at 32.03S 33.53E into Durban, South Africa
3 August 1943 provided salvage assistance and towage to ss Mangkalihat after the later had been torpedoed by the German submarine U198 at 25.06S 34.14E. The ship foundered the following day
17 September 1943 sailed Durban in convoy DK1 to Kilindini arriving 28 September 1943
15 December 1943 took on tow French Destroyer Le Triomphant which had been escorting a convoy from Freemantle, Australia when she was hit by a cyclone and badly damaged. Arrived at Diego Suarez on 19 December 1942
22 March 1944 sailed Durban in convoy DKA16 to Aden arriving 12 April 1944
1947 renamed Cautious and sailed under RFA terms and conditions
3 May 1947 Captain R G F Ladd appointed as Master
21 May 1947 Mr A West appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 September 1948 Captain Walter H A Medway appointed as Master
3 March 1950 Mr E Grant appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 October 1950 Captain F A J Barron appointed as Master
28 December 1950 Mr R J E Dunford (Lieutenant (E) RN (retd)) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 April 1951 Sustained considerable damage at Gibraltar when RFA BEDENHAM blew up
27 November 1954 The Liberian-registered tanker WORLD CONCORD broke in two in heavy weather 10 miles off the Smalls on the Pembrokeshire coast. Her crew of forty two were all rescued without any casualties. The after part was taken in tow by TURMOIL (q.v.)
30 November 1954 in the Irish Sea, in very heavy weather, took in tow the fore part of the Liberian tanker World Concord and headed for Belfast. The fore part went aground on the rocky shore of County Down, Northern Ireland after Cautious slipped her tow when things became dangerous. Turmoil was refused entry into Liverpool due to fuel leaks and headed for the Clyde
17 December 1954 The forepart was refloated and was initially towed to Belfast Lough then to Faslane for some preliminary examination and repair work
10 March 1955 Seaman John McKenzie discharged dead. Was found missing from the ship when it was berthed at Greenock. His body was found in the Clyde on 21 April 1955
21 February 1955 Captain J C Reid appointed as Master
8 January 1960 Captain H J Perrett appointed as Master
August 1964 laid up at Chatham and placed on the disposal list
13 October 1964 Purchased by M.R. Cliff Tugboat Co, Vancouver, was re-engined and renamed RIVTOW LION
1972 purchased by Riv-Tow Marine Ltd, Vancouver name unchanged
1976 owners restyled as Riv-Tow Straits Ltd, Vancouver
1987 owners became Riv-Tow Industries Ltd, Vancouver name unchanged
2002 Acquired by the Nanaimo Dive Association
6 February 2005 sunk as an artificial reef off Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, Canada for recreational divers
Notes:
1. The image is of the ship as H.M.Tug Prudent before being taken over as an RFA.
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