RFA Chattenden
NAV Chattenden
NAV Chattenden
Previous name: EMPIRE CHUZZLEWIT
Subsequent name: MARK BOWEN
Official Number: 169754
Class: Armament Stores Carrier
Pennant No: Y39
Laid down:
Builder: Richards Ironworks Ltd, Lowestoft
Launched: 14 October 1943
Into Service: February 1944
Out of service: December 1967
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: One of a group of nine coasters which were not normally classed as RFA’s although some, on making deep sea passages, had a proportion of RFA Officers among their complement. They are included here as the ancestors of the more modern ammunition ships
7 February 1943 Captain F J Bluett appointed Master and Mr F C Tapley appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 October 1943 launched by Richards Ironworks Ltd, Lowestoft as Yard Nr 311 named EMPIRE CHUZZLEWIT for the MoWT
February 1944 completed as the Naval Armanents Coaster CHATTENDEN
9 June 1944 sailed the Solent in Convoy ETC 5 to Seine Bay arriving on 11 June 1944 along with RFA Beddenham and HMS Succour (later RFA Succour)
23 June 1944 sailed Plymouth in convoy EBC20 to Seine Bay arriving on 25 June 1944
12 November 1946 Captain J Pearce appointed as Master and Mr F C Tapley as Chief Engineer Officer. The ship was berthed at Milford Haven
1951 laid up in Porchester Creek, Portsmouth
1961 was reduced to a dumb derrick lighter
December 1967 purchased by H.G. Pounds Ltd, Portsmouth name unchanged
1969 purchased by T. Bowen & P. Caines, converted into an aggregate suction dredger and renamed MARK BOWEN
1978 laid up in the River Itchen, Southampton where she was later broken up
Notes:
She was one of eight “EMPIRE” coasters built by Richards Ironworks Ltd at Lowestoft during WW2