The 'Q' Ship HMS Beauly in her disguise as RFA Looe
© William Tracey
Previous name:
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 147919
Class: Special Service Freighter - Q ship
Pennant No: X63
Laid down:
Builder: Ailsa Ship Building Company, Troon
Launched: 2 May 1924
Into Service:
Out of service:
Fate: 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
2 May 1924 launched by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Troon as Yard Nr 386 named BEAULY for Wm Sloan & Co, Glasgow
August 1924 completed
1932 passenger accommodation removed
19 October 1933 while anchored at Barry Roads bound for Bristol reported by radio that she had been damaged by a French steamer Normand from Rouen. She reported the extent of her damage amounted to a twisted stem and loss of one anchor.
5 September 1939 requisitioned for Government service and it was originally intended to use her as an Army Stores Carrier
6 October 1939 transferred to the Admiralty for conversion into a Special Service Freighter by Chatham Dockyard
20 October 1939 commissioned as HMS BEAULY
6 November 1939 T/Lieutenant Commander Arthur J Anderson RNR appointed in command - appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) on 11 December 1945
February 1940 conversion completed. Cover name RFA LOOE. Complement 69 under command of Cdr. F.H. Ashton R.N. Armed with 4 x single 4-inch guns, 1 x 12 pdr gun, 2 x Lewis machine guns, 2 x single 21-inch torpedo tubes, 36 x depth charges and was fitted with Asdic
28 March 1940 arrived Spithead from Chatham and anchored off Beaulieu for work-up
7 April 1940 sailed Spithead on completion of work-upand commenced her first cruise via Plymouth and Holyhead then operated around the Home Coast
27 April 1940 towed RFA Scottish American to Loch Eribol after she had been torpedoed and damaged west of the Pentland Firth fully laden with oil.
20 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 for resumption of commercial service
1946 was returned to her owners as BEAULY
1955 owners restyled as Wm Sloan & Co Ltd, Glasgow
1956 converted from coal to oil burning.
June 1958 owners taken over by Coast Lines Ltd, Liverpool.
11 May 1959 arrived Willebroek, Belgium for breaking up
