RFA Prosperous

RFA Prosperous

 

 

 

Previous name:
Subsequent name:               Eyforia   Eforia    Captain Spyromilios

Official Number                      182198                                                         

Class:                                      ASSURANCE Class Tug

Pennant No:                            W96 / A254

Laid down:                              9 March 1942
Builder:                                    Cochrane, Selby  
Launched:                               29 June 1942
Into Service:                            21 November 1942
Out of service:                         Sold out of service  
Fate:

 

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

 

29 June 1942 Launched by Cochrane  & Sons Ltd, Selby as Yard Nr 1251 named HMS PROSPEROUS

21 November 1942 completed

15 December 1942 sailed Methil in convoy EN173 to the Clyde arriving 17 December 1942

22 June 1943 Temporary Lieutenant John Edgar Leonard Brice RNR awarded Additional Membership of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) while in command of the Prosperous for coolness and courage in saving the lives of a sinking merchant ship and for towing the damaged vessel to port. (London Gazette 36062) and in addition for courage and skill in the same matter Temporary Acting Sub-Lieutenant (E) Christopher Horace Hall RNVR was mentioned in despatches.

4 July 1943 sailed the Clyde in Convoy KMS 20 as a rescue tug arriving at Gibraltar on the 14 July 1943

5 September 1943 sailed Gibraltar with another tug towing ss Fort Babine back to the UK. The Fort Babine had been hit by an aerial torpedo in February 1943 with some of the crew killed. Towed to Oran for discharge of cargo and repairs. Towed to Gibraltar for more repairs. On 13 September 1943 came under air attack again at 41.31N 14.39W hit by two bombs which killed the seven man DEMS gun crew. Ship abandoned on fire.

November 1943 berthed at Gibraltar

18 December 1943 sailed in convoy MKS 043 from Bone to Gibraltar arriving on the 24 December 1943

24 January 1944 off the Anzio beachhead USS Mayo was mined with 6 men killed, 1 missing and 25 wounded. The Prosperous took her into tow to Naples for repairs.

1 August 1944 towed HMS Ithuriel from Gibraltar to Plymouth - she was later sold for scrap.

29 May 1945 towed German type VIIC submarine U907 from Bergen, Norway to Scapa Flow and then Loch Ryan to be sunk on 7 December 1945 under Operation Deadlight at  position 55.17N, 05.59W

26 November 1945 towed the German type XXII submarine U2345 through the North Channel  to be sunk under Operation Deadlight on 27 November 1945 by demolition charges in position 56.10N, 10.05W

28 November 1945 sailed through the North Channel towing German type V11C  submarine U968 for destruction under Operation Deadlight. The submarine foundered the next day and anchored the tug to the sea bed in 80 fathoms at 55 24N 06 22W. The tow had to be cut to save the towing vessel

5 December 1945 sailed through the North Channel towing German type V11C submarine U994 for destruction under Operation Deadlight. The submarine foundered while under tow at 55.50N x 08.30W

7 December 1945 sailed through the North Channel towing German type V11C submarine U907 for destruction under Operation Deadlight. Sunk by gunfire in position 55.17N, 05.59W

13 December 1945 sailed through the North Channel towing German type V11C submarine U1002 for destruction under Operation Deadlight. Sunk by HMS/m Tanvity north west of Bloody Foreland at 56.10N x 10.05W

17 December 1945 sailed through the North Channel towing German type V11C submarine U956 to be sunk under Operation Deadlight Sunk by naval gunfire at 55 50N 10 05W

21 December 1945 towed German submarine U155 through the North Channel to be sunk under Operation Deadlight - tow broke in heavy weather - submarine sunk by gunfire in position 55.35N, 07.39W

9 February 1945 towed German submarine U975 from Lisahally in company with HMS Loch Arkaig and HMS Loch Sin - submarine sunk the next day by a Squid attack from the Royal Naval frigates at 55.42N 09.01W

11 February 1946 took part in Operation Deadlight (2) when together with HMS Loch Arkaig and with gunfire and 'Shark' anti submarine weapon sank the German submarine U3514 (A type XX1 submarine) off the coast of Northern Ireland at 56.00N/10.05W. This was the last submarine to be disposed of under Operation Deadlight (2).

 

German Submarines waiting to be sunk in Operation Deadlight

3 May 1947 Captain J E Noble appointed as Master

24 March 1948 Captain W A Fletcher appointed as Master

1949 under RFA Conditions as PROSPEROUS, based at Portsmouth

11 July 1951 sailed Bermuda as back up tug to Warden and Reward who were towing an Admiralty Floating Dock to Falmouth - arrived on 11 August 1951

12 February 1954 at Portsmouth with orders to sail to Trincomalee when it was found that the steering had been maliciously damaged. The Admiralty Constabulary were advised and an investigation started.

26 March 1954 Seaman Thomas Evans Armour appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court charged with 'malicious damage'  to the ship steering. He pleaded Guilty and was fined £10 and ordered to pay £20 cost of the damage. 

27 October 1954 the frigate HMS Relentless was in collision with HMS Vigilant while on anti submarines exercises off the Hebrides and suffered damage. Prosperous sailed from the Clyde to get HMS Relentless back to safety on the Clyde

December 1960 completed a refit for Reserve at Portsmouth Dockyard

12 May 1961 in Chatham Dockyard in reserve

November 1964 still at Chatham Dockyard - offered for sale

7 January 1965 purchased by Aegean Steam Nav Typaldos Bros Ltd, Piraeus and renamed  EYFORIA

1967 purchased by Varnima Corp, Piraeus and renamed EFORIA

1968 purchased by Seka SA, Piraeus and renamed CAPTAIN SPYROMILIOS and subsequently saw employment as a Pilot Cutter at Piraeus

23 August 1980 arrived at United Shipbreakers, Eleusis to be broken up