RFA Warden

RFA Warden

Previous name:
Subsequent name:              TWYFORD   Nisos Delos    Vernicos Dimitrios

Official Number:                    181812

Class:                                     Bustler Class Fleet Tug

Pennant No:                           W170  / A309  

Laid down:
Builder:                                  Henry Robb, Leith, Scotland
Launched:                             28 June 1945
Into Service:                          1959
Out of service:                       January 1965
Fate:                                       Sold to Greek interests

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data:   At the outbreak of WW2 there was a need for modern Fleet Tugs to augment the existing numbers, and experience dictated use of a proven, pre-war design to be built in a commercial shipyard. The answer was provided by Henry Robb of Leith who built 8 ships of this Class for the Royal Navy , making them the first RN Fleet Tugs powered by 2 x 8 cylinder diesel engines. The tugs were ordered in pairs. Oil fuel capacity was 405 tons which gave a range of about 1700 miles. As completed, the Class was armed with 1 x 12 pdr AA gun, 1 x 2 pdr AA, 2  x 20 mm AA  and 4 x Lewis .303 machine guns and had a complement of 42. They were designed for ocean towing, salvage and rescue and had a 30 ton bollard pull but were not suitable for harbour work. Early in the War they were involved in trials of pressure-minesweeping methods, where a dumb barge was towed behind the tug with the aim of exploding mines intended for merchant ships and warships. Unfortunately the pressure wave created by the tug alone was sufficient to detonate the mines, so the trials were abandoned. Post-War, the Class was ripe for commercial charter and eventually 6 of the Class saw service as RFA’s

28 June 1945 launched by Henry Robb Ltd, Leith as Yard Nr 338 named HMS WARDEN

14 November 1945 Chief Cook Henry Charles Clarke discharged dead. He is buried in Edinburgh (Seafield) Cemetery, Section P Grave 808

December 1946 to 1951 on charter to Risdon A. Beazeley Ltd, Southampton renamed TWYFORD

5 September 1946 Greaser William John McAdam discharged dead. He is buried in Bothwell (Bellshill) Cemetery.

15 March 1947 sailed Falmouth to an American steamer Ernie Pyle which had broken down off the Scily Isles - the steamer recovered power before the Twyford arrived

29 May 1949 arrived at Inverkeithing with ss Talma in tow for breaking by T E Ward

1951 returned to the Admiralty and name reverted to HMS WARDEN

26 August 1953 Lieutenant Commander Frederick C Hard Royal Navy appointed in command

26 March 1954 sailed Cape Town with HMS Kempenfelt in tow back to the UK for refit.

21 July 1954 sailed Malta with ML2493 in tow for Portsmouth

6 February 1955 four sailors on the Warden injured when line parted while towing the depot ship HMS Montclare. A Doctor from HMS Daring transferred to the Warden to give medical aid. All the sailors taken by lifeboat to St Mary's Hospital, Scilly Islands. One detained.

October 1956 as HMS Warden saw service during Operation Musketeer - the Suez Crisis -towed a lifting crane from Portsmouth to Port Said

1959 transferred to the RFA and renamed RFA WARDEN

23 September 1960 members of the crew of the HMS Warden, RFA Sea Salvor, RFA Cedardale together with several Royal Naval Units all shared £100,000 salvage money for the salvage of two tankers - S.S. MEILKIA and S.S. FERNAND GILABERT - during the period 13th September to 28th October 1958 details in the London Gazette of that date

20 July 1961 Captain F R Murray RFA appointed as Master

19 October 1961 while towing HMS Barmouth in the North Sea the tow parted on three occasions in very heavy weather..

11 January 1963 while towing HMS Pheasant off the north Cornish coast in heavy weather the tow parted twice. The frigate was on way to the breakers at Troon.

January 1965 towed by TYPHOON to Pembroke Dock and placed in reserve

September 1969 purchased by Tsavliris (Salvage & Towage) Ltd, Piraeus and renamed NISOS DELOS

1972 purchased by Nicolas E. Vernicos Shipping Co Ltd, Piraeus and renamed VERNICOS DIMITRIOS

As Vernicos Dimitrios looking rather rusty in Greece

19 October 1992 broken up by Dimitrios Aslanis at Perama