michaeldr Posted 14 August , 2018 Share Posted 14 August , 2018 (edited) Per the listing on the Naval History Net, this vessel ran out of coal during a voyage from Port Said, Egypt, to Mudros and was wrecked while under tow in the Aegean off Lemnos, 27th December 1915. She was eventually salvaged and returned to service. I should be grateful for any further information on either this vessel or the December 1915 wreck Thanks for your interest Michael Edited 14 August , 2018 by michaeldr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 14 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2018 15 minutes ago, michaeldr said: She was eventually salvaged and returned to service. Jane's Fighting Ships of World War I confirms 046 was 'sunk', but says nothing about any eventual salvage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 14 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2018 (edited) Further details on this vessel found elsewhere on the Naval History Net (to whom, thanks) quote TB.046 (ex-TB.46), torpedo boat, ex-1st class, 125-footer. Built 1886 Thornycroft. 60 tons, 127(pp)x12x6ft. TE 700ihp, 21kts. Armament: 2-3pdr, 4-14in tt. Wrecked in tow 27.12.15 Eastern Mediterranean, salved & BU 1920. Edited 14 August , 2018 by michaeldr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 14 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2018 (edited) Further scratching from the web on this subject: Built by John I. Thornycroft & Company, at Chiswick [Thornycroft Yard No.227] One of a series [26 to 60] of first class torpedo boats for the Royal Navy. They were based on the HMTB 25 but had a straight bow. edit to add: She must have looked very like TB.41 seen here https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/SHIPS/The-Royal-Navy/DESTROYERS/i-6hZ4dtc/A Edited 14 August , 2018 by michaeldr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm12hl Posted 14 August , 2018 Share Posted 14 August , 2018 Hepper's British Warship Losses gives the date as 21 December and says that the vessel left Malta for Mudros on 18 December in tow of the Mercantle Fleet Auxiliary CARRIGAN HEAD. Bad weather caused progressive flooding, and TB.46 was abandoned after her pumps failed. She was then cast adrift and sunk by gunfire in position 35.42N 22.37W (to be raised and scrapped in 1920). The source is given as TNA ADM 137/3607. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 14 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2018 Malcolm, Many thanks for that info regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 14 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2018 Elsewhere again on the Naval History Net (http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishBVLSaRN1510.htm) the two versions of her December 1915 loss are given as follows, and includes some useful further info quote: Aegean Sea 21st?? gggTB.046, torpedo boat, Thornycroft 125ft-type, 60t, 1886, 20kts, 2-3pdr/4-14 in tt, 16 crew, one of five TB's (Cn - 042, 044, 046, 063, 070; D - 043, 044, 063, 064, 070) formed Malta Local Defence Flotilla, in early 1915 took part in defence of Suez Canal, Gunner Robert Stocker in command,now sailing Port Said for Mudros, ran out of coal, taken in tow. Wrecked by heavy weather on Lemnos island, later salved, apparently refloated, repaired and put back into service, sold for breaking up 1920 (J - foundered in tow); no lives lost (+J/C/Cn/D/He/dk; ADM.137/3607) 21 December . Left Malta on 18 December in tow of the Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary vessel Carrigan Head bound for Mudros. The weather was poor, and worsened, with the torpedo boat having to batten down the hatches. During the early hours of the 19th, water was found to be entering the stokehold and messdeck. Initially this was cleared by pumps, but by that evening hand bailing was resorted to. The following day the boat laboured heavily in the seas, suffering several minor mechanical defects, and still bailing constantly. At 1am on the 21st the circulating engine finally gave out and all steam had to be shut off. Soon after this Gunner Stocker confirmed to the Carrigan Head that the crew of the torpedo boat should be taken off, as he feared that if the tow were to part they would be helpless. Hauling in the tow proved to be long and difficult, and it was not until 7am that she was brought alongside the quarter and the crew managed to scramble aboard, using ropes and ladders. Two men were injured during the transfer, and TB.046 suffered further damage as she struck the side. After this she was cast adrift and then sunk by gunfire. Her position then was 35.42N, 22.37W. In 1920 the wreck was raised and scrapped Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 14 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2018 There are some details of the career of Robert Stocker to be seen here http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Robert_Stocker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm12hl Posted 14 August , 2018 Share Posted 14 August , 2018 Michael The second of the Naval History Net excerpts is a verbatim transcription from Hepper's book. If you have a wider interest in British naval losses, it is a volume well worth having as in most cases he has consulted original reports at TNA. The complete details are: David Hepper, British Warship Losses in the Ironclad Era, 1860-1919. Chatham Publishing, London, 2006. Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 14 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 14 August , 2018 Malcolm, Thank you for you advice; I'll look into that regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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