Tug Heroic (Epic)

[Tim]

OK one for naval historians out there.

Back in the 1960's parts of Homebush Bay on the Parramatta River, was used as a ship breaking up yard. Today there are hulks of the ships that never were completely broken up and just left to rust.

There are two vessels there that have a military history and they lay side by side together.

The vessel in question is this "little" tug.

Heroic - a steel tugboat, built at South Shields, United Kingdom in 1909 by J.P. Rennoldson & Sons, 268 tons and 38.10m in length. Registered in Sydney as folio 25 of 1909, Official Number 125198. Built for Thomas Fenwick of Sydney, the famous Sydney tug towed an ex-French three-masted warship Eure to Sydney from Noumea for breaking-up in 1911. Commandeered by the British Admiralty during World War One and renamed Epic, it was engaged in rescue work off the Scilly Isles. It arrived home in 1919. The Heroic rescued the freighter Allara when torpedoed off Sydney during World War Two. It is unclear when Heroic was hulked at Homebush Bay although c.1973 it was sold to J.B. Mullins who intended to rename the vessel Bustler II.

Source: Maritime Archaeology Unit, NSW Heritage Office

Does anyone have info whatsoever on this tug's service in WWI?

[kin47]

Hello

There were three deaths in EPIC in 1918. No other deaths appear in WWI or interwar years.

MYLER JEREMIAH FIREMAN, Mercantile Marine Reserve 899061 EPIC 13-Apr-18 DIED IN OPEN BOAT

CRAIG ALEXANDER TY/ENGINEER S/LT, RNR EPIC 04-Nov-18 DROWNING

FLANAGAN WILLIAM J. ASST COOK, Mercantile Marine Reserve 881022 EPIC 20-Nov-18 ILLNESS

Hope this bit helps.

All best

don

[Tim]

Cheers Don.

Much appreciated.

Tim

[yellow]

Do you plan buying the Tug and restoring it Tim?

Steve.

[Tim]

I think she's well beyond that Steve! So is poor HMAS Karangi who lies besides her. They are both under the "care" of the NSW Heritage Office, so not for sale anyway.

It truly is a sad end to these two vessels.

Tim

[ARABIS]

OK one for naval historians out there.

Back in the 1960's parts of Homebush Bay on the Parramatta River, was used as a ship breaking up yard. Today there are hulks of the ships that never were completely broken up and just left to rust.

There are two vessels there that have a military history and they lay side by side together.

The vessel in question is this "little" tug.

Heroic - a steel tugboat, built at South Shields, United Kingdom in 1909 by J.P. Rennoldson & Sons, 268 tons and 38.10m in length. Registered in Sydney as folio 25 of 1909, Official Number 125198. Built for Thomas Fenwick of Sydney, the famous Sydney tug towed an ex-French three-masted warship Eure to Sydney from Noumea for breaking-up in 1911. Commandeered by the British Admiralty during World War One and renamed Epic, it was engaged in rescue work off the Scilly Isles. It arrived home in 1919. The Heroic rescued the freighter Allara when torpedoed off Sydney during World War Two. It is unclear when Heroic was hulked at Homebush Bay although c.1973 it was sold to J.B. Mullins who intended to rename the vessel Bustler II.

Source: Maritime Archaeology Unit, NSW Heritage Office

Does anyone have info whatsoever on this tug's service in WWI?

Hello Tim,

Just a little more info about Epic from "British Warships 1914-1919".

Pendant No. Jan. 1918 - W.22.

Admiralty service from 3/5/1917 to 17/5/1920.

David.

[historydavid]

Hello Tim, the Epic was used as a Rescue Tug during the war.

Best wishes

David

[Lörscher]

Tim,

here are some of her rescue-efforts during WW 1:

07.04.1918

british S/S WAR TEMPLAR was torpedoed by german U 53 170 miles SW of Eddystone, was towed into Devonport by EPIC, BLAZER, REVENGER, PLUNGER and ICTOR

15.05.1918

british S/S WAR GRANGE was torpedoed by german U 55 in Newquay area, was towed in by EPIC and BLAZER and beached

08.08.1918

american S/S WESTWARD HO was torpedoed by german U 62 in Bay of Biscay, was towed in by EPIC and WOONDA, reaching Brest on 12.08.1918

16.08.1918

american S/S WEST BRIDGE was torpedoed by german U 90 in Bay of Biscay, was towed in by EPIC and WOONDA over 400 miles, reaching Brest, France, on 22.09.1918

For the latter two vessels you can find some more info on the net, especially some photos at www.navsource.org

best wishes from Germany

Oliver