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fighting ships of the world

ROYAL NAVY - UNITED KINGDOM

CONVERTED MERCHANT VESSELS

WWII ocean boarding vessels

Cavina 1941

Name Launched // Comm. Builder Tonnage, BRT Dimensions, m Speed, kts Machinery, Fuel, t Armament Fate
Ariguani 20.10.1925 // 10.1940 A. Stephens, Linthouse 6746 129.6(pp)x16.5x 14 2VTE, coal 2159 2 - 152/50 Mk XI, 1 - 76/45 CAM 1941, accommodation ship 1942
Camito 17.4.1915 // 9.1940 A. Stephens, Linthouse 6833 129.9(pp)x16.5x 15.5 2VTE, coal 2322 2 - 152/50 Mk XI, 1 - 76/40 sunk 6.5.1941
Cavina 20.3.1924 // 8.1940 A. Stephens, Linthouse 6907 129.6(pp)x16.5x 15.75 2VTE, coal 2172 2 - 152/50 Mk XI, 1 - 76/40 returned 7.1942
Corinthian 3.5.1938 // 9.1940 Gray, Tees 3151 105.4(pp)x15.3x 14.5 1VTE+exh turbine, coal 996 2 - 152/50 Mk XI, 1 - 76/40 training ship 1944
Crispin 7.12.1934 // 8.1940 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 5051 125.6(pp)x17.0x 14.5 1VTE+exh turbine, coal 692 2 - 152/50 Mk XI, 1 - 76/40 sunk 3.2.1941
Erin, 1.1941- Maplin 5.4.1932 // 9.1940 Workman Clark, Belfast 5824 131.5(pp)x16.7x 17 1turbo-electric, oil 1197 2 - 152/50 Mk XI CAM 1941, returned 7.1942
Hilary 17.4.1931 // 10.1940 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 7403 129.3(pp)x17.1x 15.5 1VTE+exh turbine, coal 1975 2 - 152/50 Mk XI, 1 - 76/45 returned 7.1942, LSH(L) 3.1943
Inanda 24.2.1925 // 9.1940 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 5985 124.1(pp)x15.9x 14 1VQE, oil   sunk 7.9.1940 when fitting out, later salvaged
Inkosi 25.2.1937 // /1940 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 6618 126.4(pp)x17.1x 15 1VQE, oil   damaged 7.9.1940 when fitting out, repaired as cargo vessel
Jamaica Producer 4.4.1934 // 8.1940 Lithgows, Glasgow 5464 125.3(pp)x16.7x 16 1VQE, oil   returned 10.1941
Lady Somers 13.11.1928 // 10.1940 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 8194 128.1(pp)x18.4x 16 2turbines, oil 1235 2 - 152/45 Mk VII, 1 - 76/45 sunk 15.7.1941
Largs (ex-Charles Plumier) 1938 // 11.1940 Provence, Port de Bouc, France 4504 109.3(pp)x15.8x 17 2diesels, oil 778 2 - 152/50 Mk XI, 1 - 76/45 LSH(L) 10.1942
Malvernian 25.2.1937 // 8.1940 Gray, Tees 3133 105.3(pp)x15.3x 14 1VTE+exh turbine, coal 956 2 - 152/50 Mk XI, 1 - 76/40 sunk 19.7.1941
Manistee 28.10.1920 // 9.1940 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 5368 122.0(pp)x15.6x 13.5 1VTE, coal 2 - 152/50 Mk XI, 1 - 76/40 sunk 24.2.1941
Maron 17.12.1929 // 8.1940 Caledon, Dundee 6487 132.0(pp)x17.2x 15.2 2diesels, oil 622 2 - 152/50 Mk XI, 1 - 76/45, 1 - 76/40 returned 6.1942
Marsdale 13.12.1939 // 8.1940 Lithgows, Glasgow 4890 133.0x17.3x 14.5 1VTE, oil 705 2 - 152/50 Mk XI, 1 - 76/40 returned 6.1942
Patia 14.1.1922 // 10.1940 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 5355 121.9(pp)x15.6x 13.5 1VTE, coal 2 - 152/50 Mk XI CAM 3.1941, sunk 27.4.1941
Registan 30.1.1930 // 9.1940 Readhead, South Shields 5886 129.8(pp)x16.8x 14.5 1VTE+exh turbine, oil 770 2 - 152/50 Mk XI, 1 - 76/45 returned 11.1941
Tortuguero 19.4.1921 // 1941 A. Stephens, Linthouse 5285 121.9(pp)x15.6x 13.5 1VTE, coal 2 - 152/50 Mk XI ? returned 1942

Project history: OBVs were intended for patrol and boarding service.

Modernizations: CAM-ships were armed with 1 152/50mm gun and powder catapult with 1 Hurricane fighter (2 fighters on Maplin, this ship had 1 additional 76/45mm gun). Most ships had additionally 2 40/39mm pompoms or/and 4 20/70mm Oerlikons.

Naval service: Malvernian was sunk by German aircraft and other ships by submarines.

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10