This article is about the 1939 roll-on/roll-off ferry which was converted to a minelayer. For the steamship built in 1902, see SS Princess Victoria. For the 1947 roll-on/roll-off ferry, see MV Princess Victoria.
MV Princess Victoria was the first British stern-loading cross-channel car ferry. After two months it was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to a Minelayer. It was sunk by a mine on 19 May 1940.
The ship was built as a purpose built car and passenger ferry by William Denny & Bros of Dumbarton, Scotland for the London Midland and Scottish Railway. She is understood to have been the first stern loading cross-channel car ferry with a capacity variously quoted at between 24/64/80 cars and with two 20 feet (6.1 m) turntables to assist loading and unloading.[1][2] Passengers and livestock could be loaded via sidedoors.[2]
The ship and special berthing facilities at Larne and Stranraer cost nearly £200,000.[2]
Service
The ship way allocated to the Stranraer - Larne route and entered service on 8 July 1939.[2][3]
In September 1939, after just two months service, Princess Victoria was requisitioned and converted to an auxiliary minelayer. She was commissioned as HMS Princess Victoria and given the pennant number M03. She had a capacity of 244 mines.[1] During her short service she laid 2756 mines.[4]
Fate
After laying a minefield off the Dutch coast she struck a mine on the voyage home at the entrance to the Humber Estuary on 19 May 1940 and sank with 36 crew lost and 85 rescued.[1][5]
Successor
Following the Second World War it was replaced by a near identical ship of the same name built in 1946 which was to sink in 1953.[1]
References
^ abcde"Scottish Built Ships". Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. MV Princess Victoria - 1939. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
^ abcdMacHaffie, Fraser G (18 January 2017). "The Short Life and Sudden Death of HMS Princess Victoria". Sea Breezes. Sea Breezes Publications Ltd.
^. National Railway Museum. 1997-7409_LMS_8995. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
^Cocker, M (1993). Mine Warfare Vessels of the Royal Navy 1908-date. Shrewsbury: Airlife. p. 54. ISBN1853103284.
^Smith, Peter (2005). Into the Minefields: British Destroyer Minelaying 1918–1980. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books. pp. 144–146. ISBN1-84415-271-5.
January 06, 2023
princess, victoria, 1939, this, article, about, 1939, roll, roll, ferry, which, converted, minelayer, steamship, built, 1902, princess, victoria, 1947, roll, roll, ferry, princess, victoria, princess, victoria, first, british, stern, loading, cross, channel, f. This article is about the 1939 roll on roll off ferry which was converted to a minelayer For the steamship built in 1902 see SS Princess Victoria For the 1947 roll on roll off ferry see MV Princess Victoria MV Princess Victoria was the first British stern loading cross channel car ferry After two months it was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to a Minelayer It was sunk by a mine on 19 May 1940 HistoryName1939 1939 MV Princess Victoria 1 1939 1940 HMS Princess VictoriaOwner1939 1939 London Midland and Scottish RailwayOperator1939 1939 London and North Western Railway 1939 1940 Commissioned fleetPort of registryStranraerRouteStranraer LarneBuilderWilliam Denny and Brothers DumbartonYard number1333Launched21 April 1939IdentificationOfficial number 34674FateMined and sunk 19 May 1940General characteristicsTypeSteel Motor VesselTonnage2 197 GRTLength322 0 feet 98 1 m Beam48 1 feet 14 7 m Depth13 0 feet 4 0 m Installed power2 Sulzer 7TS48Propulsion2 screwSpeed19 knCapacity875 1st 542 3rd 24 64 carsArmament244 MinesNotes1st stern loading cross channel car ferry Fitted with bow rudder Contents 1 Construction 2 Service 3 Fate 4 Successor 5 ReferencesConstruction EditThe ship was built as a purpose built car and passenger ferry by William Denny amp Bros of Dumbarton Scotland for the London Midland and Scottish Railway She is understood to have been the first stern loading cross channel car ferry with a capacity variously quoted at between 24 64 80 cars and with two 20 feet 6 1 m turntables to assist loading and unloading 1 2 Passengers and livestock could be loaded via sidedoors 2 The ship and special berthing facilities at Larne and Stranraer cost nearly 200 000 2 Service EditThe ship way allocated to the Stranraer Larne route and entered service on 8 July 1939 2 3 In September 1939 after just two months service Princess Victoria was requisitioned and converted to an auxiliary minelayer She was commissioned as HMS Princess Victoria and given the pennant number M03 She had a capacity of 244 mines 1 During her short service she laid 2756 mines 4 Fate EditAfter laying a minefield off the Dutch coast she struck a mine on the voyage home at the entrance to the Humber Estuary on 19 May 1940 and sank with 36 crew lost and 85 rescued 1 5 Successor EditFollowing the Second World War it was replaced by a near identical ship of the same name built in 1946 which was to sink in 1953 1 References Edit a b c d e Scottish Built Ships Caledonian Maritime Research Trust MV Princess Victoria 1939 Retrieved 28 February 2018 a b c d MacHaffie Fraser G 18 January 2017 The Short Life and Sudden Death of HMS Princess Victoria Sea Breezes Sea Breezes Publications Ltd Loading cars onto a ferry at Stranraer about 1939 National Railway Museum 1997 7409 LMS 8995 Archived from the original on 2 March 2018 Retrieved 1 March 2018 Cocker M 1993 Mine Warfare Vessels of the Royal Navy 1908 date Shrewsbury Airlife p 54 ISBN 1853103284 Smith Peter 2005 Into the Minefields British Destroyer Minelaying 1918 1980 Barnsley Pen amp Sword Books pp 144 146 ISBN 1 84415 271 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title MV Princess Victoria 1939 amp oldid 1092296493, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
