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TSS Sir Richard Grenville (1931)

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History
Name
  • 1931–1963: TSS Sir Richard Grenville
  • 1963–1969: TSS La Duchesse de Normandie
Operator
Port of registryUnited Kingdom
BuilderEarle’s Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Hull
Launched18 June 1931
Out of service1969
FateScrapped 1969
General characteristics
Tonnage896 gross register tons (GRT)
Length172.6 feet (52.6 m)
Beam42.6 feet (13.0 m)
Draught14.6 feet (4.5 m)

TSS Sir Richard Grenville was a passenger tender vessel built for the Great Western Railway in 1931.[1]

History

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TSS Sir Richard Grenville was built by Earle's Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Hull and launched on 18 June 1931.[2] She was a replacement for the ship of the same name dating from 1891. She was one of a pair built for tendering duties in Plymouth harbour, her sister TSS Sir John Hawkins being launched two years later.

During World War II she was used by the Admiralty at Plymouth, Scapa Flow and Pentland Firth.

After returning to railway service early in 1946 she resumed service at Plymouth until 31 October 1963, the last tender in use at that dock.[3]

She eventually found a new owner and was renamed La Duchesse de Normandie for services around the Channel Islands. She was sent for scrapping in 1969.

References

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  1. ^ Duckworth, Christian Leslie Dyce; Langmuir, Graham Easton (1968). Railway and other Steamers. Prescot, Lancashire: T. Stephenson and Sons.
  2. ^ "Steamer Built for South Coast Service". Hull Daily Mail. Hull. 18 June 1931. Retrieved 17 October 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ Kittridge, Alan (1993). Plymouth – Ocean Liner Port of Call. Truro: Twelveheads Press. ISBN 0-906294-30-4.