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SEA STORIES

 

STEAM PADDLE TUGS AT DEVONPORT

 

At the 2011 Christmas get Together the Association was loaned two articles by Des Reece, both of which were written in the early 60’s at the end of the careers of two steam paddle tugs PERT and CAMEL.  This is the first part of an initial two-part potted history of steam paddle tugs which were based in Devonport and is about HMT CAMEL.

 

 

Built by Messers Bow, McLachlan of Paisley, Renfrewshire.

 

Length 152 feet Gross tonnage 417.13 tons

 

Beam 52 feet  Displacement 690 tons

 

HM Tug CAMEL, Clyde built for Admiralty service was initially used at Rosyth in 1915, subsequently at Portsmouth and finally at Devonport in 1925, since when she has been one of the stalwarts of the Yard Craft service or to be up-to-date in nomenclature, Port Auxiliary Service.

 

Probably last of her class performing full duty, the vessel has at all times been well maintained and generally is still in an excellent state of preservation, her power now comparing favourably with that extant on trial records.  As replacement becomes imminent, modern design may bring improvement but never reliability.

 

CAMEL has seen service during two wars and although actively employed throughout both on sea salvage and harbour duties, in the thick of it all and narrowly escaping a near-miss bomb during a hostile air attack on Plymouth, has come through smilingly.  Use was made of her as a unit for the more pleasant, but no less arduous duty of Fleet Tender for the Queen’s Coronation Review at Spithead.

 

As a fitting climax to a typically all-purpose career, during the past winter, CAMEL alone saved a ship and crew in difficulties in a force 10 gale, with heavy seas, in close proximity to jagged rocks.

 

Although, necessarily, quite a number have experienced commend and have served in CAMEL, some of whom have indeed been survived by her, none will be without a pang of regret engendered by affection when the time arrives for her passing.

 

Post article note

 

Her final commitment 28 October 10 October 1961 (or 1962?). Sold to Haulboline Industries Ltd., Co. Cork in 1962.

 

Main Engines:  Constructed by Messers Bow, McLachlan of Paisley, Renfrewshire.

 

Twin Engines, for use independently or coupled.

 

Diagonal compound Steam reciprocating.

 

Authorised Horse Power - 1,250

 

Developing Full Power Speed of 12 knots at 40 revs per minute

 

Diameter of H.P. Cylinders 22“ each with a total weight of 5 tons

 

Diameter of L.P. Cylinders 40“ each with a total weight of 81/2 tons.

 

Length of Stroke 60”

 

Reversing Engines: 2 cylinder Vertical steam, working worm and worm wheel connecting to Stephenson Type Link Gear

 

Boilers:  2 in. No. return tube cylindrical, coal fired.  Three furnaces.

 

               14’. diameter by 11‘ 3” length  20 tons capacity

 

               Natural draught

 

               Renewed 1946

 

Paddle Wheels: 2 in No. diameter 15’,

 

Floats feathering 8 in No. on each wheel

 

               Size of each float - 9’ x 3’ 2”.

 

Pumps:    Air, 2 in No. independent of Main Engines by J.P. Hall

 

Main Circulating, 2 in No. single cylinder, reciprocating, centrifugal, by Bow McLachlan

               Main Boiler Feed, 2 in No. by J.P. Hall

 

Steering Engine: Steam, inverted vertical, twin cylinder by Bow McLachlan

 

Capstan Engine: Steam, horizontal, twin cylinder by Napier Bros.

 

Windlass Engine: Steam, vertical, twin cylinder by Napier Bros.

 

Dynamo Engine: Steam, compound tandem cylinders, 7.5 kV 105V 70 amp by Peter Brotherhood Ltd.

 

Evaporating and Distilling Plant: by John Kircaldy Ltd.

This fabulous tale will continue at future updates, but if you have similar stories of your time in "the Job" send them in to us

at

rmasassociation@virginmedia.com