Agate HMT (Convoy FS-559)

AGATE HMT
Convoy FS - 559
Type ... Converted Trawler

Engine and Bridge midships, gun deck, raked bow, cruiser stern

Position ... 52 52 180 N / 001 46 833 E
Type ... Trawler
Armament ... 1 x 4 inch quick fire (QF) Mk 1V deck gun.
Construction ... Steel
Tonnage ... 627 grt
Dimensions ... 33.9 x 6.7 x 3.7 mtrs
Engine ... x1 triple expansion / x3 cylinders / 14, 23.5, 40.5 x 27 inch stroke
Boiler ... x1 single ended Scotch type / x3 plain furnaces
Power ... 76nhp
Builder ... Smiths Dock Co Ltd (South Bank) Middlesborough / yard number 963
Official number ... 162067
Engine Builder ... Smiths Dock Co Ltd (South Bank) Middlesborough
Owner at time of loss ... British Royal Navy
Date of loss ... 6th August 1941
Cause ... In convoy / ran aground on Haisborough Sands

 Trawler use in the Royal Navy
All trawlers operated by the Royal Navy were given the prefix HMT, His Majesty's Trawler. In 1907 admiral Charles Beresford recommended that in the event of war that steam trawlers be utilised for the purpose of minesweeping duties. At the outbreak of WW1 in 1914, many of the countries trawlers were requisitioned and modified for minesweeping, anti submarine work and escort duties. To this end His Majesty's Trawlers performed admirably, in turn many of their duties freeing up purpose built naval vessels to undertake more appropriate duties.
With the start of WW11 in 1939 and having seen the benefits of utilising trawlers in WW1 , once again the trawlers of Britain were  called upon to serve in the Royal Navy. 
As with the end of WW1, many surviving trawlers were refitted for a return to the fishing industry.
As can be seen below, HMT Agate was not a war time requisitioned vessel, the Royal Navy taking her over in 1935, this being some 4 years prior to the outbreak of WW11. As can be seen from above, be it a requisitioned trawler or a trawler obtained during peace time, their service to the war effort was invaluable.
Ownership history of the Agate
Built in 1934 as the Mavis Rose for the Boston Deep Sea fishing and Ice Company of Lancashire. 
In 1935 the Mavis Rose was taken over by the Royal Navy and renamed Agate. 

History of Royal Navy Commanders 1939 - 1941
15th June 1939 - 16th October 1939 ... LT James William Henry Vincent (RN)
16th October 1939 - 2nd October 1940 ... LT Arthur Thomas Board (RN)
2nd October 1940 - 18th December 1940 ... LT Cdr John Henry Fuller (RN)
18th December 1940 - 6th August 1941 ... Lt Leonard Henry Cline (RN)

The loss of HMT Agate
HMT Agate was serving as an escort vessel for convoy FS-559. For further information on her loss please follow the link below to the Oxshott and Gallois for a detailed account.
Vessels lost on Haisborough Sands from convoy FS - 559
SS Amberhill .. SS Afon Towey ... SS Betty Hindley ... SS Deerwood ... SS Gallois ... SS Oxshott ... SS Taara ... HMT Agate
Lost crew members of HMS Agate
Peter Gascoyn Beard (Lieutenant) ... Frederick Charles Brill (Stoker 2nd class) ... Sidney Burret (Seaman) ... James Cargill (Seaman) ... Harry Leonard Cline (Lieutenant)... James Donelly (Ordinary Seaman)... Sidney Ernest Hood (Seaman) ... Michael Joyce (Cook) ... Alfred Howell Lewis (Engineman) ... Norman MacBeath (Ordinary Seaman) ...Reginald Newton McBurney (Steward) ... Victor Walter Pascoe (Stoker) ... Peter Robertson (Able Seaman) ... Charles Scraton (Seaman) ...Timothy Greig Shields (Leading Stoker) ... Cyril James Smith (Ordinary Seaman) ... Richard Stephens (Seaman) ...Arthur George Tree (Sub Lieutenant) ...James Wilfred Wilson (Stoker)

In all nineteen crew members lost their lives, all assumed to have drowned. From the nineteen men lost, only one body was recovered, that of Seaman Sidney Ernest Hood, his body being buried at sea.
Armament
As can be seen in the picture above, HMT Agate was fitted with a gun deck at her bow, this being constructed above the aft section of the forecastle . Mounted on the gun deck is a 4 inch QF (quick fire) MK1V Naval gun as pictured below. Additional armament included depth charges and 303 AA machine guns.


Naval QF 4 inch MK lV gun Introduced in 1911, the MK lV was to be found on most British naval vessels. It was introduced to replace th BL MK Vlll 4 inch gun, this offering a firing rate of only 6 - 8 rounds per minute. The MKlV was a semi automatic weapon with a range of 10,000 yards. A well trained crew could fire between 15 - 20 rounds per minute. The gun fired a 32lb high explosive shell.

Smiths Dock Co Ltd (South Bank) Middlesborough. Builders of the Agate and her engine, or just Smith's Dock as they were often referred were of High Docks, North Shields, and later of South Bank on the River Tees. Prior to the company being known as Smith's Dock, a name change that came to pass in 1891, it was formerly called William Smith & Co, established in 1810 by Thomas Smith when he bought William Rowe's shipyard at St Peters, Newcastle Upon Tyne. In 1851, the company (William Smith & Co) opened its docks in North Shields.

In 1907, now with its new name, Smith Dock Company set up an operation on the River Tees South Bank. Smith Dock closed its North Shields yard in 1909, in turn focussing its operations on the River Tees South Bank.

Of note, Smith's Dock were famously known for preparing the design of the Flower Class Corvette, this having the role of an anti submarine convoy escort vessel of WWll

In 1966, SSmith Dock merged with Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson to form Assocciated Shipbuilders, later becoming the Swan Hunter Group.
The Agate today
Awaiting divers report
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