Allied Warships

HMS Favourite (W 119)

Rescue Tug of the Favourite class

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeRescue Tug
ClassFavourite 
PennantW 119 
Built byLevingston Shipbuilding Co. (Orange, Texas, U.S.A.) 
Ordered 
Laid down 
Launched17 Feb 1942 
Commissioned15 Jun 1942 
End service 
History

Returned to the US Navy on 27 March 1946 and sold into mercantile service in 1946 being renamed Susan A. Moran
Renamed Eugene F. Moran later in 1946 and Monsanta in 1947

 
Former nameBAT-3

We don't have any commands listed for HMS Favourite (W 119)


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Notable events involving Favourite include:


2 Aug 1942
Around 1600Q/7, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN) and armed boarding vessel HMS Largs (Cdr. E.A. Divers, RNR) departed St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. They then joined the floating dock AFD 25 in tow of the tugs HMS Aimwell and HMS Favourite and escorted by the corvettes HMS Cowslip (Lt. F. Granger, RNR) and HMS Crocus (T/Lt. J.F. Holm, RNZNR).

The floating dock was on passage to Freetown. (1)

15 Aug 1942
In the early morning hours floating dock AFD 25 broke its back in the swell. Salvage attempts were undertaken but late in the afternoon there was no other choice then to scuttle the dock which eventually sank in position 12°01'N, 40°50'W early in the evening.

The escort and tugs; the armed merchant cruiser HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN), armed boarding vessel HMS Largs (Cdr. E.A. Divers, RNR), corvettes HMS Cowslip (Lt. F. Granger, RNR), HMS Crocus (T/Lt. J.F. Holm, RNZNR) and tugs HMS Aimwell and HMS Favourite continued the passage to Freetown. (1)

16 Aug 1942
HMS Crocus (T/Lt. J.F. Holm, RNZNR) was topped off with fuel fuel while underway by HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN).

At 2055O/16, the corvette was detached from the group made up of HMS Asturias, HMS Largs (Cdr. E.A. Divers, RNR), HMS Cowslip (Lt. F. Granger, RNR), HMS Aimwell and HMS Favourite. (2)

17 Aug 1942
HMS Crocus (T/Lt. J.F. Holm, RNZNR) was topped off with fuel fuel while underway by HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN). At dawn on the 17th, it became apparent that HMS Aimwell had lost contact during the night with HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN), HMS Largs (Cdr. E.A. Divers, RNR), HMS Cowslip (Lt. F. Granger, RNR) and HMS Favourite.

A seach by the aircraft from HMS Asturias failed to find the missing tug. It was hoped she would proceed to Freetown independently.

During the day, HMS Cowslip was fuelled while underway by HMS Asturias. (2)

20 Aug 1942
Around 2015N/19, in position 09°54'N, 26°00'W, HMS Cowslip (Lt. F. Granger, RNR) and HMS Favourite were detached as ordered by the Rear-Admiral West Africa station. They were to proceed to Freetown independently from HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN) and HMS Largs (Cdr. E.A. Divers, RNR). (2)

22 Aug 1942
Around 0930Z/22, HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN) and HMS Largs (Cdr. E.A. Divers, RNR) arrived at Freetown.

The missing tug (since 16 August 1942) HMS Aimwell was seen by them to enter harbour around 1050Z/22.

Around 1545Z/22, HMS Cowslip (Lt. F. Granger, RNR) and HMS Favourite also entered harbour. (2)

Sources

  1. ADM 53/115381 + ADM 199/647 + ADM 199/2248
  2. ADM 53/115381

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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