Elisabeth Smit

Last updated
Amsterdam sail 1990 4.jpg
Elisabeth Smit
History
Name
  • MMS 54 (1941–44)
  • Marken (1944–77)
  • Elisabeth Smit (1977-2020)
Owner
  • Royal Navy (1941–44)
  • Royal Netherlands Navy (1944–57)
  • Zeekadettenkorps (1957–77)
  • Stichting Het Varend Museumschip (1977-2020)
Port of registry
Ordered5 September 1940
BuilderHerd & Mackenzie
Yard number89
Launched22 September 1941
Completed25 December 1941
Commissioned
  • 1942 (Royal Navy)
  • 23 August 1944 (Royal Netherlands Navy)
Decommissioned
  • 1944 (Royal Navy)
  • 1957 (Royal Netherlands Navy)
Out of serviceOctober 2002
Identification
  • Pennant Number J554 (1941–44)
  • Pennant Number FY54 (1944- )
  • Pennant Number MV7
  • Pennant Number M863
FateBroken up December 2020
General characteristics
Class and type
Displacement295 Tons (1941–57)
Length105 feet 0 inches (32.00 m) between perpendiculars
Beam23 feet 0 inches (7.01 m)
Draught9 feet 6 inches (2.90 m)
Depth11 feet 0 inches (3.35 m)
Propulsion
  • Diesel engine (1941–77)
  • Sails (1977–2020)
Speed11 knots (20 km/h) (1941–77)

Elizabeth Smit was a ship built in 1941, and scrapped in 2020. It was built for the Royal Navy as the MMS-class minesweeper HMS MMS 54. It was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1944, serving as HNLMS Marken. In 1957, it became a school ship for the Dutch Zeekadetenkorps. It was sold in 1977 and turned into a barquentine in civilian service, renamed Elizabeth Smit. It was badly damaged in 2002 and was scrapped in 2020.

Contents

Description

As built, it was 105 feet 0 inches (32.00 m) long between perpendiculars, with a beam of 23 feet 0 inches (7.01 m). It had a depth of 11 feet 0 inches (3.35 m) and a draught of 9 feet 6 inches (2.90 m). The ship was powered by a diesel engine which was built by Crossley Brothers, Manchester. It had eight cylinders of 10+1⁄2 inches (27 cm) diameter by 13+1⁄2 inches (34 cm) stroke. It drove a single screw propeller. Maximum speed was 11 knots (20 km/h). [1]

History

An MMS-class minesweeper, similar to HMS MMS 54. The Royal Navy during the Second World War A9737.jpg
An MMS-class minesweeper, similar to HMS MMS 54.

HMS MMS 54 was ordered on 5 September 1940. It was built by Herd & Mackenzie, Buckie, Fife. It was launched on 22 September 1941 and was completed on 25 December. Assigned the pennant number J554, it was assigned to the Royal Navy's 103rd Minesweeping Flotilla, based at Sheerness. In 1942, it was assigned to the 102nd Minesweeping Flotilla, also based at Sheerness. In 1944, it was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy. [1] and commissioned on 23 August as HNLMS Marken, named after the village and former island of Marken in North Holland, with the pennant number FY54. The ship was a replacement for HNLMS Marken, which had struck a mine and sank in the Thames Estuary off the Sunk Lightvessel . [2] In 1945, it was assigned to the 139th Minesweeping Flotilla, operating in Dutch waters. [1]

HNLMS Haren subsequently carried the pennant numbers MV7 and M863. In 1957, it was transferred to the Zeekadettencorps, based at Utrecht. [1]

Passenger ship

Marken was sold in 1977 to the Stichting Het Varend Museumschip of Muiden, Netherlands. It was converted to a barquentine, renamed Elisabeth Smit and used for passenger cruises on the IJsselmeer. [1]

In May 1981, politician Jan Terlouw, leader of the Democrats 66 party, chartered the ship to stage a protest against the proposed reclamation of the Markerwaard. [3]

Elisabeth Smit was severely damaged in a storm whilst moored at Muiden in October 2002. The ship became derelict. [1] It was broken up on and after 7 December 2020. [4]

Related Research Articles

HMAS <i>Burnie</i>

HMAS Burnie (J198/B238/A112), named for the city of Burnie, Tasmania, was one of 60 Bathurst class corvettes constructed during World War II and one of 20 built for the Admiralty but manned by personnel of and commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

In the Royal Navy and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth of Nations, ships are identified by pennant number. Historically, naval ships flew a flag that identified a flotilla or type of vessel. For example, the Royal Navy used a red burgee for torpedo boats and a pennant with an H for torpedo boat destroyers. Adding a number to the type-identifying flag uniquely identified each ship.

HMS <i>Pelorus</i> (J291) Algerine-class minesweeper built for the Royal Navy during World War II

HMS Pelorus was an Algerine-class minesweeper built for the Royal Navy (RN) during World War II. Upon completion, the ship became the flotilla leader of the 7th Minesweeper Flotilla, clearing mines off the east coast of England. In June 1944, the flotilla was assigned to sweep one of the beaches during the Normandy landings until she struck a mine the following month. After her repairs were completed, Pelorus was reassigned to the English Channel and the 6th Minesweeping Flotilla. The flotilla was transferred to the Indian Ocean in 1945 and spent some time escorting convoys. They participated in Operation Collie, a bombardment of Japanese positions in the Nicobar Islands, in July and then swept the Strait of Malacca and the approaches to Singapore in August.

HMS Rye (J76) was a Bangor-class minesweeper built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

HMS <i>Hythe</i> (J194) UK Bangor-class minesweeper

HMS Hythe was a Bangor-class minesweeper built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

HMCS Vegreville was a Bangor-class minesweeper that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She saw action in the Battle of the St. Lawrence, Battle of the Atlantic and the Invasion of Normandy. She was broken up after the war in 1947. She was named for Vegreville, Alberta.

MMS-class minesweeper

The British Royal Navy operated large numbers of small Motor Minesweepers (MMS) during the Second World War, in two major classes: the first with 105 ft (32 m) hulls and the second with 126 ft (38 m) hulls. Intended to counter magnetic influence mines in coastal waters, they had wooden hulls.

HNLMS <i>Jan van Gelder</i>

HNLMS Jan van Gelder was a Jan van Amstel-class minesweeper of the Royal Netherlands Navy that served in World War II.

<i>A</i>-class minesweeper Four minesweepers of the Dutch navy

The A class were four minesweepers of the Royal Netherlands Navy. They were the first purpose-built minesweepers of the Dutch Navy, as earlier minesweepers were converted tugboats.

HNLMS <i>Van Meerlant</i>

HNLMS Van Meerlant was a minelayer of the Royal Netherlands Navy built in the Gusto shipyard at Schiedam as part of the Douwe Aukes class.

HMS <i>Algerine</i> (J213) British lead ship of Algerine-class

HMS Algerine was the lead ship of her namesake class of minesweepers built for the Royal Navy during World War II, the Algerine-class minesweepers. Initially assigned to the North Sea, she was transferred to lead the 12th Minesweeping Flotilla. The Flotilla were posted to the Mediterranean to assist with Operation Torch. In 1942, after a successful mine clearing operation off Bougie, she was torpedoed by the Ascianghi, causing Algerine to sink, leaving only eight survivors.

HMCS <i>Thunder</i> (J156)

HMCS Thunder was a Bangor-class minesweeper constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. The minesweeper entered service in 1941 and took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and the invasion of Normandy. Following the war Thunder was sold for scrap and broken up.

HMCS Georgian was a Bangor-class minesweeper constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Primarily used as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic and the Battle of the St. Lawrence, the minesweeper had the misfortune of mistakenly sinking the British submarine HMS P514 off the coast of Newfoundland. Georgian also saw service in European waters, taking part in the invasion of Normandy. Following the war the ship was discarded and sold for scrap.

HMCS Malpeque was a Bangor-class minesweeper constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Entering service in 1941, the minesweeper took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and the invasion of Normandy. Malpeque was decommissioned in 1945 and placed in reserve. The vessel was reacquired during the Korean War, however the ship never re-entered service and was sold for scrap in 1959.

HMCS <i>Wasaga</i>

HMCS Wasaga was a Bangor-class minesweeper constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Entering service in 1941, the minesweeper took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and the invasion of Normandy. Following the end of the war, the vessel was sold in 1946 and broken up for scrap in 1947.

HMCS Canso was a Bangor-class minesweeper initially constructed for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942, the minesweeper saw service on both the West and East Coasts of Canada as a convoy escort and patrol vessel. The vessel participated in the invasion of Normandy and spent the final years of the war in European waters. Canso was returned to the Royal Navy following the war and was broken up for scrap in 1948.

HMCS <i>Caraquet</i>

HMCS Caraquet was a Bangor-class minesweeper initially constructed for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942, the vessel served on both coasts of Canada and took part in the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort and the invasion of Normandy. Following the war, the minesweeper was returned to the United Kingdom who then sold the ship to the Portuguese Navy in 1946. Renamed Almirante Lacerda, the vessel was used as a survey ship until 1975 when it was discarded.

HMCS <i>Blairmore</i> Minesweeper of the Royal Canadian Navy

HMCS Blairmore was a Bangor-class minesweeper that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Entering service in 1942, the ship took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and the invasion of Normandy. Following the war, the ship was laid up until 1958 when the Blairmore was transferred to the Turkish Navy. Renamed Beycoz, the vessel was discarded in 1971.

HMCS <i>Kenora</i>

HMCS Kenora was a Bangor-class minesweeper that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Entering service in 1942, the minesweeper took part in the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort and in the invasion of Normandy. Following the war, the vessel was laid up until reacquired in 1952 during the Korean War. Never re-entering service with the Royal Canadian Navy, Kenora was sold to the Turkish Navy in 1957. Renamed Bandirma by the Turkish Navy, the vessel was discarded in 1972.

HMCS Mulgrave was a Bangor-class minesweeper that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Entering service in 1942, the minesweeper took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and the invasion of Normandy. While sweeping for naval mines off France in 1944, the vessel hit one. The ship was towed back to port where Mulgrave was declared a constructive total loss. Laid up until the end of the war, the minesweeper was broken up in 1947.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "MMS 54". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  2. ↑ "105 feet class - minesweepers". Netherlands Navy. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  3. ↑ "Jan Terlouw als stuurman ("Jan Terlouw as helmsman")". Het Geheugen (in Dutch). The Hague: Koninklijke Bibliotheek. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  4. ↑ "Muider spookschip eindelijk geborgen (Muider Ghost Ship finally salvaged)". Binnenvaartkrant (in Dutch). Capelle aan den IJssel: Riomar BV. 8 December 2020. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2024.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.