PS Pioneer (1905)

Last updated

PS Pioneer launched by A and J Inglis of Glasgow - 1905.jpg
PS Pioneer was launched in 1905. She was of a light design with small paddle wheels. Thus her paddle boxes did not protrude above the promenade deck.
History
Name
  • PS Pioneer (1905–1945)
  • HMS Harbinger (1945–1946) [1]
Owner David MacBrayne Ltd [1]
Builder A. & J. Inglis, Pointhouse, Glasgow [1]
Launched14 February 1905
FateScrapped 1958
General characteristics
Tonnage241 GRT [1]
Length160 feet [1]
PropulsionPaddle compound diagonal
Speed14 knots

PS Pioneer was a Clyde-built paddle steamer launched in 1905, built by A. & J. Inglis at their Pointhouse shipyard for David MacBrayne. [1] She served as a passenger and mail ship between the Kintyre peninsula and the islands Islay, Jura and Gigha for over thirty years. [1] In 1939 she was moved to the Mallaig and Portree, Isle of Skye route, having been replaced by MV Lochiel. [2]

In 1943, after being laid up for a year, she was requisitioned by the Admiralty and used as a Submarine Command HQ Ship at Fairlie, North Ayrshire. [1] In 1945 the Admiralty purchased her and renamed her HMS Harbinger, but the following year her sponsons and paddles were removed and she was used as a floating laboratory at the Isle of Portland base. [1]

Finally in 1958 she was sent to Rotterdam, Netherlands to be scrapped. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Alistair Deayton (2013). Directory of Clyde Paddle Steamers. Amberley. ISBN   978-1-4456-1487-8.
  2. Tom Lee. "Paddle Steamer Picture Gallery: PS Pioneer". Archived from the original on 15 August 2018.