Ten paddle tugs for the War Department

 

Plan of the paddle tugs built by Rennie Forrestt Shipbuilding, Engineering & Dry Dock Co. Ltd for the Royal Engineers for use in Mesopotamia.

Nottage Maritime Institute 04332.4.065d

A series of ten paddle tugs were also built for the Mesopotamian Campaign.  Originally ordered by the India Office because the Indian Army was in charge of operations, the scale of events very soon outgrew the capacity of India’s resources and the British Army took over.  They were steel river paddle steam tugs and were completed for the War Office, Royal Engineers.   Their yard numbers were 1291 to 1304 and they were ‘named’ T 46 to T 55.  They were 85.1′ long, 18.0′ beam and 4.6′ depth, 3′ draft.  The engines were compound with two cylinders 10½”+22″x48″, 160ihp made by various manufacturers.  They underwent a lot of confusing changes of name during their military careers, partly because they were shipped out to Basrah as kits of parts and assembled there in a different order.

T 46  Shipped out as PT 6.  Completed in 1917 as PT 1.  1922 To the R.A.F at Basrah.  1927 Sold to Inchcape Group.

T 47  Shipped out as PT 7.  Completed in 1917 as PT 2.  1922 To the R.A.F at Basrah.  1927 Sold to Inchcape Group.

T 48  Shipped out as PT 8.  Completed in 1917 as PT 3.  1922 To the R.A.F at Basrah.  1927 Sold to Inchcape Group.

T 49  Shipped out as PT 5.   Completed in 1917.   1923 Sold to M. Bushiry.

T 50  Shipped out 1917 as PT 9.  Completed in 1917 as PT 6.  1920 Sold to the Euphrates & Tigris Steam Navigation Co. Ltd, London.

T 51  Shipped out 1917 as PT 10.  Completed in 1917 as PT  4.  1920 Sold to the Euphrates & Tigris Steam Navigation Co. Ltd, London.

T 52  Shipped out 1917 as PT 46.  Completed in 1917 as PT 8. 1920 Sold to the Euphrates & Tigris Steam Navigation Co. Ltd, London.

T 53  Shipped out 1917 as PT 47.  Completed in 1917 as PT 9.  1920 Sold to the Euphrates & Tigris Steam Navigation Co. Ltd, London.

T 54  Shipped out 1917 as PT 48.  Completed in 1917 as PT 10.  1919 One new engine Plenty & Son, Newbury C2cyl.  1920 Sold to the Euphrates & Tigris Steam Navigation Co. Ltd, London.

T 55  Shipped out 1917 as PT 49.  Completed in 1917 as PT 11.  1918 Still at Basrah awaiting re‑erection and sent to Egypt for use on the Nile.