The vessel while serving during World War II as HMS Daffodil
History
Name
  • 1917-1940:TSS Train Ferry No. 3
  • 1940-1945:HMS Daffodil
Operator
Port of registryUnited Kingdom
BuilderFairfield Shipbuilders, Govan
Yard number540
Launched12 September 1917
CompletedNovember 1917
FateMined 18 March 1945
General characteristics
Type
  • Train ferry
  • landing craft carrier
Tonnage2,678 gross register tons (GRT)
Length350 ft 6 in (106.83 m)
Beam58.7 ft (17.9 m)
Draught15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Installed power410 nhp
PropulsionTwin triple cylinder expansion engines

TSS Train Ferry No. 3 was a roll on/roll off freight vessel built for the British War Office in 1917.[1]

History

The ship was built by Fairfield Govan and launched on 12 September 1917.[2] Along with her sister ships SS Train Ferry No. 1 and SS Train Ferry No. 2, they were the first vessels to offer regular transport between Britain and continental Europe for rail freight vehicles. They were ordered by the British Army to provide rail freight transport from Richborough harbour to the continent to sustain the war effort. They had four sets of rails along the train deck and used a link span to load when in harbour.

On 1 February 1919 she was involved in the rescue of British and American soldiers from the American transport USS Narrangansett which had gone ashore on Bembridge Point, Isle of Wight.[3]

After their use by the British Army ended in 1922, they were purchased by the Great Eastern Railway

The Great Eastern Railway was taken over by the London and North Eastern Railway company in 1923 with its interest in the Great Eastern Train Ferry Company. The new service was inaugurated on 24 April 1924 by Prince George, Duke of Kent.[4]

In 1934, the Great Eastern Train Ferry Company was liquidated and she was bought by the London and North Eastern Railway.

In 1940 she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and renamed HMS Daffodil. In 1941 she was converted to a Landing Craft carrier. She was sunk on 18 March 1945 off Dieppe in northern, France.[5]

SS Train Ferry No. 3 is located in France
SS Train Ferry No. 3
Approximate position of wreck

References

  1. ↑ Duckworth, Christian Leslie Dyce; Langmuir, Graham Easton (1968). Railway and other Steamers. Prescot, Lancashire: T. Stephenson and Sons.
  2. ↑ "TF 3". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  3. ↑ "Men for Demobilisation taken off safely". Yorkshire Evening Post. England. 1 February 1919. Retrieved 4 November 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ↑ "LNER Train Ferry". Hull Daily Mail. England. 25 April 1924. Retrieved 4 November 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ↑ "LNER Harwich Fleet List". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 28 March 2011.

Bibliography

  • Anderson, Richard M. (1990). "Re: Mystery Photo No. 97". Warship International. XXVII (2): 107. ISSN 0043-0374.
  • Atherton, D. (1990). "Re: Mystery Photo No. 97". Warship International. XXVII (2): 108–110. ISSN 0043-0374.
  • Dittmar, Fred (1990). "Re: Mystery Photo No. 97". Warship International. XXVII (2): 107. ISSN 0043-0374.
  • Heine, Paul J. (1990). "Re: Mystery Photo No. 97". Warship International. XXVII (2): 107–108. ISSN 0043-0374.
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