Motor ship sommersby

[John Arton]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AFdusGzNn/
Hope this link can be seen by all
Rgds
J.A

[Graham Shaw]

m.v.SOMERSBY O.N 180097.ID 5292646. Launched at Deptford Yard 9/9/53.Compl.3/54 .Cargo vessel (ref.) of 5,893 grt, diesel single screw of 16 kts,for Ropner Shipping,reg'd.W.Hartlepool.
Sold to the Admiralty 1958 becoming RFA VALIANT,tonnage now 8,438grt.Registered London
Fate: Broken up 23/8/77 by T.W.Ward at Inverkeithing.

[j.sabourn]

Wonder which bulkheads they removed to alter the gross tonnage Graham , or was she built as an open or closed shelter deck ? And made permanently closed ? JS

[Ivan Cloherty]

m.v.SOMERSBY O.N 180097.ID 5292646. Launched at Deptford Yard 9/9/53.Compl.3/54 .Cargo vessel (ref.) of 5,893 grt, diesel single screw of 16 kts,for Ropner Shipping,reg'd.W.Hartlepool.
Sold to the Admiralty 1958 becoming RFA VALIANT,tonnage now 8,438grt.Registered London
Fate: Broken up 23/8/77 by T.W.Ward at Inverkeithing.

In deference to your well respected expertise I think Graham that you may find she was renamed RFA 'Reliant' and became known as the 'The Yacht' because of her fine lines and appearance. She was used as an Air Store Support Ship servicing carriers, maintaining 16 knots was not a problem as she could well exceed that. I sailed on her sistership 'Swiftpool' and we often exceeded 18 knots.

The were originally built for the UK -Gulf of Mexico liner trade and had luxurious passenger cabins (12 passengers) they really were top notch and had a successful period. Hence the relatively high speed and reserve (for those days)

Alas you can take a tramper company out of the tramper trade, but you cannot remove the tramp mentality and when tramping rates went sky high they took these beautiful vessels off the liner trade and put them into running grain and coal, subsequently losing the liner trade when rates veered off a little.

John, the tonnage altered because the passenger cabins were turned into four-berthers and an additional deck extensions added to the Prom and Boat decks, which actually enhanced the appearance, she had to accommodate an extra 40 personnel over the original design.

[Graham Shaw]

Dear Ivan.Well don't know what I was thinking,getting my Valiant mixed up with my Reliant ! (Er-it had been a hot afternoon with a few liquid refreshers!
Thank God for your renowned eagle eyes.
I think other details will be correct-and thanks for padding it out with your extra details.