RFA Empire Gull explained
RFA Empire Gull (L3513) was a
landing ship, tank of the
Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She was familiarly known as the "Black Pig"
[1] and was one of the last serving British LSTs. She was built as
LST 3523, one of the
Empire Ships, and later commissioned as
HMS Trouncer.
[2] During the
Suez Crisis she was pressed into Government service as
SS Empire Gull. In 1970 she was transferred to the
Royal Fleet Auxiliary as
RFA Empire Gull, serving for ten years before being scrapped.
History
LST 3523 was built by Davie Shipbuilding and Repairing Co Ltd, Lauzon, Quebec, launched on 9 July 1945,[3] and completed in October 1945.[4] In 1947 she was commissioned as HMS Trouncer.
After spending some time mothballed on the River Clyde, she was pressed into service as SS Empire Gull during the Suez Crisis of 1956. She was operated under the management of the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company until 1961, when management passed to the British-India Steam Navigation Company. In 1970, she was transferred to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and was renamed RFA Empire Gull,[5] and allocated pennant number L3513. She served in the Mediterranean and later between Marchwood and Antwerp[5] and also between Liverpool and Belfast. She was scrapped in Santander, Spain in 1980.[3]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: RFA Empire Gull . historicalrfa.org . 22 December 2020.
- Web site: Landing Ship Gantry/ Tank. RFA ASSOCIATION, Plymouth and District Branch. RFA Empire Gull. L3513 (Ex LST 3523, Ex HMS Trouncer). RFA Service from 1970 - 1978. 9 April 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110727215300/http://rfaaplymouth.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=180. 27 July 2011. dmy-all.
- Web site: LST (Landing Ship Tank/Troop) . Luton Model Boat . 26 February 2009.
- Book: Mitchell, W. H. . Sawyer, L. A. . amp . 1995 . The Empire Ships . 360 . Lloyd's of London Press Ltd . London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong . 1-85044-275-4.
- Web site: RFA Empire Gull 1970 - 1978.. RFA ASSOCIATION, Plymouth and District Branch. GRT 4258 ... Marchwood -Antwerp/Zeebrugge runs. 9 April 2010.
