HMFT Goosander Normandy and/or Pacific

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by RosyRedd, Apr 17, 2020.

  1. RosyRedd

    RosyRedd Senior Member

    Hi - could anyone help with tracing where this vessel went during June 1943 - August 1945, please?

    What I know so far:

    It was part of KMS 26 where it went to Port Said and then on to Malta (Sept/Oct '43) and also was part of TBC 102 around UK waters.

    Two Green Lists from 1944 show it was in Milford Haven and Portland at that time. The Green List ref "126" link it to the shore base "Odyssey" and it was allocated to HMS Turtle which apparently was involved in the preparations running up to D-Day.

    Was Goosander one of the Essos that transported fuel just after D-Day, does anyone know? And does anyone know if it went out much further afield, please?

    Thanks very much,

    Jules
     
  2. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

    There is a photo taken from Utah Beach, Normandy said to show the HMFT Goosander. It is labeled as:

    A Utah Beach, la X LB Squadron (RN) constituée de:
    -8th, 19th et 20th Landing Barge Vehicle, LBV Flotilla
    -33rd et 34th Landing Barge (Supply & Repair), LB (S&R) Flotilla avec 5 HMFT (fuelling trawler): The Roman, Ben Breach, Goosander, Montano et Saturn.
    Avec équipages de la RN.

    photostream
     
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  3. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Not much to add I'm afraid: 'Fuelling Trawlers - converted HM magnetic minesweeping trawlers fitted with a 33-ton tank for refuelling diesel-driven landing craft. ... Goosander (Utah)
     
  4. RosyRedd

    RosyRedd Senior Member


    Thank you - looking at the exif info (Copyright Notice - Conseil Régional de Basse-Normandie / National Archives USA), I think I can trust the correct trawlers are named.
     
  5. RosyRedd

    RosyRedd Senior Member

    Thank you - was that from an internet search, or quote from somewhere? I can't get a hit on it for google.

    Either way, it seems very likely that this trawler was at Normandy.

    So far, I've found nothing for it being anywhere further than the Med.
     
  6. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    According to the Bosuns Watch web site The Bosun's Watch | Fleetwood Steam and Sailing Trawlers (which details Fleetwood Trawlers) Goosander, which had already served as a minesweeper in WW1, was in and out of war service several times serving in a number of roles. She was re requisitioned and converted to a Fueling Trawler March 1943 but subsequently refitted as a water carrier in 1944.She was returned and broken up in 1946. There is no mention of her having been at Normandy let alone the Pacific - although The Raetia ,an identical vessel, is so recorded as at Normandy. There is a nice photo of her with a gun position on the forecastle. Go to the site - do a search on the name then doubleclick the page to get her history
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2020
  7. Roy Martin

    Roy Martin Senior Member

    Jules,

    The quote is from The D-Day Ships by John de S Winser, he lists 39 fuelling trawlers at Normandy, including Goosander at Utah beach.
     
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  8. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    From The Bosun's Watch
    upload_2020-4-18_17-40-3.png
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2020
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  9. DannyM

    DannyM Member

    Hi,
    From Force "U" Op Neptune orders.

    Regards

    Danny
    Force  U  Orders.jpg
     
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  10. RosyRedd

    RosyRedd Senior Member

    Thank you - yeah that's a lovely photo. The details about her movements seem to be a bit scant - the Admiralty Diary that corresponds with the dates when she went to Port Said/Malta only mention other ships in the same convoy.
     
  11. RosyRedd

    RosyRedd Senior Member

    That's really helpful Roy - thanks!
     
  12. RosyRedd

    RosyRedd Senior Member

    That seems to pretty much seal it that Goosander was there - Danny thank you!
     

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