Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 29, 2026

Isles-class trawler

The Isles-class trawlers were a class of naval trawler used by the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II.

Last revised
Jun 29, 2026
Read time
≈ 15 min
Length
3,361 w
Citations
291
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Isles class
HMT Ailsa Craig in 1944
Class overview
Operators
Subclasses German Navy: Type 139 patrol trawler
Built1939–1945
Completed
Lost23
General characteristics
TypeNaval trawler
Displacement545 long tons (554 t)
Length164 ft (50 m)
Beam27 ft 8 in (8.43 m)
Draught11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) (mean)
Propulsion1 triple expansion reciprocating engine, 1 shaft, 850 ihp (634 kW)
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement40
ArmamentSee text

The Isles-class trawlers were a class of naval trawler used by the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II.

The type comprised 197 vessels built between 1939 and 1945 in the nearly identical Isles, Dance, Tree and Shakespearian classes. Similar to the Castle-class trawlers of 1916–1918, though somewhat larger, they were mainly used on minesweeping and harbour defence duties. Most were armed with one 12-pounder gun (76 mm) and three or four 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns with 30 depth charges. In the Dance class a 4-inch AA gun (102 mm) was fitted in place of the 12 pdr, and there were six 20 mm Oerlikons in Annet, Bressay, Damsay, Fiaray, Foulness and Lindisfarne. Four of the trawlers were given "bird" names when converted to controlled minelayers in 1943–44: Blackbird (M15), Dabchick (M22), Stonechat (M25) and Whitethroat (M03). A total of 23 of these trawlers were lost during the war.1 Six trawlers were loaned to Canada in 1942–1945 and five to Norway in 1943–1945.

Postwar, 17 of the trawlers were disarmed as wreck disposal vessels: Bardsey (DV13), Bern (DV4), Caldy (DV5) Coll (DV6), Earraid (DV7), Fetlar (DV8), Flatholm (DV9), Graemsay (DV10), Lindisfarne (DV11), Lundy (DV12), Neave (DV14), Scalpay (DV15), Skomer (DV16), Steepholm (DV17), Switha (DV18), Tiree (DV19), and Trondra (DV20). At least five were employed as danlayers (laying and retrieving dan buoys during minesweeping operations): Imersay (J422), Sandray (J424), Shillay (J426), Sursay (J427) and Tocogay (J451). After decommissioning, Switha and Coll were converted to oil tank cleaning vessels for dockyard service in 1949–1950.

By 1949, there were 31 trawlers and four controlled minelayers in Royal Navy service, one controlled minelayer in the Royal Canadian Navy and four trawlers in the Royal New Zealand Navy. Sixteen were in service in the Italian Navy and six in the Portuguese Navy.2 Most of the surviving Royal Navy examples were discarded in the 1950s but a few remained until the 1960s. Two acquired post-war by the Federal German Navy remained in service as training vessels well into the 1970s, with one, Trave (ex-Dochet), resold to Turkey for further service in 1977.

Builders

Ships in class

Royal Navy

Construction data for Isles-class trawlers of the Royal Navy
Ship Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned/Completed Fate
Ailsa Craig Cook, Welton & Gemmell 16 October 19433 24 December 19434 Sold 1946 and renamed Veslemoy. Renamed Toran in 1952. Lost 19 February 1955.3
Annet5 Cook, Welton & Gemmell 25 March 19433 19 June 19434 Became a Wreck disposal vessel in 1946.3 Still in use as diving Vessel for clearance diving in 1953.6 Sold 1957.7 Became fishery protection vessel FPV Ulva for Fishery Board for Scotland in 1958. Withdrawn from use 1971 and scrapped 1972.38
Arran Cook, Welton & Gemmell 16 November 19403 1 May 19419 Sold 1946 and renamed Assan Reis. Renamed Professor Henking 1952.3
Balta Cook, Welton & Gemmell 2 December 19403 19 May 194110 Sold 1946
Bardsey Fleming & Ferguson 17 July 19433 15 September 19434 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV13)
Benbecula Cook, Welton & Gemmell 28 October 19433 13 January 19444 Sold 1946, bought by HM Customs and Excise and served as HMRC Vigilant
Bern Cook, Welton & Gemmell 2 May 19423 9 October 194210 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV4)
Biggal Ferguson Bros. 4 December 19443 Sold 1946
Blackbird (ex-Sheppey) Cook, Welton & Gemmell 20 February 194311 Converted to controlled minelayer (M15) 1943: still in service 1949
Bressay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 20 January 19423 10 May 194210 Sold 1946
Brora Cook, Welton & Gemmell 18 December 19403 11 June 194110 Grounded off Hebrides 6 September 1941
Bruray Cook, Welton & Gemmell 16 May 19423 1 December 194210 Transferred to Portugal 1943 as Sam Miguel (P1)
Bryher Cook, Welton & Gemmell 8 April 19433 20 July 19434 Still in service 1949
Burra Goole S.B. & R. Co. 29 March 19413 18 July 194110 Transferred to Italy 1946 as DR 301
Bute Goole S.B. & R. Co. 12 May 19413 15 September 194110 Sold 1946
Caldy John Lewis & Sons 31 August 19433 14 December 19434 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV5)
Campobello Collingwood Shipbuilding 19 June 194212 War loss 16 Mar 1943.
Copinsay Cochrane & Sons 12 April 194013 25 April 194110 Sold 1946
Crowlin Cook, Welton & Gemmell 15 November 194313 28 January 194414 Sold 1946
Cumbrae Cochrane & Sons 20 December 194013 17 May 194110 To Italy 1946 as DR 302
Damsay George Brown & Co. 27 June 194213 3 September 194210 Still in service 1949
Dochet G.T. Davie & Sons 26 June 194212 13 November 194215 Acquired by Federal German Navy postwar and renamed Trave (A51) as a Type 139 patrol trawler; sold to Turkey in 1977
Earraid (ex-Gruna) John Crown & Sons 18 December 194116 11 May 194210 Later wreck disposal vessel (DV7); sold 1948
Eday Cochrane & Sons 26 June 194113 22 November 194110 Loaned to Norway as Tromöy (i) 1943–44; sold into mercantile use 1946
Egilsay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 7 February 194213 28 May 194310 To Italy 1946 as DR 306
Ensay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 5 March 194213 15 June 194210 To Italy 1946 as DR 314
Eriskay Fleming & Ferguson 28 August 194213 28 October 194210 To Portugal 1943 as P8
Fara Cochrane & Sons 27 January 194113 28 June 194110 Sold 1946
Farne Cook, Welton & Gemmell 22 April 194313 31 August 194314 Sold 1946
Fetlar Cochrane & Sons 10 July 194113 13 December 194110 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV8)
Fiaray Goole S.B. & R. Co. 13 June 194213 27 September 194210 Sold 1946
Filla John Crown & Sons 2 April 194213 28 August 194210 To Italy 1946 as DR 305
Flatholm Cook, Welton & Gemmell 8 May 194313 20 August 194314 Later wreck disposal vessel (DV9); sold 1948
Flint G.T. Davie & Sons 14 July 194212 13 November 194215 Acquired by Federal German Navy postwar and renamed Eider (A50) as a Type 139 patrol trawler
Flotta Cochrane & Sons 13 February 194113 7 June 194110 Grounded off East Scotland 6 Nov 1941.
Foula Cochrane & Sons 28 July 194113 3 January 194210 To Italy 1946 as DR 313
Foulness John Lewis & Sons 23 March 194213 30 June 194314 Still in service 1949
Fuday Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1 January 194413 24 March 194414 Sold 1946
Gairsay Ardrossan Dockyard Co. 28 May 194213 2 September 194314 War loss 4 Aug 1944.
Ganilly Cook, Welton & Gemmell 22 May 194313 War loss 5 July 1944
Gateshead G.T. Davie & Sons 1 August 194212 11 May 194315 Sold 1947
Gillstone Cochrane & Sons 19 July 194316 13 November 194314 Sold 1946
Gorregan Ardrossan Dockyard Co. 30 December 194316 16 June 194414 Still in service 1949
Graemsay Ardrossan Dockyard Co. 3 August 194216 16 June 194310 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV10)
Grain Cochrane & Sons 17 August 194316 16 November 194314 To Italy 1946 as DR 309
Grassholm John Lewis & Sons 20 April 194316 17 August 194314 Sold 1946
Gruinard John Crown & Sons 20 November 194316 1 March 194310 To Portugal 1943 as P7
Gulland Cook, Welton & Gemmell 30 April 1943 5 August 194316 30 October 194314 Sold to mercantile use 1946; renamed Henken 1947 and Arab Trader 1949; wrecked north of Mombasa 13 April 1951. Boiler and wreckage still on reef.17
Gweal (ex-Boreray) Cook, Welton & Gemmell 17 June 19433 3 November 19424 Sold 1946
Hannaray Cook, Welton & Gemmell 12 February 194416 3 May 194414 Sold 1946
Harris Cook, Welton & Gemmell 29 January 194416 12 April 194414 Sold 1946
Hascosay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 28 March 194416 26 May 194414 Sold 1946
Hayling Cook, Welton & Gemmell 17 August 194216 To Portugal 1943 as Terceira (P3)
Hellisay Cochrane & Sons 27 March 194416 17 July 194414 Sold 1946
Hermetray Cochrane & Sons 11 April 194416 22 August 194414 Sold 1947
Herschell G.T. Davie & Sons 5 November 194212 29 May 194315 Sold 1946
Hildasay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 29 April 194116 30 September 194110 Grounded on Diani reef south of Mombasa, Kenya on 21 Jun 1945. Broke up during the next three months. Boiler visible at low tide.

17

Hoxa Cook, Welton & Gemmell 15 January 194116 18 July 194110 Sold 1946
Hoy Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1 February 194116 10 July 194110 Sold 1946
Hunda Ferguson Bros. 4 February 194216 31 March 194210 Sold 1946
Imersay Cochrane & Sons 21 August 194416 8 December 194414 Still in service 1949 as danlayer (J422)
Inchcolm Cook, Welton & Gemmell 3 March 194116 25 July 194110 Sold 1946
Inchmarnock John Lewis & Sons 25 August 194118 28 November 194110 Loaned to Norway as Karmöy 1944–45; sold mercantile 1946
Islay Smith's Dock Co. 10 April 194118 17 June 194110 Sold 1946
Jura Ardrossan Dockyard Co. 22 November 194118 War loss 7 Jan 1943
Kerrera Ferguson Bros. 22 September 194118 31 October 194110 Loaned to Norway as Oksöy 1944–45; sold mercantile 1946
Kintyre Ardrossan Dockyard Co. 21 October 194118 24 April 194210 Sold 1946
Kittern Cook, Welton & Gemmell 28 August 194318 13 November 194314 Sold 1946
Lindisfarne Cook, Welton & Gemmell 17 June 194318 17 August 194314 Still in service as wreck disposal vessel (DV11)
Lingay Cochrane & Sons 6 September 194418 6 January 194514 Sold 1946
Longa Cochrane & Sons 15 October 194318 13 February 194414 Sold 1946
Lundy Cook, Welton & Gemmell 29 August 194218 15 January 19434 Still in service in 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV12)
Mewstone Cook, Welton & Gemmell 16 September 194318 26 November 194314 Sold 1946
Minalto Cook, Welton & Gemmell 3 July 194318 30 September 194314 Sold 1946
Mincarlo Ardrossan Dockyard Co. 28 March 194418 24 October 194414 Loaned to Norway as Tromöy (ii) 1944–45, sold mercantile 1946
Mousa Goole S.B. & R. Co. 1 June 194218 30 August 194210 To Italy 1946 as DR 311
Mull Cook, Welton & Gemmell 27 March 194118 19 August 194110 Sold 1946
Neave Cook, Welton & Gemmell 16 July 194218 25 November 19424 Still in service in 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV14)
Orfasy A. Hall & Co. 17 March 194218 War loss 22 October 1943
Oronsay Cochrane & Sons 30 October 194318 16 February 194414 Still in service 1949
Oxna A. & J. Inglis 26 January 194311 18 July 19434 Sold 1946
Pladda Cook, Welton & Gemmell 16 April 194111 19 August 19414 Sold 1946
Porcher Midland Shipyards 26 May 194219 27 October 194215 Sold 1946
Prospect Midland Shipyards 16 June 194219 4 November 194215 Sold 1946
Ronaldsay Cochrane & Sons 14 February 194111 17 July 19414 Sold 1946
Rosevean Cook, Welton & Gemmell 17 July 194311 16 October 194314 Sold 1946
Rousay Goole S.B. & R. Co. 20 December 194111 17 April 19424 Sold 1946
Ruskholm Goole S.B. & R. Co. 4 February 194211 10 May 19424 To Portugal 1945 as Baldaque da Silva
Rysa Cochrane & Sons 15 March 194111 9 August 19414 War loss 8 Dec 1943
Scalpay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 2 June 194211 20 October 19414 Later wreck disposal vessel (DV15); sold 1948
Shapinsay Cochrane & Sons 29 March 194111 5 September 19414 Sold 1946
Shiant Goole S.B. & R. Co. 9 August 194120 24 November 19414 Loaned to Norway as Jelöy 1944–45; sold mercantile 1946
Skokholm Cook, Welton & Gemmell 29 September 194320 10 December 194314 Sold 1946
Skomer John Lewis & Sons 17 June 194320 4 November 194314 Still in service 1949
Skye Henry Robb 17 March 194220 22 July 194210 Still in service 1949
Sluna Cochrane & Sons 14 April 194120 10 October 19414 Sold 1946
St. Agnes John Lewis & Sons 19 May 194311 21 September 194314 Sold 1946
St. Kilda A. Hall & Co. 29 May 194211 30 September 19424 Sold 1946
Staffa Henry Robb 15 June 194220 31 August 19424 Sold 1946
Steepholm John Lewis & Sons 15 July 194320 1 December 194314 Converted to wreck disposal vessel December 1945. Still in use as the last of 18 wreck disposal vessels in 1958.21
Stroma Hall, Russell & Co. 19 November 194120 22 January 19424 To Italy 1946 as DR 315
Stronsay A. & J. Inglis 4 March 194220 War loss 5 Feb 1943
Switha A. & J. Inglis 3 April 194220 15 June 19424 Later wreck disposal vessel (DV18); converted to oil fuel tank cleaning vessel 1949–50
Texada Midland Shipyards 27 July 194212 17 November 194215 Sold 1946
Tiree Goole S.B. & R. Co. 6 September 194120 12 January 19424 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV19)
Trondra John Lewis & Sons 4 October 194120 16 January 19424 Still in service 1949 as wreck disposal vessel (DV20)
Ulva Cook, Welton & Gemmell 30 July 194220 15 December 19424 Sold 1946
Unst Ferguson Bros. 28 May 194220 31 July 19424 To Italy 1946 as DR 303
Vatersay Cochrane 13 November 194312 9 March 194414 Sold 1946
Wallasea Henry Robb 22 April 194320 26 July 194315 War loss 6 Jan 1944.
Westray John Lewis & Sons 4 November 194112 2 March 19424 Sold 1946
Whalsay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 4 April 194212 28 August 19424 To Portugal 1943 as Santa Maria (P4)

The following 21 trawlers may be described as comprising the Repeat Isles class:

Construction data for Repeat Isles–class trawlers of the Royal Navy
Ship Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned/Completed Fate
Calvay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 29 November 19433 16 February 194414 Sold 1946
Canna Cochrane & Sons 18 November 19403 3 March 194110 War loss 5 December 19423
Cava Fleming & Ferguson 3 March 19413 3 March 194110 Sold 1946
Coll Ardrossan Dockyard Co. 7 April 194213 21 September 194210 Later wreck disposal vessel (DV6); converted to oil fuel tank cleaning vessel 1949–50
Colsay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 15 December 194313 war loss 1944
Dabchick (ex-Thorney) Cook, Welton & Gemmell 9 March 194320 converted 1943 to controlled minelayer (M22); still in service 1949
Orsay Cochrane & Sons 1 January 194518 still in service 1949
Rona Cochrane & Sons February 1945 still in service 1949
Sandray Cook, Welton & Gemmell 5 October 194411 27 December 194415 Still in service 1949 as danlayer (J424)
Scaravay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 22 October 194411 14 January 194515 Sold 1946
Sheppey (ex-Raasay) Cook, Welton & Gemmell 1 April 194211 18 September 194210 Sold 1946
Shillay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 18 November 194420 30 January 194515 Still in service 1949 as danlayer (J426)
Stonechat Cook, Welton & Gemmell 22 August 194412 1944 as controlled minelayer (M25); still in service 1949
Sursay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 16 December 1944 26 February 194515 Still in service 1949 as danlayer (J427)
Tahay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 31 December 194420 23 March 194515 Still in service 1949
Tocogay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 7 February 194520 still in service 1949 as danlayer (J451)
Trodday Cook, Welton & Gemmell 3 March 194520 still in service 1949
Vaceasay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 17 March 194512 still in service 1949
Vallay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 10 April 194512 still in service 1949
Whitethroat Welton & Gemmell 6 September 194412 1944 1944 as controlled minelayer (M03); still in service 1949
Wiay Cook, Welton & Gemmell 26 April 194412 still in service 1949

Royal Canadian Navy

Construction data for Isles–class trawlers of the Royal Canadian Navy
Ship Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Paid off Fate
Anticosti Collingwood Shipbuilding 1 April 19423 8 August 194222 Sold 1946 to Norway as Guloy, to Sweden as Barbro and to Ethiopia as Giuseppina in 1968. Wrecked in Massawa in 1996.23
Baffin Collingwood Shipbuilding 14 October 1941 13 April 194212 20 August 194222 20 Aug 1945 Sold mercantile 1947; renamed Niedermehnen 1952, Broken up 1983.
Cailiff Collingwood Shipbuilding 30 April 194212 19 September 194222 10 June 1945 Formerly HMS Cailiff (T276). Sold mercantile 1946; converted to Norwegian commercial trawler Borgenes. Laid up in 1990s, but proposals to restore her as a steam trawler 24 were unfulfilled. Sold for demolition in Oct 2012 2526
Ironbound Kingston Shipyards 14 January 194212 5 October 194222 Sold 1946
Liscomb Kingston Shipyards 23 March 194212 3 September 194222 Sold 1946
Magdalen Midland Shipyards 7 March 194212 19 August 194222 Sold 1946
Manitoulin Midland Shipyards 23 April 194219 8 September 194222 Sold 1946
Miscou Collingwood Shipbuilding 1 June 194212 20 October 194222 Later HMS Campenia and HMS Bowell. Lent to RCN by RN. Sold to Bergen as Cleveland, 1946; to Nordlandslinjen and renamed Sigurd Hund, 1950; to Ålesund and renamed Vestfar, 1963; to Hans Hansen in 1971 to Faroe Islands. Broken up in 1974.

Royal New Zealand Navy

Construction data for Isles–class trawlers of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Ship Builder Laid down Launched Comm. Fate
Inchkeith John Lewis & Sons 16 November 194027 10 July 194118 24 October 194110 Still in service 1949
Killegray Cook, Welton & Gemmell 24 January 194127 27 May 194118 14 October 194110 Still in service 1949
Sanda Goole S.B. & R. Co. 23 December 194027 12 July 194111 3 November 19414 Still in service 1949
Scarba Cook, Welton & Gemmell 6 March 194127 25 November 19414 25 June 194111 Still in service 1949
See also

See also

References

References

  1. Robert Gardiner (ed. dir.), Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946, p. 66. London: Conway Maritime Press, 1980.
  2. Francis E. McMurtrie and Raymond V.B. Blackman (eds.), Jane's Fighting Ships 1949–1950, pp. 62, 63, 92, 94, 217, 258. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1949.
  3. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 451
  4. Elliott 1977, p. 294
  5. HMS Annet T341 uboat.net
  6. Blackman 1953, p. 61
  7. Blackman 1960, p. 60
  8. "FISHERY PROTECTION VESSEL LIST: ULVA" (PDF). p. 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  9. Elliott 1977, p. 292
  10. Elliott 1977, p. 293
  11. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 455
  12. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 457
  13. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 452
  14. Elliott 1977, p. 295
  15. Elliott 1977, p. 296
  16. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 453
  17. Shipwrecks & Salvage on the East African Coast. 2006. Kevin Patience
  18. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 454
  19. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 458
  20. Lenton & Colledge 1973, p. 456
  21. Navy News June 1958, p. 9
  22. Elliott 1977, p. 351
  23. "GIUSEPPINA - IMO 5131531 - ShipSpotting.com - Ship Photos and Ship Tracker".
  24. [1] Archived 8 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine Steamtrawler Borgenes
  25. [2](Norwegian) Tidens Krav, Kristiansund
  26. [3] nauticapedia.ca
  27. Blackman 1953, p. 110
  • Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1953). Jane's Fighting Ships 1953–54. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company Inc.
  • Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1960). Jane's Fighting Ships 1960–61. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.
  • Elliott, Peter (1977). Allied Escort Ships of World War II. London: Macdonald & Jane's Publishers Limited. ISBN 0-356-08401-9.
  • "Last of the Wreck Dispersal Vessels" (PDF). Navy News. No. 49. June 1958. p. 9. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  • Lenton, H. T.; Colledge, J. J. (1973). Warships of World War II (Second ed.). London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0403-X.