Aberdonia(yacht)
| History | |
|---|---|
  United Kingdom | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake | City ofAberdeen(Latin) |
| Owner | 1987 – present: Paul King |
| Operator |
|
| Builder | John I. Thornycroft & Company |
| Completed | 1935 |
| Homeport | 1989 – present:Chelsea Harbour |
| Status | Leisure craft |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Motor Yacht |
| Displacement | 20 |
| Length | 47.97 ft (14.62 m) |
| Beam | 11.28 ft (3.44 m) |
| Depth | 4.59 ft (1.40 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Notes | [1][2] |
TheAberdoniais a British pre-war motor yacht moored atChelsea Harbour.Built by theThornycroftship yard and launched in 1935Aberdoniahas a rich history, former uses include a patrol boat, mine sweeper and is one of theLittle ships of Dunkirk.
World War II service
[edit]Aberdoniawas requisitioned to work as a patrol boat in theRoyal Navyattached to HMSFervantin 1940, at which time she was renamedNavigator.She participated in theevacuationof Allied troops atDunkirk.The yacht is believed to have made four trips to the shore to take on men cut off by the German army. She worked with theminesweepersand ferried sealed orders between theAdmiraltyand convoys lying offShoeburynessandDeal.[1][2]
Aberdoniawas nearly destroyed during her naval service by a downed German bomber whose pilot attempted to guide his falling plane into allied ships. Although she escaped a direct hit she was struck by wreckage on her starboard side. Scorched timbers from the attack were discovered during restoration work thirty years later.[1]
Postwar service
[edit]She was completely restored in the late 1980s, including fitting two newPerkinsDiesel engines. As of 2011 she is moored in Chelsea Harbour[2]
References
[edit]- ^abc"Aberdonia".National Register of Historic Vessels.National Historic Ships. Archived fromthe originalon 5 July 2011.Retrieved6 June2011.
- ^abc"Aberdonia".Association of Dunkirk Little Ships.Archivedfrom the original on 18 July 2011.Retrieved6 June2011.