HMS Elfin (1933)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Elfin.

ELFIN, ex HMS ELFIN steaming on the North Sea near IJmuiden, 2007.
History
United Kingdom
Name	1933–1941: Elfin 1941–1958: Nettle
Ordered	12 May 1933
Builder	J. Samuel White & Company
Yard number	1754
Laid down	June 1933
Launched	20 November 1933
Commissioned	16 January 1934
Decommissioned	1957
Renamed	HMS Nettle on 20 August 1941
Identification	Pennant number: T25, T94
History
Netherlands
Name	1958–1995: Droogdok 18,HOM7, later TCA1 1995-to-date: Elfin
Owner	1958–1995: Amsterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, Amsterdam 1995-to-date: Stichting tot Behoud van het Stoomschip, Koog aan de Zaan
Identification	MMSI number: 244730173 Callsign: PB9183
Status	Preserved in the Netherlands
General characteristics
Class and type	submarine tender, torpedo recovery vessel
Displacement	222t
Length	108 ft 3.21 in (33.0 m)
Beam	25 ft 7.08 in (7.8 m)
Draught	7 ft 10.48 in (2.4 m)
Installed power	250 IHP
Propulsion	2 sets of reciprocating compound steam engines 1 cylindrical Scotch boiler
Speed	9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph)
Complement	12
Armament	1942-1945: 1 × 20 mm Oerlikon gun
Notes	Torpedo load: 12x Mark VIII 1934–1939 tender to HMS Titania 1940–1945 tender to HMS Cyclops

HMS Elfin (pennant number T25) was a torpedo recovery vessel built for the Royal Navy. She was built by J. Samuel White & Company, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, was launched on 20 November 1933 and commissioned on 16 January 1934. She was builder's number 1754. Her home port was the Navy's torpedo trials establishment HMS Vernon, and she was based at Portland. A sistership, Redwing, was constructed under builder's number 1753 and was stationed at HMS Defiance, Devonport. Elfin was renamed Nettle during the Second World War, and was later sold for scrapping. She survived in mercantile service, and has been preserved.

Wartime service

Elfin operated during the Second World War. In 1940 she was transferred to Blyth to become the depot ship for the 6th Submarine Flotilla, sharing her name with the submarine base there. She was replaced by the drifter Rotha in 1941 and transferred to the Clyde, being renamed HMS Nettle on 20 August 1941 and assigned pennant number T94.

Post war service

After the war Nettle returned to Portland. By then the tender was operated by a civilian crew. Nettle was finally sold in 1957 to Pounds, Portsmouth for scrapping, but was sold a year later to the Amsterdam Dry-dock Company (ADM). While at Pounds's yard, she appeared in the film The Key.

Mercantile service and preservation

Converted to a tanker cleaning vessel, she continued in service for the ADM in Amsterdam harbour until 1985 as Droogdok 18, HOM7 and TCA1. She was transferred to a preservation society in 1995. The ship has been renamed Elfin, restored and preserved in Wormerveer, the Netherlands. In 2011 she was used in the Dutch film Bennie Stout.

References

• Warlow, Ben (2000). Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy. Cornwall: Maritime Books. ISBN 0-907771-73-4.