Rononia

British steam trawler

History

United Kingdom
Name	Rononia
Owner	Kottingham Trawling Co Ltd (C.G. Mastin), Grimsby^[2]
Port of registry	Grimsby (1913–19) Fleetwood (1919–24) Grimsby (1924–42)^[1]
Builder	Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley^[2]^[1]
Yard number	271^[1]
Launched	24 April 1913^[1]
Completed	June 1913^[1]
In service	1913–1942^[2]^[1]
Fate	Sunk by U-701 on 6 March 1942.^[2]^[1]
General characteristics
Tonnage	213 GRT 89 NRT^[1]
Length	117.1 ft (35.7 m)
Beam	21.5 ft (6.6 m)
Depth	12.1 ft (3.7 m)
Propulsion	430ihp T3-cyl and boiler by C.D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Crew	11^[2]

The Rononia was a steam fishing trawler that operated for almost 30 years. Completed in 1913, she went through several owners before being requisitioned as a war trawler during the First World War. The ship survived the war and again was sold multiple times before being bought by her final owner, Kottingham Trawling Co Ltd. On 6 March 1942, Rononia was torpedoed by U-701 whilst sailing to Iceland. The trawler immediately broke up with the loss of all hands.

Construction and design

Rononia was constructed by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd in Beverley, Yorkshire for her original owner, Pelham Steam Fishing Co Ltd of Grimsby. Launched on 24 April 1913 at yard 271, the trawler had a gross register tonnage (GRT) of 213 and a net register tonnage (NRT) of 89. The ship's dimensions included a length of 117.1 ft (35.7 m), a breadth of 21.5 ft (6.6 m), and a depth of 12.1 ft (3.7 m). Her engine was a 430 horsepower T3-cylinder by C.D. Holmes & Co Ltd of Hull.^[1]

History

Rononia was auctioned and sold to Walter Olney of Fleetwood several months after her completion. Two years later, the trawler was confiscated by the Royal Navy to serve in the First World War, after which she was sold to The Neva Steam Trawlers Ltd. After the war, Rononia returned to Fleetwood and was owned by Neva Steam Trawlers for five years, being bought by Harold Bacon of Grimsby in 1924. After her owner died in 1929, the steamship was sold to Kottingham Trawling Co Ltd, which operated the ship until her sinking.^[1]^[3]

Sinking

On 6 March 1942, Rononia embarked on a trip to fishing grounds off Iceland. About 200 miles (320 km) off Iceland, the ship was hit by a G7e torpedo from U-701. The U-boat had followed the trawler for twelve hours, believing that the latter was an anti-submarine trawler. Rononia broke up in two explosions with all on board killed.^[2]^[1]^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "S.T. Rononia FD88". fleetwood-trawlers.info. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Helgason, Guðmundur. "Rononia (British Steam trawler)". uboat.net. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Rononia FV". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 18 April 2020.

Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in March 1942

Shipwrecks

1 Mar: USS Edsall, HMS Encounter, HNLMS Evertsen, HMS Exeter, USS Houston, USS Pecos, HMAS Perth, USS Pope, Rooseboom, U-656
2 Mar: HNLMS Banckert, USAT Don Esteban, Ha-13, HNLMS K X, HNLMS K XIII, HNLMS K XVIII, HNLMS Koning der Nederlanden, USS Pillsbury, USS Stewart, Toendjoek, Van Waerwijck, HNLMS Witte de With
3 Mar: USS Asheville, Koolama, SS Mary, USS Perch
4 Mar: HMAS Yarra
5 Mar: Auby
6 Mar: HNLMS Pieter de Bitter, Rononia
7 Mar: Arabutan, HNLMS Gouden Leeuw, Nyggjaberg, Uniwaleco
8 Mar: HNLMS Eland Dubois, HNLMS Jan van Amstel, Smyshlyony
10 Mar: Lady Nelson, Kongō Maru, Tenyo Maru, Yokohama Maru
11 Mar: HMS Naiad
12 Mar: Texan
13 Mar: Tama Maru No. 2, Tolten
14 Mar: U-133
15 Mar: U-503, HMS Vortigern
17 Mar: Île de Batz, San Demetrio
18 Mar: E.M. Clark
19 Mar: Papoose
20 Mar: HMS Heythrop
21 Mar: Vamar
23 Mar: British Prudence
24 Mar: HMS Southwold, U-655
26 Mar: HMS Jaguar, HMS Legion, HMS P39
27 Mar: USS Atik, U-587, Equipoise
28 Mar: HMS Campbeltown, Raceland
29 Mar: Hertford, Z26
30 Mar: U-585
Unknown: Emilia, Panay