Rononia

British steam trawler

History
United Kingdom
Name| Rononia
Owner| Kottingham Trawling Co Ltd (C.G. Mastin), Grimsby[1]
Port of registry|

* Grimsby (1913–19)
* Fleetwood (1919–24)
* Grimsby (1924–42)[2]

Builder| Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley[1][2]
Yard number| 271[2]
Launched| 24 April 1913[2]
Completed| June 1913[2]
In service| 1913–1942[1][2]
Fate| Sunk on 6 March 1942.[1][2]
General characteristics
Tonnage|

* 213 GRT
* 89 NRT[2]

Length| 117.1 ft (35.7 m)
Beam| 21.5 ft (6.6 m)
Depth| 12.1 ft (3.7 m)
Propulsion| 430 ihp (320 kW) T3-cyl and boiler by C.D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Crew| 11[1]

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 the German submarine U-701 whilst sailing to Iceland. The trawler immediately broke up with the loss of all hands.

## Construction and design

[edit]

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 indicated horsepower (320 kW) T3-cylinder by C.D. Holmes & Co Ltd of Hull.[2]

## History

[edit]

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.[2][3]

### Sinking

[edit]

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.[1][2][3]

## References

[edit]

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

* v
* t
* e

Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in March 1942

Shipwrecks|

* 1 Mar:  USS Edsall, HMS Encounter, HNLMS Eridanus, HNLMS Evertsen, HMS Exeter, USS Houston, USS Pecos, HMAS Perth, USS Pope, Rooseboom, U-656
* 2 Mar:  HNLMS Aldebaran, HNLMS Banckert, HNLMS Bangkalan, USAT Don Esteban, HNLMS Fomalhaut, Ha-13, HNLMS K X, HNLMS K XIII, HNLMS K XVIII, HNLMS Koning der Nederlanden, USS Pillsbury, USS Stewart, Toendjoek, Van Waerwijck, HNLMS Poolster, 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: USCGC Acacia, 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: Dixie Arrow, 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

Other incidents|

* 2 Mar: Ruth Kellogg, HMS Walney
* 4 Mar: USS Sargo, HMAS Tambar
* 5 Mar: Takao Maru
* 10 Mar: China Maru, Tama Maru No. 2
* 11 Mar: Komintern
* 15 Mar: Olean
* 16 Mar: Irish Willow, U-753
* 22 Mar: Kingston
* 23 Mar: USS Gato
* 25 Mar: Imperial Transport
* Unknown date: USS Drum

1941 1942 1943
February 1942 April 1942
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