Previous name: HMS Jaunty
Subsequent name: Nisos Chios
Official Number: 181622
Class: ASSURANCE Class Tug
Pennant No: W30 / A140
Laid down:
Builder: Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders at Selby
Launched: 11 June 1941
Into Service:
Out of service: 1965 Sold commercially
Fate: 1973 Broken Up
Background Data: There were originally 21 ships in this Class, 7 of which saw service as RFA’s. Of 700 t standard displacement and 1350 t full load displacement, they had a complement of 31 and a bollard pull of 13½ tons. In wartime they were armed with 1 x 3“ gun, 1 x 20mm AA gun and 2 x .303 machine guns.
11 June 1941 Launched by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby as Yard Nr 1233 named HMS JAUNTY
22 December 1941 sailed from Scapa Flow as part of Force J to carry out landings on Lofoten Islands together with RFA BLACK RANGER and RFA GRAY RANGER
1 January 1942 returned to Scapa Flow as part of Force J which had carried out landings on Lofoten Islands together with RFA BLACK RANGER and RFA GRAY RANGER on completion of Operation Anklet
17 April 1942 sailed Loch Ewe towing ss Rudderman in convoy UR20 to Reykjavik arriving on 22 April 1942 with the assistance of the British tug GONDIA
11 May 1942 escorted by HMS Amazon to join Refuelling Group (Force R) which was with PEDESTAL ships
18 May 1942 towed SS Gemini, suffering from a damaged propeller while escorted by USS Gemini and USS Williamsburg arrived at Havfjordur, Iceland on 2 June 1942
11 August 1942 carried out rescue work with two RN units when HMS EAGLE was hit by torpedo fired by U73 and sank within eight minutes. 927 survivors were rescued by the three ships
August 1942 assisted in bringing the tanker Ohio into Malta
15 November 1942 took in tow USS Almaack (AK27) which had been torpedoed by the German submarine U155 (Kapitanleutnant Adolf Piening) eight miles off the coast of Portugal - under the escort of HMS Brilliant. She towed the USS Almaach into Gibraltar arriving on 17 November 1942
9 February 1943 east of Algiers took in tow the Italian submarine Avorio which had been brought to the surface by HMCS Regina - the submarine sank. He crew were landed at Bone, Algeria
25 February 1943 sailed Bone in convoy ET12 with HMS ITHURIEL in tow to Gibraltar arriving 2 March 1943
7 March 1943 arrived at Oran
1 April 1943 involved in the salvage of the tanker ss Seminole at Oran which had been hit by two torpedoes. The crew were awarded salvage money as detailed in the London Gazette of 11 May 1945
5 April 1943 arrived at Oran from Gibraltar as part of Force H with HMS Nelson, HMS Rodney, HMS Formidable. Sailed later the same day to Gibraltar
11 May 1943 arrived at Oran
3 June 1943 sailed Alexandria in convoy XTG1 towing HMS BADSWORTH to Gibraltar arriving 17 June 1943. RFA Green Ranger was in the same convoy
15 June 1943 arrived at Oran
30 June 1943 sailed Gibraltar in convoy KMS17 to Malta arriving on 6 July 1943. RFA's Abbeydale, Prestol, Orangeleaf, Salveda and Salvestor were in the same convoy
10 September 1943 involved in assisting the Italian Fleet into Malta to surrender
19 September 1943 the British battleship HMS Warspite was hit by a German FX1400 guided bomb and near-missed by a second. The ship was heavily damaged. She was towed by the U.S.N. tugs to Malta arriving there on 19 September. After emergency repairs she was towed to Gibraltar by HMS Jaunty
5 June 1944 LCT2428 was due to take part in the D Day landings (Operation Neptune) but developed a leak and after capsizing she was sunk by the tug Jaunty in the Channel as she was a hazard to navigation. LCT2428 was the ‘leader’ of the 105th Flotilla of Assault Group J1Support Squadron, assigned to Juno beach to support the 7th Infantry of the 3rdCanadian Division at Courseulles.
http://www.historicalrfa.org/rfa-jaunty-ship-details
Malta 2012 Operation Pedestal Issue SG?