Built as a rescue tug by the yard of Henry Robb at Leith for the Royal Navy Auxiliary Service.
31 October 1944 launched as HMRT REWARD (W164). One of the Bustler class.
Displacement 1.800 ton, 1.118 gross, dim. 205 x 40.5 x 16.11ft (draught).
Two 8 cyl. Atlas & Polar diesels, 3.020 bhp., single screw. Bollard pull 30 tons.
Range 5.000 miles @ 12 knots.
Armament 1 – 3 inch AA gun, 1 – 2pdr. pom-pom, two 20mm AA.
Crew 42.
Used during the Second War as rescue ship, to tow in broken down or damaged merchant ships.
1949 Was she Royal Navy manned.
1957 At Chatham placed in state of preservation.
1958 Transferred to Pembroke Dock in reserve.
22 March 1960 arrived at Malta towed by the AGILE for Target Squadron; the crew of HMS BRIGAND manned her.
22 Jan 1962 sailed for Gibraltar and then to Chatham.
01 May 1962 chartered by United Towing Co, and renamed ENGLISMAN.
02 June 1963 manned under RAF conditions and based at Portsmouth.
23 July 1971 based at Malta with UK officers and local crew.
October 1971 returned to Portsmouth.
July 1973 in reserve at Pembroke Dock.
20 Jan. 1975 arrived at Chatham under tow, and taken over there by the Royal Navy as HMS REWARD.
Converted in an offshore oilfield patrol vessel.
10 August 1976 came in collision during dense fog in the Firth of Forth with the German freighter PLAINSMAN, sank in 15 minutes. The crew was taken on board the PLAINSMAN.
29 August 1976 raised by the floating crane MAGNUS III, beached Inverkeithing Bay, a total loss.
Sold for scrap to Jas White & Co. Ltd., St David’s Harbour.
On the stamp she is showed re-fueling off Seychelles during World War II with HMS BELFAST and HMS RAPID.
Seychelles 1969 20c sg265, scott260. 1972 20c sg306, scott? 1975 20c sg334, scott? 1975 20c sg338, scott? 1976 20C sg374, scott?
Source: Fifty Years of Naval Tugs by Bill Hannan. Log Book.