SAS Somerset
 HMS Barcross
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Barcross |
| Owner | Royal Navy |
| Builder | Blyth Harbour and Dock Company, Blyth, Northumberland, England |
| Laid down | 15 April 1941 |
| Launched | 21 October 1941 |
| Decommissioned | 1947 |
| Out of service | Transferred to South African Naval Forces, 21 January 1943 |
| Renamed | HMSAS Somerset in 1943 |
| Identification | Pennant number: Z185 |
 .svg){kind=small} South Africa | |
| Name | HMSAS Somerset |
| Namesake | Dick King's horse[Note 1] |
| Builder | Blyth Shipyard |
| Commissioned | 21 January 1943 |
| Renamed | SAS Somerset, 1951 |
| Homeport | Simon's Town |
| Identification | Pennant number: P285[1] |
| Badge |  |
  South Africa | |
| Name | SAS Somerset |
| Owner | South African Navy |
| Decommissioned | 31 March 1986 |
| Homeport | Simon's Town |
| Identification | Pennant number: P285[1] |
| Status | Scrapped in April 2024 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Bar-class boom defence vessel |
| Displacement | 750 tons standard, 960 tons maximum |
| Length | 45.72 m (150.0 ft) |
| Beam | 9.76 m (32.0 ft) |
| Draught | 3.37 m (11.1 ft) |
| Propulsion | One vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine |
| Speed | 11.75 kn (21.76 km/h) |
| Range | 3000 mi |
| Complement | 32 |
| Armament | 1 × 12-pounder 12cwt gun |
SAS Somerset was a Bar-class boom defence vessel of the South African Navy, formerly preserved as a museum ship in Cape Town. It was scrapped in April 2024. Formerly HMS Barcross, it operated in Saldanha Bay, was transferred to South Africa Naval Forces during World War II, and was purchased by South Africa in 1947.
History
Somerset was originally built in
South African Naval Forces for the remainder of World War II
.
In 1946, the
decommissioned Somerset was used in the raising of the sunken minelayer Skilpad (ex-Spindrift)
at Salisbury Island.
In 1955, Somerset was recommissioned. During this period, she was tasked with
oil pipeline at the port of Mossel Bay to serve the oil terminal
there.
In 1961, Somerset salvaged the
capsized and sunk at Port Elizabeth. In the early hours of 24 July 1974, Somerset was dispatched to Cape Agulhas to assist with the salvage of the Oriental Pioneer, but poor weather conditions and bad luck rendered this effort unsuccessful. In 1981, Somerset raised the fishing trawler Aldebaran, which had lain on the harbour bottom at Port Elizabeth for over two-and-a-half years. Somerset also acted as a standby vessel during submarine shallow-water diving operations. In 1983, she assisted in salvaging a barge
and two whale catchers at Saldanha Bay.
In March 1986, Somerset was finally paid off. In 1988, the old boom defence vessel was donated for use as a
drydock.[4]
Somerset was moored on the
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town from 2 September 1988 as museum ship[5] until its scrapping in April 2024. At the time of its scrapping it was the only boom defence vessel remaining in the world,[6]
as well as the only remaining South African warship that served in World War II.
Gallery
-
SAS Somerset on theVictoria & Alfred Waterfront, September 2010 (stern view) -
SAS Somerset (bow view) in 2019 -
View of SAS Somerset's bridge and crane in 2019 -
SAS Somerset's winching gear situated amidships, 2019 -
SAS Somerset's funnel and top deck in 2019 -
SAS Somerset from astern in 2019
Notes
- ^ The ship was named after famous horse that carried Dick King from Durban to Grahamstown in 1842. The connection is perpetuated in the seahorse on the ship’s crest.
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Somerset (ship, 1941).
| External image | |
|---|---|
 Photos of the exterior and interior of SAS Somerset at sa-transport.co.za |
- ^ a b Pennant Numbers in the SA Navy Archived 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "SAS Somerset". National Historic Ships. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
- ISBN 1-874800-50-2.
- ^ "HMS Barcross (Z 185) of the Royal Navy - British Boom defence vessel of the Bar class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net".
- ISBN 1-874800-50-2.
- ^ "SAS Somerset". Transport in South Africa. Retrieved 24 September 2010.