The steel steam trawler Ormonde was launched from the Selby yard of Cochrane and Sons Ltd (Yard No 367) on 9th June 1906. She measured 125.0′ x 22.0′ x 12.4′ and her tonnage was 250 gross tons, 101 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Amos and Smith, Hull delivering 69 registered horse power. She was ordered by Edwin Bacon of Grimsby and entered service for the Dolphin Steam Fishing Co Ltd in November 1906. With the outbreak of World War One she was requisitioned by the Admiralty and served throughout the conflict as minesweeper number 147. While performing her wartime duties she was acquired by the Arctic Steam Fishing Company Ltd of Grimsby and returned to her peace time role in early 1919 registered as GY162. With the outbreak of World War Two she was again requisitioned, this time, as part of Minesweeper Group 69 based in Aberdeen. Her 2nd World War number was FY782. She was fitted with a 6-pounder deck gun
Steam trawler Ormonde under way
Lloyds register 1939
On 16th February 1941 Ormonde, under the command of William T Coull RNR, was operating off Cruden Bay with and number of other minesweeping trawlers when they were attacked by a German bomber. The Ormonde suffered a direct hit and sank almost immediately with the loss of her entire crew of eighteen men.
The wreck believed to be the Ormonde lies in position 57 24.668 N, 001 44.935 W oriented 090/270 degrees. She lies in 60 metres with a least depth clearance of 56 metres. The wreck is sitting upright with stern and bow the most in tact and is highly degraded midships where the sides of the remaining hull are almost level with the seabed. The triple expansion engine is clearly visible midships. We are not aware that any artefact has been recovered to confirm her identity. Divers report the rudder missing and propeller blades damaged which might indicate this vessel was the victim of a stranding rather than wartime damage but her location and the lack of any other similar unidentified trawler wrecks in the vicinity would support the belief this is Ormonde.
