HMT Lincoln City

The HMT Lincoln City was an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) trawler in the service of the British Royal Navy during World War II.^[1] It was bombed during an air raid and sank on February 21, 1941 at the Faroe Islands.

Construction and Ownership

Smiths Dock Company built the HMT Lincoln City in 1933, originally as a fishing boat. The ship weighed 398 tons and was equipped with a 1x3 cylinder triple expansion engine, and was steam propelled. The ship began its life with Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice Co., Ltd., and served as a fishing boat for the company from 1933 until 1939. At that time, its name was FV Pembroke Castle, but this was changed in April 1938 to FV Lincoln City.^[2]

Requisition by the Admiralty

During World War II, the British Royal Navy requisitioned hundreds of civilian ships for service in the war in various roles, with many ending up as minesweepers or anti-submarine vessels, also known as ASW trawlers. The British Royal Navy requisitioned the HMT Lincoln City in 1939, equipping it with a single armament, one 4” gun. It was then put under the command of Skr. Frederick William White Burnett of the Royal Navy Reserve. He served aboard the Lincoln City from December 1, 1939 until March 18, 1940, at which point T/S.Lt. Francis Albert Seward took over until the HMT Lincoln City was sunk on February 21, 1941.^[3]

Sinking of the HMT Lincoln City

In 1941, the HMT Lincoln City was stationed in Tórshavn, located in the Faroe Islands, a constituency of Denmark. British occupation of the Faroe Islands had been ongoing since April 1940 in order to prevent a German invasion of the strategically important location. The ship was involved in an air raid, during which it managed to shoot down a German bomber. The HMT Lincoln City was then bombed and ended up sinking, resulting in the death of all eight crewmen on board.^[4]

References