M/V UNDERWOOD Ship No 291 New Book on her Sinking

There is now a new book that has been written by Dave Betts about the sinking of the M/V UNDERWOOD she was attacked by German E-Boats in a daring attack which had Further tragic consequences in the build up to D-Day when American troops exercising of the South West Coast of England suffered some tragic losses which were attributed to the threat of E-Boat attacks by the fast and deadly boats.


15 crew and 3 passengers were lost in the attack on the M/V UNDERWOOD which had been built at the Leith Shipyards of Henry Robb for the shipping company of France Fenwick, she was in fact still on the stocks at the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939 and her build was completed during the early days of the war.

The author's Grand Father was a (DEMS) gunner on board her and the book can be found at http://bettsbooks.co.uk/   let him know that you heard about the book here.

H.M.S. PINK

Ship No 318

Flower Class Corvette

Another of the gallant ships of” the little navy”, that were to provide all kinds of duty during World War II.

They had to deal with all types of weather and the constant danger of enemy surface and under water vessels along with bombing attacks and mines.

Not the most sea keeping of vessels in fact they were said to role on wet grass, but the brave men who sailed on them, gave their all and some more! They served, fighting to help in the battles raging the seven seas of the world.

H.M.S. Pink was one of many such ships, and she was launched from the yard on 16th February 1942. One month after her sister H.M.S. Lotus

She was a standard 849 tons and had a length overall of 190 feet with a beam of 33 feet, and draught of 17 feet and 6 inches.

H.M.S. Pink was badly damaged during the invasion of Normandy, when she was torpedoed by U988 27th-29th July 1944 and was regarded as a constructive total loss. The U-boat 988 was sunk 2 days later.