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Mv Prince Baudouin (II)


Roy Thornton Collection Steel twin screw motor vessel, built and engined by Cockerill’s of Hoboken in 1934 (Yard No. 650) for the Belgian Marine Administration’s Ostend service. Launched September 16^th , 1933. Technical Data Registry - Ostend Official Number - 71959 Length on deck - 113.60m (370.7 ft)(overall) 108.81m (357.0 ft) (between perpendiculars) Breadth of hull - 14.97m (49.1 ft)(extreme) Depth - 6.52m (21.4 ft) (to shelter deck) Draught - 3.70m (12.15 ft)(maximum) Tonnage - 3,050 gross (1934), 3,120 (1945) 1,904 net (1934), 1,864 (1945) Engines - Two 12-cylinder Cockerill/Sulzer single acting two-stroke diesels Power - 8,500 hp Speed - 24 knots Capacity - 1,829 passengers Call Sign - ORAH History September 16^th 1933: Launched. August 2^nd 1934: Sea trials. August 1934: Delivered to Regie voor Maritiem Transport, Oostende, Belgium. August 12^th 1934: On her first trip she suffered engine problems and had to be returned to her builders for repair. November 17^th 1934: Sea trials after repair. November 1934: Commenced service between Ostend - Dover. July 26^th 1936: Chartered for one trip between Le Havre - Normandy. March 2^nd 1938: Ran aground in Ostend. Roy Thornton Collection September 4^th 1939 - May 7^th 1940: Operated between Ostend - Folkestone. May 18^th 1940: Left Ostend for Southampton, via Le Havre, carrying refugees. May 28^th 1940 - July 24^th 1940: Commenced service with the Ministry of War, England. June 11^th 1940 - June 17^th 1940: Took part in the evacuation of Cherbourg, Brest and St Malo. July 25^th 1940: Chartered to the Royal Navy as a Fleet Air Arm Torpedo Target Vessel (although never employed as such). July 1940 - August 1941: Laid up in Southampton. October 31^st 1941: Sailed for the Clyde and after colliding with two merchant ships (MAHSUD* and GRASLIN) she was moved into Gareloch.* Arne Pyson Collection August 13^th 1941: Came out of lay-up October 3^rd 1941: Left the Clyde for North Africa. October 30^th 1941 - November 25^th 1941: Repairs in Capetown owing to damage caused whilst refuelling. December 1941: Operated as a troopship to North Africa between Alexandria and Tobruk. March 1^st 1942: Despatched from Port Said to Famagusta for transport duties to Haifa. March 12^th 1942: Ordered from Egypt to move Indian brigade group from Cyprus to Palestine. March 17^th 1942: Sent to the Red Sea, but considered unsuitable for Eastern Mediterranean service. April 11^th 1942: Remained at Port Said.. August 31^st 1942: Sailed for the U.K. November 29^th 1942: Arrived in the Thames. January 25^th 1943 - November 8^th 1943: Rebuilt as an infantry assault vessel at Green & Silley Weir, Ltd, Tilbury. November 8^th 1943: Commissioned as HMS PRINCE BAUDOUIN. November 24^th 1943: Left the Thames heading for Scottish waters. March 1944: Based on the English South Coast. June 6^th 1944: Took part in the Normandy Landings. July 11^th 1944: Left Solent for Cardiff. July 24^th 1944: Left Falmouth for Naples. August 3^rd 1944: Arrived Naples. August 1944: Took part in the invasion of southern France. August 25^th 1944: Arrived in Naples the Augusta (Sicily). September 6^th 1944: Left for Gibraltar. September 14^th 1944: Arrived the Clyde to await orders. October 1944: Lad up when it was discovered that one of her generator crankshafts had broken and a replacement might take up to six months to manufacture. March 1945: Sent to her builders. May 2^nd 1945: Extended refit ready for anticipated service in the Far East. October 13^th 1945: End of hostilities and she was paid off. October 13^th 1945: After being reconditioned, handed back to Regie voor Maritiem Transport, Oostende, Belgium. November 1945 - June 1946: Extensively refitted at Cockerill, Hoboken, Belgium. Roy Thornton Collection July 24^th 1946: Special sailing to commemorate the centenary of the service between Ostend - Dover, then recommenced Ostend - Folkestone. Roy Thornton Collection October 1946: Re-commenced commercial service Ostend - Dover. Roy Thornton Collection December 30^th 1946: Collided with the breakwater in Dover, suffering damage to one of her propellers. November 14^th 1947: Suffered a minor engine-room fire as she arrived at Dover. 1963: Laid up. 1964: Laid up in Zelzate. September 6^th 1967: Arrived at Heyghen Freres, Gent, Belgium for scrapping.
All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for errors and omissions. All items included in this article are subject to ©. We would like to thank: Arne Pyson for assistance in producing this feature.

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