Admiralty Coastal Salvage Vessels. Design and Service 1943 - 1993.

Roy. 8vo., First Edition, with numerous photographs, maps and plans throughout; laminated photographic boards, a near fine copy. In 1942 the Admiralty needed salvage vessels to cope with the increasing number of incoming merchant ships bombed or torpedoed. Rescue tugs were built or requisitioned to tow ships damaged at sea, but there was a need to keep the home ports and their approaches clear of wrecks. The response was this class of nine coastal salvage vessels which became the core of the Admiralty Salvage Service during clearance operations in NW Europe following the Normandy landings. The class carried out very valuable work in opening up the French, Belgian and Dutch ports enabling supplies and food to be brought to local populations. After the war several of the class were available for charter by civilian salvage firms and one, Risdon Beazley, became the most successful British salvage company of its day. The remaining vessels stayed in Admiralty service, conducting operations such as the raising of the Dover blockships and other wartime obstructions, as well as helping the salvage effort after Suez. Four of the class were converted to diesel in the 1960’s and became known as the ‘Kin class’, a familiar sight to many around the naval ports of the UK.