TID Tugs

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello

Has anybody got any information / photos of the TID type tugs that were in service during the 2nd world war.

I am interested in special types that might have been used or adapted for harbour defence / inshore anti submarine work or inshore escorts.

I have a 6ft version under construction and I want to make something special out of it.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Paul….Nice to see you out and about….

Can`t help you on your question…….but we would like to see the latest state of play, regarding the model please.

All the best…………………..Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Good Morning Bob

Thanks for asking… the hull is almost complete and should be undergoing its first "wet" test this weekend. I shall try to find my camera to take a few shots.

Take care old friend

Paul

ps To expand upon my request for information.

I have a single photo from WW2 of a cargo ship being taken into port by a TID, the tug in question is painted in Dazzle camouflage, has a small canon mounted on a platform over the bow winch and what looks like anti aircraft guns either side of the funnel.

The photo that I have is mainly of the cargo ship and thus the image of the tug is obscure but still discernible and it is this tug that I am interested in.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

 

A very big THANK YOU to Andrew Newman who has been a big help in my search and between us we have managed to whittle the number of possible TIDs that could have been fitted with armaments from 58 down to 12.

I now have another question for tug and naval buffs, during November 1946 a number of TIDs were sold to Finland and so I am now trying to track these boats down to see if ant of them could have been my mystery tug. So if any one reading this in Finland has any knowledge of this small fleet of TIDs and of what became of them could they please let me know.

Paul

[Mike ForsythParticipant @mikeforsyth]

Hi Paul

I have just sent  for a hull from kingston mouldings for the TID tug (first model boat in 25years) and am also looking for information on the war time uses, for example was it armed, and if so  where were they positioned on the boat?  What type of guns were used, also were they all painted grey or was the deck green,did all TIDs in the navy have canvas covered bridge’s or did some of them have the civilian type wooden bridge.

I look forward to any help that you can give me.  best regards Mike.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Good Morning Mike

To the best of my knowledge all of the Royal Navy TIDs had open bridges and were painted grey / black they were used for general harbour / dock duties including moving the parts of the Mulberry harbours around the country and across the channel to France.

The fate of the tugs that went straight to Finland is unclear and they could have been fitted with covered bridges.

As far as I know the Royal Naval tugs were not armed but I have seen a photo of a TID in dazzle camouflage with what looks like a 12 pounder mounted on a platform over the bow steam winch this photo also showed anti aircraft guns mounted either side of the funnel.

I believe this particular TID to be one of those issued to Finland and I am trying to discover which one it was through contacts in Finland but I don’t hold out much hope of getting to the bottom of the mystery.

Meanwhile I have started the construction of a 6ft version of this particular tug.

Find below a photo of a TID in British service during the war

Paul

The

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Good morning Paul and Mike

Any idea what colours were used in the dazzle cammo and what colour was the decking please?

How about a picture showing work in progress of your 6 foot Tid tug ……there`s not enough pictures being posted lately

Bob……………been up since 5.00!

[DuckyParticipant @ducky]

 Hi Paul

Have you seen the "Envoy" ww2  Naval version tug on Model Slipway ?? I know its not the one you wanted but there is some nice pictures of its guns and where and how they are sited.

Might be of some use to you as well Bob??

Ducky

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

That was useful Duckie……………just had a look at the Model Slipway site……………..more food for thought!

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Bob

The photo of the camo TID was in black and white so I have painted mine in black and white, sorry can’t take a photo as my camera is still being fixed by cannon.

Hi Ducky

Yes I have seen the Envoy and its something I have promised myself when I can afford it (but I might have to sell the Trent to raise the cash)

Paul (up at 5.00 every day)

[Mike ForsythParticipant @mikeforsyth]

Thanks Paul.

You have given me more to think about !  I thought this was a war time photo but I now think it must have been after it was sold. Pity As this tug is in preservation,   Never did like to take the easy road anyway!!!

 

I look forward to seeing your photo’s .

Regards Mike.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Morning Mike

The building of any model is very subjective, for example Kingstone Moldings have issued the following photo of their Royal Naval TID which clearly shows a covered bridge

despite the historical record indicating that all of the naval versions had open bridges,

I rather like this version and it has to be said that it would be very difficult to prove that any single Royal Navy TID might not have been converted to have a covered bridge or even fitted with light arms such as small cannon.

The purists might dispute the authenticity of your model but then let them prove that it’s wrong.

Paul

[Mike ForsythParticipant @mikeforsyth]

 My hull arived today from kingston mouldings, and I am very pleased with it. I should get started on it just after Christmas.

I do like the look of the picture that you sent and will try to build mine just like that.

I will try to keep you informed but it will be a slow build.

Thanks  Mike.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Mike

An early christmas present and one that doesn’t involve slippers.

I am looking forward to seeing the completed model.

Paul

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Wartime Duty

[merlinParticipant @merlin]

From research carried out some years ago all of the last TID’s had closed bridge arrangements as standard (around 20-30 boats) and many earlier vessels were probably converted locally as the open bridge was universally disliked.   It should be noted that TID operations

came under the ministry for supply not the war office so not all were under naval control

and indeed many were operated by existing tug companies with civilian crews on behalf of the ministry in and around the dock areas where they were used. Only those actually used in the allied invasion as far as I know ever came under DIRECT naval control unlike the larger salvage type tugs

 

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

 

Good Morning Merlin

 

I can understand why the crews disliked the open bridge it must have been a bleak life sailing those little tugs in bad weather without the added injustice of being out in the open.

The TIDs seemed to fit an odd gap between naval and civilian requirements and were pressed into numerous tasks from mine sweeping to pilot boat to harbour defence as well as the prime role of pushing and pulling ships.

Being so small the naval boats didn’t even rate a captain but were commanded by a leading hand.

I especially like the way the TID design allowed for the easy sectional building of the hull which allowed the work to be carried out by any engineering company. The design certainly lends itself to model building and I never tire of building different types and scale of this remarkable little tug.

 

[merlinParticipant @merlin]

Some of the last TID tugs were actually built with closed bridges, as far as I know about eight,  there were few tugs operating under under  ‘navy’ control,  most were operated by the Ministry of Supply within UK ports and had mainly ‘civilian’ crews and many tugs had  mysteriously aquired closed bridges by the latter part of the war and who could blame the crews.   

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Merlin

 

It must have been hard,cold and wet working in an open wheelhouse I can understand why they put simple roofs up to keep the weather off.

My TID is still in the shed and untouched as I have been working on the barrel back but I hope to restart work in a couple of weeks.

 

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Paul

 

Just found this on the net and I`m sure you`ll find it of interest….    http://www.medwaymaritimetrust.org.uk/tidtugs/index.html

 

Well, I hope so……………….Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Thanks Bob

 

Its a great site with lots of information.

 

Paul

[Mike ForsythParticipant @mikeforsyth]

Thanks Bob  and  Paul.

 

That’s a great site that you found Pau

Haven’t done much modelling for the last few month’s due to a back injury at work.

I hope to get back to working on my TID in the next month or two.

 

Mike.

 

 

[merlinParticipant @merlin]

Hello Bob

Thanks for link to Tid Site, fills in a few little holes in the old knowledge box

Merlin 

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