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Russel Brothers Limited OWEN SOUND, ONTARIO Steelcraft Boat Builders
Joe Fossey notes, this is our current best guess as to how a Russel design became the "Ville" class...
Canada was at War and desperately needed all the strategic Wartime goods as soon as possible. Aircraft factories, Truck factories, Shipyards, Munitions factories and essential companion products were mandated by the government to be produced as quickly as possible.
As far as the "Villes" go, it is my submission that Harry H. Warkentin's trim little 40 foot workboat (see Bluefin) built c. 1937-38 was a ready to go product with no research and development required...It was just what the Navy was looking for in a small harbour tug and Russel Brothers had the plant facility to go into immediate production. It was the Navy Brass and procurement department who assigned the name "Ville" to this class.
I do recall hearing about an ex Navy inspector who volunteered that they were always happy to see Russel built boats coming down for their pre-acceptance tests because they were all well built and well tested.
The Russel Brothers official plan of the Ville is design number 250 and listed as a 40 foot Diesel Tug with a L.O.A. of 40 feet. This abbreviation (L.O.L.) relates to Length Over All. signed by Harry H. Warkentin who designed this hull circa 1938. It 's recorded that the first one sold was named Blue Fin and sold to the Ontario Government as a survey vessel. Of interest it had a straight vertical bow and I am quite sure it is still around today much modified over the years and last seen lying in a Goderich Marina.
The "Ville Class" name came of a necessity from WW II when Russel's built 38 of them for the Canadian Navy. At that time Navy Standard of hull length measurement along with Lloyds of London and Department of Transport was measured from the waterline perpendicular at the bow to the center of the rudder post. Thus the 37 feet 5 inch number vs. the shown 40 feet L.O.A. Another measurement is designated L.W.L. which means Loaded Waterline Length. I have this factory 40 ft. Diesel Tug or Ville Drawing if you need it.
As for the Upper Stem Cant Back from the Sheerline. The Ville was a Multiple Purpose Small Tug and would have on occasion been used as a "Shiphandling Vessel", now know as "Ship Assist" Vessel. When pushing against large vessels the angle back allowed it to have a better contact between the two surfaces v/s a sharp point that could possibly dig in and damage both vessels. Ship Assist design to this day provide this feature.
I have an official R.C.N. Lines Drawing of the H.M.C.S. Parksville, one of four Ville's shipped to the West Coast and active there for many years in CFB Esqimalt. Drawings like this are now scarce to non existent and much needed if any Transport Canada Inspection is required.
As to minor differences in Wheelhouse measurements. During standard production runs they could and did of necessity issue E.C.O's or Engineering Change Orders to change or modify slightly for Civilian customer needs.
Donal M. Baird, in his book "Under Tow: A History of Tugs and Towing" writes (page 95): " The first new tugs to come to the aid of the Navy, whose ship handling problems were becoming exacerbated by the presence of dozens of new warships, were the fifteen little, 40-foot, 150bhp, steel yard tugs of the Ville class (e.g. Otterville, Marysville, Merrickville and Beamsville). These were built in the tug specialist Russel Brothers shipyard, now in Owen Sound, Ontario, to work mainly at Halifax and Esquimalt. They arrived on the scene in 1943 and 1944 and were fine for handling corvettes, but too small to handle berthing of larger ships."
From the Company Brochure "Steelcraft Powerful Diesel Tugs"
 | WWII
NAVY TUGS VILLE
CLASS |
Info used with permission of LCdr (Ret'd) David J Freeman, Victoria, BC, and
taken from his book published in 2000, Canadian Warship Names. |
|
| NAME |
CN NUMBER |
LAID DOWN |
COMMISSIONED |
Other Info |
| Adamsville |
800 |
23-11-43 |
12-1-44 |
YTS 582. Re-named "BURRARD" (HMCS Discovery tender). |
| Auburnville |
803 |
8-12-43 |
24-1-44 |
(W50). Re-named "W.A.C. No. 5" (War Assets Corp.),
Sank in Lake Ontario 31/05/62. ON 177428 |
| Barkerville |
894? |
13-10-44 |
14-12-44 |
(Z19). Re-named "SYLVIA KING", Vancouver. ON 179092 |
| Beamsville |
801 |
29-11-43 |
16-1-44 |
YTS 583 (Z61) |
| Blissville |
838 |
5-1-44 |
18-3-44 |
Hull 479. (W56)
to Dept. of Public Works 1947, ON 170298 |
| Bonnyville |
878 |
11-8-44 |
3-11-44 |
Hull 494. Sold to Upper Ottawa Imp. Co. 1946. ON 179027 |
| Colville |
843 |
25-1-44 |
27-5-44 |
Hull 484. YTS 576. Sold to Gulf Services 31/03/64
Re-named "GULF WAVE", LA PRAXIS, BOBBY BOWES. ON 320827 |
| Eckville |
839 |
8-1-44 |
22-3-44 |
Hull 480. YTS 580 (W58) |
| Granville |
??? |
??? |
7-9-42 |
(W18) might be Marysville |
| Hartville |
882 |
8-9-44 |
23-11-44 |
Hull 498. NAVVY JACK (O.N. 176875) Registry suspension: 2007-04-04. |
| Haysville |
??? |
??? |
8-7-42 |
YTS 575 (W119) |
| Hodgeville |
807 |
28-12-43 |
8-3-44 |
(W53) |
| Innisville |
883 |
13-9-44 |
24-11-44 |
Hull 499. |
| Jamesville |
884 |
16-9-44 |
24-11-44 |
Hull 500. |
| Johnville |
880 |
22-8-44 |
8-11-44 |
Hull 496. Renamed K.M. Cameron and later Gulf Surge. |
| Kayville |
886 |
26-9-44 |
24-11-44 |
Hull 502. |
| Kingsville |
??? |
??? |
20-8-42 |
(W20) |
| Lakeville |
??? |
??? |
7-9-42 |
(W21) |
| Lawrenceville |
799 |
16-11-43 |
8-1-44 |
YTS 584 YTS 590 |
| Listerville |
875 |
10-7-44 |
12-10-44 |
YTS 578 YTS 592 |
| Loganville |
893 |
10-10-44 |
13-12-44 |
Hull 491. YTS 589 (W66) |
| Luceville |
844 |
28-1-44 |
27-5-44 |
Hull 485. Sold 1946 as W.A.C. No. 6 |
| Mannville |
840 |
14-1-44 |
6-4-44 |
Hull 481. YTS 577 (W57) |
| Martinville |
876 |
15-7-44 |
11-10-44 |
Hull 492. (W61) |
| Marysville |
802 |
15-12-43 |
20-1-44 |
YTS 585 YTS 594 (Z62) |
| Merrickville |
879 |
14-8-44 |
8-11-44 |
Hull 495. YTS 581 YTS 593 |
| Neville |
877 |
1-8-44 |
3-11-44 |
Hull 493. Sold 1946 as Boomalong. |
| Otterville |
805 |
18-12-43 |
29-1-44 |
YTS 590 (W51) (W32) |
| Parksville |
804 |
15-12-43 |
27-1-44 |
YTS 579 YTS 591 (W49) |
| Pierreville |
??? |
5-10-44 |
13-12-44 |
|
| Plainsville |
844 |
28-1-44 |
27-5-44 |
Hull 497. YTS 587 (W01) |
| Queensville |
885 |
21-9-44 |
5-12-44 |
Hull 501. YTS 586 |
| Radville |
806 |
22-12-43 |
3-2-44 |
(W52) |
| Roseville |
842 |
20-1-44 |
6-5-44 |
Hull 483. |
| Shawville |
841 |
18-1-44 |
27-5-44 |
Hull 482. (WPT 43) To NHB 1946 as N.H.B.V. PETROL NO. 1, later Brockton II (O.N. 179060) Vancouver |
| Streetsville |
837 |
31-12-43 |
10-3-44 |
Hull 478. W55 |
| Youville |
887 |
2-10-44 |
5-12-44 |
Hull 503. YTS 558 |
|
Auxiliary Pennant Numbers WWII by David J. Freeman. Paul Capel Collection.
W numbers |
Post WWII numbers |
From http://shipbuildinghistory.com/canadaships/yardtugs.htm
From Russel company brochure: SALVAGE EQUIPMENT.
Gerry Ouderkirk archive.
Circa 1943 wartime production of 40 foot Naval "Ville" class tugs. Note
uniformed Navy Inspectors in foreground. Photo courtesy Ted Eldred.
Ville class Navy info from Leigh Cossey, obtained April 2018.
Villes racing, Queensville in middle. Joe Fossey Collection.
Disposition of Villes after active service in WW2
From page 165, Appendix A: Vessels of the Naval Reserve of Canada, Citizen Sailors: Chronicles of Canada's Naval Reserve, 1910-2010 edited by Richard Howard Gimblett, Michael L. Hadley.
Most of the other wartime Ville class tugs were assigned as tenders to divisions located more typically on large bodies of water such as the coasts or the Great Lakes. Although commissioned during the war, the Ville class harbour tugs were paid off after the conflict and employed as auxilliaries or tenders. Soon after the war, Listerville (578) was allocated to HMCS Donnacona before being transferred to HMCS Cataraqui in 1979 with its name changed to Cavalier (578); it remained there, except for a brief period in 1982 when it served in Hamilton, until disposed of c. 1991.Plainsville (587) provide the same services more regularly with HMCS Star in Hamilton as early as 1962, and was a familiar feature for years at Canada Cup events until disposed of in the early 1990's. Marysville (585) was transferred to HMCS Chatham in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, in May 1947. HMCS Griffon also had one, Queensville (586), from early after the war until disposed of in the mid-1990s. Scotian operated Parksville (591) from 1948 for only a short while before withdrawn from service in 1949. Otterville (580)served HMCS Brunswicker after the war until moved elsewhere, leaving the division with only harbour craft as a large tender until the arrival of HMCS Llewellyn. Loganville (589) was with the HMCS Cataraqui from the early 1950s until disposed of in the early 1990s. Youville (588) is recorded as being with York only from the early 1960s; after unification of the forces in 1968, York's chief petty officers and petty officers used it for a "burial service" of their former service badges. It remained with York until transferred to HMCS Champlain in 1988, with which she remained until disposed of in 1997 and sold to a commercial party. The
ex-Lawrenceville, Cree (584), served Chippawa in Winnipeg from 1972 for a few years before being paid off. Many of these small tugs were involved in the Canadian Olympic Regatta at Kingston (CORK) in 1976. Lawrenceville (Cree) and Listerville (Cavalier) were renamed in 1977 to avoid confusion with tugs of the new Ville class bearing the same names. As proof of their endurance and credit to their builder, evidence could be found as late as 2007 that many still sail as pleasure or commercial vessels.
800
ADAMSVILLE
5/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
unknown
RCN YTS 582
HMCS DISCOVERY TENDER " BURRARD "
803
AUBURNVILLE
5/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
unknown
W 50
SOLD GERMAN AND MILNE
COMMERCIAL "W.A.C.5 ", ON 177428
994
BARKERVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1945
unknown
SOLD COMMERCIAL
COMMERCIAL " SYLVA KING " ON 179092
801
BEAMSVILLE
5/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
unknown
RCN YTS 583
FATE UNKNOWN
838
BLISSVILLE
8/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
479
W 56
TO DEPT OF PUBLIC WORKS 1947
COMMERCIAL " BLISSVILLE" ON 170298
878
BONNYVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
494
SOLD TO UPPER OTTAWA IMP CO 1946
COMMERCIAL " BONNYVILLE " ON 179027
843
COLVILLE
8/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
484
RCN YTS 576, SOLD TO GULF SERVICES 31/03/64
COMMERCIAL " GULF WAVE " ON 320827
839
ECKVILLE
8/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
480
W 58
RCN YTS 580, SOLD 31/03/64
COMMERCIAL " GULF MIST " ON 320826
448
GRENVILLE
6/30/1942
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1942
unknown
W 20
SOLD TO CIP CO 1946
? COMMERCIAL " EILEEN G. " ON 190222
882
HARTVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
498
SOLD TO STRAITS TOWING AND SALVAGE 1946
COMMERCIAL " DAVID STRAITS' LATER " NAVVY JACK" ON 176875
446
HAYSVILLE
6/30/1942
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1942
unknown
W 18
SOLD POSTWAR
FATE UNKNOWN
807
HODGEVILLE
5/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
unknown
W 53
SOLD TO UPPER OTTAWA IMP. CO 1946
COMMERCIAL " HODGEVILLE " ON 179024
883
INNISVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
499
SOLD TO CIP 1946
COMMERCIAL " INNISVILLE" ON 176576
884
JAMESVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
500
SOLD TO PULPWOOD SUPPLY LTD. 1946
? COMMERCIAL " TERRALONG " ON 177630
880
JOHNVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
496
TO DEPT OF PUBLIC WORKS 1946
COMMERCIAL " K.M. CAMERON " ON 177458
886
KAYVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
502
SOLD TO MIL 1948
? COMMERCIAL " W.A.C 2 " ON 177433
447
KINGSVILLE
6/30/1942
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1942
unknown
W.19
SOLD TO CIP CO 1946
COMMERCIAL " CONSOL I " ON 176584
449
LAKEVILLE
6/30/1942
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1942
unknown
W 21
SOLD TO STRAITS TOWING & SALVAGE LTD.
COMMERCIAL " GILLBOY " ON 176758
799
LAWRENCEVILLE
5/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
unknown
RCN YTS 584
HMCS CHIPPEWA TENDER " CREE"
875
LISTERVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
491
RCN YTS 578
FATE UNKNOWN
993
LOGANVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1945
unknown
RCN YTS 589
FATE UNKNOWN
844
LUCEVILLE
8/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
485
SOLD TO GERMAN AND MILNE
COMMERCIAL " W.A.C. 6" ON 177429
840
MANNVILLE
8/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
481
W 57
RCN YTS 577
FATE UNKNOWN
876
MARTINVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
492
W 61
SOLD TO FOUNDATION MARITIME LTD 1948
COMMERCIAL " FOUNDATION JOAN" ON 178934
802
MARYSVILLE
5/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
unknown
RCN YTS 585
FATE UNKNOWN
879
MERRICKVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
495
RCN YTS 581
FATE UNKNOWN
877
NEVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
493
SOLD TO THE PULPWOOD SUPPLY LTD. 1946
? COMMERCIAL " BOOMALONG " ON 177629
805
OTTERVILLE
5/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
unknown
W 32
RCN YTS 590
J. PORTER CO 1964
804
PARKSVILLE
5/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
unknown
W 49
RCN YTS 579
FATE UNKNOWN
992
PIERREVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1945
unknown
TO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT 1946
COMMERCIAL " J.D. WEIR " ON 179023
881
PLAINSVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
497
W 01
RCN YTS 587
FATE UNKNOWN
885
QUEENSVILLE
1944
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
501
RCN YTS 586
FATE UNKNOWN
806
RADVILLE
5/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
unknown
W 52
SOLD TO ABITIBI POWER AND PAPER CO 1946
COMMERCIAL " RADVILLE" ON 177649
842
ROSEVILLE
8/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
483
SOLD TO ABITIBI PULP & PAPER
COMMERCIAL " BOOMALONG" ON 177629
841
SHAWVILLE
8/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
482
TO NATIONAL HARBOURS BOARD 1948
COMMERCIAL " NHBV PATROL # 1 " LATER " BROCKTON II " ON 179060
837
STREETSVILLE
8/10/1943
VILLE CLASS STEEL TUG
Russell Bros. Ind. Ltd. Owen Sound
1944
478
W 55
SOLD TO MARINE INDUSTRIES LTD 1946/47
COMMERCIAL " STREETSVILLE " ON 178702
For more Russel exhibits visit Owen Sound Marine & Rail Museum 1165 1st Ave West, Owen Sound, ON N4K 4K8
(519) 371-3333  http://marinerail.com |
