It's been bugging me! ??? It's a well known abbreviation, yet no one seems to know the exact meaning or how it got there. :(
I've had a brief search and the true meaning of TID seems allusive, as Bob said, but there must be a definitive answer.
So far I've come up with,
Latin 'ter in die' three times a day.
"The T.I.D. class tug was designed to quickly and cheaply replace tugs lost through enemy action during World War II. Suitable vessels were also needed to support the preparations for the invasion of France.
The origin of the 'TID' abbreviation remains uncertain with interpretations varying from; 'Tug Invasion Duty' to 'Tug in Dock' to 'Tug Intermediate Design' to 'Tiddler'." (Bob)
"The TID Story - "One Tug Per Week"
In 1943 the Ministry of War Transport decided to introduce a new class of tug. Urgent demands were made for small tugs for harbour and dock work, and to support the impending invasion preparations. The terse statement made to satisfy the needs was simple:"
"Design, organise and start work immediately toward achieving, in the shortest possible time, the delivery of one tug per week, using in the process, little or no shipyard labour."
"Contractors
Initially, contracts for making the units were awarded to
William Neill Ltd.
Foster Yates and Thom,
R.Dempster and Sons,
Charles Roberts and Co. Ltd.,
Newton Chambers and Co. Ltd.
The original order was for twelve tugs to be constructed, but when this was increased to fifty, Dunstons allocated the work so that two companies were responsible for making each section. This meant that supplies were assured if enemy bombing put one company out of business.
It makes me wonder if the name was an affectionate (or not) nick name with regards to
the way it was constructed.
the intended use.
the speed to which it was built.
a nick name given due to the 'lack of labour' used.
is TID a local word from Yorkshire.
I wonder when the name TID was given to it. At the time? (1942 / 3) or at a later date?
Does any one recall the name being used in 1943?
regards
Gary :)