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[al2612]

Was looking for a new project and came upon this pic of what looks possibly to be a WW2 Tid Tug - Armed ? No expert on web searching but seem to draw blanks as only I.D is the nameplate EMP.PAUL. Any sort of help gratefully received. Tx

[Capt Podge]

The EMP is short for Empire - just type Empire paul tug, in your search engine, loads of info in Google 


Regards
Ray

[Howard]

If am right I think Model slipways do it as a kit Civvy or armed.
                Regard. Howard.

[tugmad]

Empire Paul was a Birch Class Empire tug ,built in 1944. She was later to become the Queensgarth, then Beamish, then Rex Mellinger.finally to become the Thunder Cape.
106ft 7”. X26ft 7”” x 11ft6””.
In 1964 the steam plant was removed and she was fitted with a General Motors Diesel engine.
She still in service nearly 50 years later.

[tugmad]

The Mountfleet kit is of the Empire Ivy she was a different class again.
There used to be a semi kit by Bosuns models of a Birch Class the Empire Walter /Dunhawke.

[al2612]

Thanks everyone or all the info will follow up -  not being a tug expert i assume the Birch Class was not actually a Tid Tug as the description for the pic on the IWM website states ?

[tugmad]

Definitely not a TID , they were only 70ft long and 250 hp.

[NickelBelter]

Empire Paul was a Birch Class Empire tug ,built in 1944. She was later to become the Queensgarth, then Beamish, then Rex Mellinger.finally to become the Thunder Cape.
106ft 7”. X26ft 7”” x 11ft6””.
In 1964 the steam plant was removed and she was fitted with a General Motors Diesel engine.
She still in service nearly 50 years later.

Thunder Cape was broken up in the 90's, I believe continuous mechanical trouble made her unappealing.  Otherwise she might still be sailing, as there are some very old tugs here on the Lakes. 

One Empire-class tug does survive over here, but you'll never recognize it now... google 'Empire Sandy' for a surprise!

[tugmad]

Yes she is the only Englishman class tug left afloat now, you can only tell she was a tug from her large and heavy rudder.