A unique restoration opportunity of a historic vessel
HISTORY:
Langemark is one of twenty-one Battlefield Class Target Towing Vessels, ordered in 1943 and built by the British Power Boat Co. (Poole) in their No.2 Factory between 1944 and 1945. The Battlefield class was based on the 68ft Hants & Dorset High Speed Launch (HSL) and was built for the British Army Service Corps. They had twisted-vee hulls, high forward chines and originally 3 Napier engines which would then enable them to cruise at 30 knots. After commissioning Langemark was handed over to 616 WT Co on 26 July 1944, then shipped to Mombasa, East Africa on 11 October 1944. On 20 May 1946 she returned from Africa and was taken on by 631 WT Coy, Woolwich. On 29 January she transferred back to 615 WT Co, Portsmouth. She was transferred to the Royal Navy in 1957, and served as TT1 and later P8001.
She was decommissioned in 1959 and sold into private ownership in 1960. Over several years Langemark was converted to a live-aboard. The Napier engines were removed and replaced with 2x GM Diesel engines, and she was berthed on the River Hamble. The original semi-flying bridge was removed and replaced by an enclosed bridge, various internal structures were replaced and the boat was fitted with the latest (at the time) navigation and communications equipment. From 1996-2011 she was berthed in Menorca, Spain, and in 2008 underwent some refurbishment and replacement of planks. In 2011 she sailed back to the UK, and in 2012 she was slipped out, the hull re-antifouled and anodes replaced.
For more information about her history, see her vessel record on the Registers.
SALE INFORMATION
Langemark is currently at Fleetwood Haven Marina, Fleetwood, Lancashire FY7 6PP and is being sold by Associated British Ports (“ABP”), in its capacity as owner and operator of the Marina. ABP do not own the Langemark but have the legal right to sell and transfer good title to the Vessel and receive the sale proceeds pursuant to the terms and conditions of use of the Marina. Any sale and purchase of the Langemark is expressly subject to contract. The following terms will be conditions of any eventual sale and purchase contract:
(a) the Vessel is sold on an “as is, where is” basis;
(b) the purchaser does not re-sell, or transfer title in the Vessel to any other party or parties until the Vessel is removed from the Marina; and
(c) the Vessel is to be removed from the Marina by way of road haulage within 14 days of the date of the sale and purchase contract (or such other period as agreed with ABP), failing which ABP will thereafter be entitled to take immediate steps to remove or destroy the Vessel, without further notice, and without any liability to, the purchaser.
Any potential purchaser is advised to obtain an information pack concerning the Vessel and the sale, which contains further important information, including how to submit any offer to purchase, by contacting Helen Gregory (HGregory@abports.co.uk).