Dates: 1933 - 1941
Built in 1933 by J. Samuel White of East Cowes Isle of Wight. HMS ELFIN was a Royal Navy tender and submarine depot ship. As submarines were not designed for long distance operations it was necessary for there to be portable support near their areas of operation, particularly during wartime. Depot ships provided facilities for refuelling, workshops, accommodation, operational control, rest and recreation.
During 1940, HMS Elfin accompanied the Sixth Submarine Flotilla and moved up to Blyth in Scotland. She was renamed HMS Nettle in August 1941.
She displaced 222 tons and had a crew of 22 she was a tender to HMS TITANIA, during WW2 she was renamed HMS NETTLE and was tender to HMS CYCLOPS. She was torpedo recovery vessel, tender and escort vessel to the submarine flotilla. She operated near Portland and during the war moved to Rosyth and river Tyne area.
Now after her restoration she is part of the Dutch foundation for Steamship Preservation and her original name has been restored to ELFIN. This ship is probably one of just a handful of WW2 era steam naval vessels, which are still operational worldwide.
HMS ELFIN had a sister ship called HMS REDWING which was stationed in Devonport.
