Rudyard Kipling (ship)

The steam trawler Rudyard Kipling.
History
United Kingdom
Name	Rudyard Kipling
Namesake	Rudyard Kipling
Owner	Newington Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Hull (1920–1934)[1] Sun Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood (1934–1939)[1]
Port of registry	Hull, England (1920–1934)[1] Fleetwood, England (1934–1939)[1]
Builder	Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby[1]
Yard number	686[2]
Launched	11 November 1920[2]
Completed	February 1921[1]
In service	1920–1939[1][2]
Identification	FD 33[1]
Fate	Sunk by U-27 on 16 September 1939[1][2]
General characteristics [1][2]
Tonnage	333
Length	138.8 ft (42.3 m)
Beam	23.7 ft (7.2 m)
Draught	12.9 ft (3.9 m)
Propulsion	T.3-cylinder by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Crew	13

The Rudyard Kipling was a British steam trawler launched in 1920 that undertook fishing operations off the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland for almost 20 years. On 16 September 1939, shortly after the outbreak of World War II, the trawler was captured 40 miles (64 km) west of Clare Island by the German submarine U-27. After removing food, equipment, and the crew from the ship, the Germans sunk her with the use of scuttling charges. Several hours later the crew of the Rudyard Kipling were cast adrift 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) off the coast of Ireland. They eventually landed their lifeboats at Killybegs.

The Rudyard Kipling was the 27th merchant ship, the 26th British merchant ship, and the second British trawler to be sunk by a German U-boat in World War II.