Franc Tireur built 1916 Cochrane & Sons Selby for Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice Co Grimsby
06/1917 Requisitioned as a minesweeper then escort vessel
1919 Returned
09/1927 Registered to Consolidated Fisheries Ltd Grimsby
05/1940 Requisitioned as an auxiliary patrol vessel & minesweeper
04/1942 Sold to J Bennett
25/09/1943 Sunk by E-Boat S 96 whilst on Admiralty service Position of the sinking was about 4 cables south of No 52 Buoy North Sea
24.– 30.9.1943
Nordsee
Minenunternehmen »Probestück« der 2., 4., 6. und 8. S-Flottille mit 29 Booten in der Nacht 24./25.9. vor Harwich und Orfordness. Es werden 120 Minen geworfen. Bei Gefechten versenkt S 96 (Lt.z. Sander) den brit. Trawler Franctireur, wird aber selbst vom brit. ML 145 gerammt und muß aufgegeben werden. 3 brit. Motor Launches werden beschädigt.
a Translation of the E Boat report
24.– 30.9.1943
North Sea
Mining company “test piece” of the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th S-Flotilla with 29 boats during the night of September 24/25. before Harwich and Orfordness. 120 mines are thrown. During combat, S 96 (Lt.z. Sander) sinks the British trawler Franctireur, but is rammed by the British ML 145 and has to be abandoned. 3 British engine launches are damaged.
Thanks to Jan Olof of warsailors for the information
| Surname | Forename | Age At Death | Date Of Death | Rank | Boat |
| EDWARDS | ERNEST WILLIAM | Unknown | 25/09/1943 | Stoker | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur. |
| EVELEIGH | MALCOLM SYDNEY | 29 | 25/09/1943 | Seaman | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur. |
| FARROW | CYRIL | 35 | 25/09/1943 | Chief Engineman | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur. |
| CRAIG | ROBERT | 39 | 25/09/1943 | Seaman | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur. |
| FENTON | JAMES BROOMFIELD ROBINSON | 31 | 25/09/1943 | Seaman | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur. |
| BOYD | WILLIAM HUNTER | 41 | 25/09/1943 | Lieutenant | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur. |
| BRETTON | GEORGE | 27 | 25/09/1943 | Engineman | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur. |
| ALLEN | WILLIAM | 31 | 25/09/1943 | Leading Seaman | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur |
| McCRORIE | HUGHES MCDINES | 27 | 25/09/1943 | Seaman | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur. |
| MILTON | ALFRED HORACE | 35 | 25/09/1943 | Stoker | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur. |
| NOBLE | JOHN TINLINE | 33 | 25/09/1943 | Engineman | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur. |
| TYE | THOMAS STANLEY | Unknown | 25/09/1943 | Seaman | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur. |
| MOSELEY | WILLIAM GEORGE | 19 | 25/09/1943 | Stoker 2nd Class | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur. |
| NEWSON | JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN | 33 | 25/09/1943 | Seaman | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur. |
| THOMAS | ROY GRETTON | 21 | 25/09/1943 | Cook | H.M. Trawler Franc Tireur. |
Her Details are
- Official Number 139945
- Yard Number 682
- Call Sign GNYZ
- Admiralty Number FY 1270 FY 4.70
- Armament 1-12pdr
- GT 314 NT 162
- Quarter deck 74 Foc’sle 21
- Dimensions 137 x 24 x 12.8
- Engines Triple expansion 13, 23, 37 in x 26 in 86 NHP by Cooper & Greig Ltd Dundee
Lost 25/09/1943 Sunk by E-Boat S 96 whilst on Admiralty service