The Invergordon Archive
No: 1489 Contributor: Clive Sweetingham Year: 1942
Admiralty Floating Dock
Known as AFD16, she was laid down on the 3rd of December 1941, and completed in February 1942. On the 25th of February she was towed, by the tug Empire Larch, to Invergordon, where she remained until 1943. I can find no details of her operational service whilst there but AFD16 and her sister docks 14 & 15 were small 250 ton capacity docks originally intended for coastal force sized craft.
AFD16 left Invergordon on the 29th of October 1943 under the tow of the tug Goliath, and escorted by the trawler Flatholm, bound for Lerwick, arriving the next day. Here, the dock stayed until 1945, possibly servicing the Norwegian MTB Flotilla, but I can’t confirm that. After a brief period at Lyness between the 29th of August and the 4th of October 1945, AFD16 was moved to Portsmouth, arriving on the 15th October. Here she remained until sometime in 1949.
This picture of AFD16 shows her at Lerwick during the time that the Norwegian MTB Flotilla was there (1943 - 45).
Picture added on 18 January 2012 at 10:28
This picture is in the following groups
Floating Docks
Floating Docks
This floating dock was anchored in front of our house on Shore Road out from the old target. It was on this dock that Mr Taylor was burnt around his head whilst carrying out a welding job. I can remember him being taken ashore on one of the small RAF motorboats and helped up the steps on the RAF pier.
Added by Doug Will on 10 February 2012
Hi Doug, I remember you relating this tale on a earlier picture (picture #1380), but it seems now that you’ve been able to identify the actual floating dock. I had hoped that these pictures would spark some memories and it’s worked! Many thanks.
Do you recall the types of boat that were in the floating dock for repairs and maintenance?
Do you recall the types of boat that were in the floating dock for repairs and maintenance?
Added by Malcolm McKean on 11 February 2012
Floating Docks
