{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} {{other ships|SS Dieppe}} {{Use British English|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image = HMHS Dieppe (1905).jpg |image_caption = HMHS ''Dieppe'' (1905) }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header = |country=United Kingdom |flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|civil}} {{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}} |name =*SS ''Dieppe'' (1905– ) *HMS ''Dieppe'' (WWI) *SS ''Dieppe'' ( –1933) *MY ''Rosaura'' (1933– ) *HMS ''Rosaura'' (–1941) |owner =*London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (1905– ) *Royal Navy (WWI) *London, Brighton and South Coast Railway ( –1922) *Southern Railway (1923–33) *W E Guinness (1933–40) *Royal Navy (1940–41) |operator = |registry =*{{flagicon|UK|civil}} Newhaven(1905– ) *{{flagicon|UK|naval}} Royal Navy (WWI) *{{Flagicon|UK|civil}} Newhaven ( –1933) *{{flagicon|UK|civil}} Cowes (1933–40) *{{flagicon|UK|naval}} Royal Navy (1940–41) |route = Newhaven — Dieppe (1905–33) |ordered = |builder = Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Govan |original_cost = |yard_number = 439 |way_number = |laid_down = |launched = 5 April 1905 |completed = May 1905 |christened = |acquired = |maiden_voyage = |in_service = |out_of_service = 18 March 1941 |identification =*UK official number 105655 *Code letters HCRB (1905–33) *{{ICS|Hotel}}{{ICS|Charlie}}{{ICS|Romeo}}{{ICS|Victor}} |fate = Struck a mine and sank | notes = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header = |header_caption = |class = |tonnage =*{{GRT|1210}} (1905– ) *{{GRT|1426|link=off}} ( –1933) *{{GRT|1538|link=off}} (1933–41) *{{NRT|301}} (1905– ) *{{NRT|565|link=off}} ( –1933) |displacement = |length = {{convert|273|ft|5|in|m|2|abbr=on}} |beam = {{convert|34|ft|8|in|m|2|abbr=on}} |height = |draught = |depth = {{convert|13|ft|8|in|m|2|abbr=on}} |decks = |deck_clearance = |power =*3 × steam turbines (1905–33) *2 × diesel engines (1933–41) |propulsion =*Triple propellers (1905–33) *Twin propellers (1933–41) |speed =*{{convert|22|kn|km/h}} (1905–33) *{{convert|15|kn|km/h}} (1933–41) |capacity = |crew = |notes = }} }} '''''Dieppe''''' was a steam passenger ferry that was built in 1905 for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. She was requisitioned during the First World War for use as a troopship and later as a hospital ship '''HMS ''Dieppe''''', returning to her owners postwar. She passed to the Southern Railway on 1 January 1923. In 1933 she was sold to W E Guinness and converted to a private diesel yacht, '''''Rosaura'''''. She was requisitioned in the Second World War for use as an armed boarding vessel, '''HMS ''Rosaura'''''. She struck a mine and sank off Tobruk, Libya on 18 March 1941.
==Description== The ship was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Govan. She was yard number 439 and was launched on 6 April 1905 with completion in May 1905.<ref name=Miramar>{{csr|register=MSI|id=1105655|accessdate=6 January 2010}}</ref> The ship was {{convert|273|ft|5|in|m|2}} long, with a beam of {{convert|34|ft|8|in|m|2}} and a depth of {{convert|13|ft|8|in|m|2}}. She was powered by three steam turbines, which were made by Fairfield.<ref name=Dieppe>{{cite web |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30b0328.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |accessdate=6 January 2010}}</ref> The turbines could propel her at a speed of {{convert|22|kn|km/h}}.<ref name=Miramar/> When converted to a private yacht, the turbines were replaced by two 8-cylinder Atlas diesel engines. One of her propellers was removed as was one of her funnels. Her speed was reduced to {{convert|15|kn|km/h}}. As built, her GRT was 1,210.<ref name=Clyde>{{cite web |url= http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=796 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20041108162710/http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=796 |url-status= usurped |archive-date= 8 November 2004 |title=Launched 1905: tss DIEPPE |publisher=Clydesite |accessdate=6 January 2009}}</ref> This had increased to 1,426 by 1930,<ref name=Dieppe/> and further increased to 1,536 in 1933.<ref name=Clyde/>
==History== ''Dieppe'' was built for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. She was used on their Newhaven — Dieppe route. She was requisitioned by the Royal Navy in the First World War for use as a troopship and a hospital ship. On 27 February 1916 she took aboard over 100 survivors from the {{GRT|12431}} P&O passenger liner {{SS|Maloja|1910|2}}, which was sunk by a mine off Dover.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ssmaloja.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=11 |title=SS Maloja, A Terrible Sunday Morning Disaster – February 27th 1916 |work=SS Maloja |year=1916 |accessdate=27 November 2013 |archive-date=2 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233321/http://www.ssmaloja.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
''Dieppe'' was returned to her owners after the war and passed to the Southern Railway at 1923 grouping.<ref name=PSPG>{{cite web |url=http://website.lineone.net/~tom_lee/dieppeimg.htm |title=TSS Dieppe (IV) |publisher=Tom Lee |accessdate=6 January 2010 |archive-date=9 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209093356/http://website.lineone.net/~tom_lee/dieppeimg.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 27 November 1924 ''Dieppe'' had a mishap in which she ended up hitting the breakwater at Newhaven Harbour stern first. The tugs ''Alert'' and ''Richmere'' were sent to her aid. ''Richmere'' became disabled when a cable became entangled around her propeller. The Newhaven lifeboat ''Sir Fitzroy Clayton'' was sent to her aid. ''Richmere'' ended up being dashed against the harbour wall and sank. Her crew were rescued by the lifeboat and the tug was later raised and repaired. ''Dieppe'' managed to dock some five hours after the drama began.<ref name=PET>{{cite web |url=http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/527/China-souvenirs-for-the-paddle.1596992.jp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505040756/http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/527/China-souvenirs-for-the-paddle.1596992.jp |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2013 |title=China souvenirs for the paddle steamer trippers |publisher=Peterborough Evening Telegraph |date=29 June 2006 |accessdate=6 January 2010 }}</ref>
In September 1933,<ref name=Clyde/> ''Dieppe'' was sold to W E Guinness for conversion to a private yacht. She was renamed ''Rosaura'',<ref name=PSPG/> replacing {{ship|MY|Roussalka}} which had been lost earlier that year.<ref name=Wreck>{{cite web |url= http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?31682 |title=MV Rosaura (+1941) |publisher=Wrecksite |accessdate=6 January 2010}}</ref> In August 1934, the Prince of Wales and Wallis Simpson took a cruise on ''Rosaura''. According to Wallis, it was on this cruise that she fell in love with the Prince.<ref name=Affair>{{cite web |url=http://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/a/kingedward_2.htm |title=King Edward VIII Abdicated for Love (Page 2) |publisher=About.com |accessdate=6 January 2009 |archive-date=10 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610155412/http://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/a/kingedward_2.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Also in 1934, Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine cruised on ''Rosaura'' in the eastern Mediterranean.<ref name=Churchill>{{cite web |url=http://www.winstonchurchill.org/learn/reference/churchill-trivia/542-miscellaneous |title=Churchill & Miscellaneous Information |publisher=Churchill |accessdate=6 January 2010 |archive-date=2 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002013654/http://www.winstonchurchill.org/learn/reference/churchill-trivia/542-miscellaneous |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 26 September 1936, ''Rosaura'' was in collision with the Dutch coaster {{MV|Henca||2}} at Amsterdam, Netherlands and was severely damaged.<ref name=Times280936>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Casualty Reports |date=22 September 1936 |page=19 |issue=47491 |column=G }}</ref> She was subsequently repaired.
''Rosaura'' was requisitioned by the Royal Navy in the Second World War for use as an armed boarding vessel in the Contraband Control Service.<ref name=PSPG/><ref name=Contra>{{cite web |url= http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4006-15RNOverseas-Dominion.htm |title=ROYAL, DOMINION and INDIAN NAVY SHIPS, June 1940, Part 4 of 4 |publisher=Naval History |accessdate=6 January 2010}}</ref> In February 1941, ''Rosaura'' was involved in Operation Abstention.<ref name=Bonaventure>{{cite web |url= http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-Bonaventure1.htm |title=HMS Bonaventure |publisher=Naval History |accessdate=6 January 2009}}</ref> On 18 March 1941 ''Rosaura'' struck a mine off Tobruk and sank, claiming the lives of 78 people.<ref name=PSPG/><ref name=NH034122>{{cite web |url= http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4103-30MAR02.htm |title=Naval Events, March 1941, Part 2 of 2, Saturday 15th – Monday 31st |publisher=Naval History |accessdate=7 December 2011}}</ref>
==Official number and code letters== Official numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. ''Dieppe'' and ''Rosaura'' had the UK Official Number 105655.<ref name=Miramar/> ''Dieppe'' used the code letters HCRB.<ref name=Dieppe/>
==Legacy== The yacht ''Rosaura'' is commemorated in the scientific name of a species of Honduran gecko, ''Sphaerodactylus rosaurae''.<ref>Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. ("Rosaura", p. 226).</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
{{LBSC Ships}} {{SR ships}} {{1924 shipwrecks}} {{1936 shipwrecks}} {{March 1941 shipwrecks}} {{coord missing|Mediterranean}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dieppe}} Category:1905 ships Category:Ships built in Govan Category:Hospital ships in World War I Category:Hospital ships of the Royal Navy Category:Maritime incidents in 1924 Category:Maritime incidents in 1936 Category:Maritime incidents in March 1941 Category:Merchant ships of the United Kingdom Category:Ships of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Category:Ships of the Southern Railway (UK) Category:Ships sunk by mines Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom Category:Troop ships of the Royal Navy Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea Category:Shipwrecks of Libya