Jennifer Jones, starring in Tender is the Night in 1962 on board the Caleta which had been renamed the Corisande.
In 1998 she was acquired by Thomas Perkins of San Francisco and underwent a total rebuild.
OFFICERS from Navy List August 1940
(Rank. Name, Date joined ship.)
Temp. Lieut., R.N.V.R. J. F. Dunning (proby) 14 Feb 40
OFFICERS from Navy List June 1941
Temp. Lieut., R.N.V.R. J. F. Dunning (proby) 14 Feb 40
Tem. Sub-Lieut., H. C. Doman. 18 Apr 41
OFFICERS from Navy List 42.
June and Aug ship listed but no officers.
Dec. 42
Temp. Lieut., R.N.V.R. A. H. Allan. 16 Aug 42
Temp. Sub-Lieut. H. Bythell. 16 Aug 42
OFFICERS from Navy List June 43
Temp. Lieut., R.N.V.R. A. H. Allan. 16 Aug 42
OFFICERS from Navy List June 44
Temp. Lieut., R.N.V.R. A. H. Allan. 16 Aug 42
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Atlantide, formally Caleta, after extensive re-build, of the “Little Ships of Dunkirk” fame.
CALETA
Armed Yacht.
One of the famous “Little Ships” of Dunkirk.
The Caleta’s name has been changed to Atlantide and she still exists today.
The Corisande, formally Caleta, on the French Riviera, in the 1962 film, Tender is the Night.
Length: 122ft
Beam: 18ft
Draft: 7ft
Weight: 180 tons
Construction: 1930, Steel hull, Teak superstructure.
Builder: Philip & Sons, Dartmouth
1939. The Caleta was requisitioned by the Admiralty and based at Sheerness as a Harbour Defense Vessel. She was armed with guns and patrolled the Thames Estuary.
28 May 40. The Extended Defenses Flotilla at Sheerness sent four of its armed yachts, Amulree. Caleta, Christobel II and Glala to Dunkirk.
Although Britain had the biggest Navy in the World at the outbreak of World War Two it was not big enough. While the British Navy had to protect every convoy and every port, the German Navy could attack in force anywhere at any time. Ships and vessels of every kind were pressed into service. Their type and design dictating their role. Glala was chosen to work with the Extended Defense Flotilla.
The Extended Defense Flotilla operated in the Thames Estuary maintaining a marine mine field which could be detonated from the EDO Post (Extended Defence Officers Post) when ships were seen or submarines detected on “Indicator Loops”. These Indicator Loops detected the magnetic field of a ship or submarine. Extended Defence mine fields were across the Swale and Medway.
31 May 40. On arrival at Dunkirk the Caleta worked off the beaches east of Dunkirk lifting men directly off the beach and taking them out to larger vessels. She also towed smaller ships boats from the beach to larger ships standing by in deeper water. This was made easier when at several places the troops on the beaches drove vehicles into the sea at low tide making improvised jetties.
With smoke billowing up from the shore and half submerged vessel everywhere the Caleta laboured away diligently as shells fell from shore batteries and dive-bombers attacked.
1 June 40. The Caleta continued taking troops to larger vessels and also took off 35 troops from the disabled Landing Craft ALC5. On her return to Sheerness she took this vessel in tow. Twice the tow line broke but she arrived safely at Sheerness late on the 1st June 1940 to land rescued troops.
Caleta was built for Sir William Burton KBE, a distinguished yachtsman and designed by the English Naval Architect Alfred Mylne the designer of the original Royal Yacht Britannia.
After the war she was bought by a Greek ship owner who changed her name to Ariane. Later she was renamed Corisande and based in Antibes near Cannes in France. She was used in the 1962 film “Tender is the Night” starring Jennifer Jones, Jason Robarts and Joan Fontaine.
Watch this short video about Dunkirk.
Dunkirk: https://youtu.be/nPD7-guKKWI