French ocean liner Aramis 1931-1940, X-1 1940, Aramis 1940-1942 and Japanese Teia Maru 1942-1944

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Call sign FOBP. Owner Soc. des Services Contractuels des Messagieres Maritime, France. Built by Forg. et Chantiers de la Méditerranée SA, La Seyne, France in on 30 June 1931, completed in October 1932, maiden voyage begun on 21 October 1932 converted into the armed merchant cruiser X-1 at Saigon betweeen 4 September 1939-20 January 1940, docked at Hong Kong between February 1940-1 March 1940, commissioned in the French navy patrolling in the South China Sea, returned to Saigon 1 October 1940,decommissioned and disarmed and geven back to the owners in August 1940, barracks ship since January 1942, seized by Japan on 12 April 1942, officially chartered, requistioned by the navy on 20 November 1942 repatriation ship in 1943, troop transport in 1944, as part of convoy Hi-71 underway to the Philippines. and torpedoed by an American wolfpack of submarines in the night of 18-19 August.

Gross tonnage 17,537 tons, below deck 13,130 tons, net tonnage 9,990 tons, deadweight 10,200 tons and as dimensions 543.5 (between perpnediculars)-574 (over all) x 69.6 x 33.6 x 28 (loaded) feet. Speed 17 (cruising)-19 (maximum) knots, diesel propulsion, 11,600 ihp, s crew. As merchant armed cruiser was she armed with -13,8cm/6.4” guns, 2-7.5cm/3.0” anti aircraft guns, 2-3.7cm/1.5” anti-aircraft guns and 8 machine guns. 

Training ship Svir of the Baltic Fleet sighted in August 1936 according to report No. 9711 dated 19 February 1937

As the Dutch Patria in 1928©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

As the Russian Svir©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item referred to the US report dealing with the training exercises of the Soviet Baltic Fleet in August 1936. It supplemented the reports 9697-7040 and 9699-7040. It mentioned the training ship, sighted for the first time on 29 July and since then regularly sighted. Length about 140-150 metres and displacement 6,000-8,000 tons. She looks like a passenger steamship.(1)

Note

1. The former Dutch cargo-passenger steamship Patria, ordered by Rotterdamsche Lloyd, Rotterdam, Netherlands on 22/24 September 1914, laid down by Kon. Mij. De Schelde, Vlissingen with yard number 160 on 1 December 1915, launched on 20 May 1916, launched on 12 July 1919, delivered on 30 July 1919, sold to the Soviet Union in May 1935, after the Second World War converted in the Netherland sin the Alexandr Mozhaisky and broken up at Hong Kong in 1979

Source

National Archive. Record Group 165: Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs Series: Security Classified Correspondence and Reports. File Unit. Russia: Navy - MID 2503-16 THRU 2503-265. Roll 1443.

Chinese bulk carrier CL Ganjiang 2023-

Schelde off Vlissingen, Netherlands 3 June 2026

Hong Kong-flagged, IMO 9953327, MMSI 477928400 and call sign VRVV9. Built as a Crown 63 Ply model by New Dayang Shipbuilding, China in 2023. Manager Synenergy Marine Bulk Pte. Ltd. Ordered by CDB Financial Leasing Co. Ltd., China. 

Australian seaplane tender HMAS Albatross 1926-1938 and British repair ship HMS Albatross 1938-1946

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Building based on the design of a Fairey IIID seaplane announced in 1925, laid down by Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company, Australia on 16 April 1926, launched on 23 February 1928, completed on 21 December 1928, decommisioned on 26 April 1933, stricken and handed over to the Royal Navy in 1938, decommissioned on 3 August 1945, minesweeper depot ship in 1954, sold commercial use on 19 August 1946, renamed Pride of Torquay in 1947, renamed Hellenic Prince on 14 November 1948, converted into a passenger ship, in 1948, troop transport during the Mau Mau uprising (7 October 1952-21 October 1956, British Kenya) in 1953, stricken on 12 August 1954 and broken up at Hong Kong. 

Dutch oil products tanker Karimata 2019-

Schelde off Vlissingen, Netherlands 30 June 2026

Panama-flagged, IMO 9806158, MMSI 354658000 and call sign 3FHV3. Built by Onomichi Dockyard Co. Ltd., Onomichi, Japan in 2019. Owner Triton Navigation B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands, manager Fleet Management Ltd., Hong Kong, China. 

Chinese container ship Maersk Lins 2012-

Schelde off Vlissingen, Netherlands 22 June 2026

Denmark-flagged, IMO 9527025, MMSI 219506000 and cal sign OZGK2. Built by Daewoo Shipbuilding&Marine Engineering, Geoje, South Korea in 2012. Isle of Man-flagged 2012-2023. according to vesselfinder. According to shipspotting Hong Kong/China-flagged, IMO 9527025, MMSI 477938500 and call sign VRKQ5. Owner Maersk Shipping Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China and manager Maersk A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark. 

The armament of the Dutch merchant ship Van Ruisdael in the Second World War

Australian War Memorial

According to the list and supplements 1-2 on 13 September 1945 BDZ No. 673sent by the office of armament the Royal Netherlands Navy located at 41 East 42nd Street, New York 17, USA. There were no complete records available, so there were several sources used to compile the list. Sometimes the kind of guns gave indirect information regarding the origin such as 4”/BL and 12 pounder guns were British mostly supplied in the United Kingdom, Canada or Curacao. The 4.7” guns were old Japanese guns placed on some vessels in the begin of the war at Singapore and some 4” guns in the same period at Surabaya, Dutch East Indies. The trade in which the ship was used gave also an indication were the guns were supplied, for example involved in the Pacific trade means supplied at the West Coast.

Armed with 4-2cm guns

Launched by A.G. Bremer Vulkan, Schiffsbau&Maschinenfabrik, Bremen-Vegedack, Germany with yard number 737 on 9 April 1938, completed on 21 May 1938, delivered as Hohenfels to owner/manager Deutsche Dampfschiffahrts Gesellschaft Hansa, Bremen in 1938, laid up in the harbour of Bandar Shapour, Iran on 1 September 1939, (partly) scuttled by own crew and grounded by Australian captors belonging to the crew of the merchant cruiser HMS Kanimbla on 21 August 1941, salvaged within a period of 6 weeks, unlaoded her cargo of ilimenite sand between 4-6 October 1941 departing to Karachi under tow on 8 October 1941, as Empire Kamal owner Ministry of War Transport, manager Pensilar&Oriental Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., both at London, England since 1941, renamed Van Ruisdael owner Staat der Nederlanden, manager Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot-Maatschappij, Amsterdam, Netherlands since 20 June 1944, owner/manager N.N. Verenigde Nederlandsche Scheepvaartmaatschappij, The Hague, Netherlands since July 1946, renamed Ridderkerk on 29 March 1947 and sold to be broken up to Sigma Shipping Co. Ltd., Hong Kong early August 1962 with scrapping started on 19 September 1962. The Dutch newspaper De Surinamer: nieuws- en advertentieblad dated 6 April 1940 reported that she arrived at London as a prize but already in November 1939 seized.

Source

Archieven van hoofd handelsbescherming en diverse handelsbeschermingsofficieren 1941-1946 inv.no. 53 (Nationaal Archief, The Hague, Netherlands. 

Former British corvette HMS Clover serving as Communist Chinese warship in the 1950s

Kai Feng©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Flower-clas corvetteWarshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Sketch dated October 1953

Part of Flower-class corvettes succeeded by Castle-class. Ordered on 25 July 1939, laid down by Fleming&Ferguson Ltd., Paisly, Scotland on 29 July 1940, launched on 30 January 1941, commissioned on 13 May 1941, sold to merchant shipping on 17 May 1947, renamed ss Cloverlock, later sold to People’s Republic of China and renamed as frigate Kai Feng. Stricken in 1989?

Senator McCarthy supplies some background informate about her fate after the Second World War: “I do not intend to take the time of the Senate except for another minute or two togive the Senate a picture of the viciousness of these deals. I should like to recite the facts in one instance. There is a British company in Hong Kong called the Wheelock-Marden Co. That company obtained a British corvette. The name of it was the Clover. The Wheelock-MardenCo.removed the guns and transformed the ship into a transport vessel. After the war with Korea started Britain had a rule tot he effect that British firms could not sell any ship to the Communists. They found a good way to get around that, not only in this case but in many others. They chartered the boat to the Communists. They charged them the first year the value of the ship. It still carried the British flag, but was owned by Red China. What happened in th ecase of this corvette? It was chartered to the Communists, and the name was changed to Cloverlock. This has been proved by the Defense Department. The ship was reconverted to a gunboat, so that all during the Communist war and as of today, the Cloverlock, a ship under British registry, is a gunboat, a fighting ship of the Communists, and, being under British registry, it of necessity carries the British flag. I merely mention it to show the viciousness of this dealing in blood money.”

McCarthy referred in his speach to the Defense Department. There is at leat one CIA document which reverred to this ship. On 19 October 1953 were Communist Chinese warships described at Tsingtao. One was one vessel, believed to be the former Cloverlock arrived at Tsingtao and even supplying a sketch of her.

Sources

Congressional Record. Proceedings and debates of the 83rd Congress First Session-volume 99-part 8-Senate 29 July 1953, pages 10323-10324.

Jane’s Fighting ships several editions.

CIA-rdp80-00810a002600100005-7 dated 19 October 1953. 

Canadian container ship (ex-Hanjin Bosal 2015-2016, Seaspan Elbe 2016-2018, CMA CGM Tuticorin 2018-2024) Xiamen Express 2024-

Antwerpen, Belgium 10 April 2026

Singapore-flagged, IMO 9630420, MMSI 563287300 and call sign 9VDR5. Owner/manager Seaspan Ship Management Ltd., Vancouver BC, Canada. Built by Jiangsu New Yangzijang Shipbuilding, Jingjiang, China in 2015. Hong Kong-flagged 2015-2025, since then Singapore. 

Chinese cargo ship Baltiyskiy-202 1994-

North Sea/entrance Nieuwe Waterweg, Netherlands 1 April 2026

Panama-flagged, IMO 9057252, MMSI 372837000 and call sign 3EVM8. Built by Volgograd Shipbuilding, Volograd, Russia in 1994. Owner APZ Liners Ltd., Hong Kong, China, manager NWS 2 Balt Shipping Co. Ltd., Tallinn, Estonia. Cyprus-flagged in 2006, Malta-flagged 2006-2014, Belize-flagged between 2014-2020. 

British cargo ship Frankby seized by Russia in 1904

Gross tonnage 3,480 tons. Underway from Barry to Hong Kong Type cargo coal.Seized in the Red Sea on 19 February 1904, released on 28 February. Russian recognizedclaims advance and agreed to pay an indemnity. The war between the Russian and Japanese empires was between 8 February 1904-5 September1905.

Source

Official history (Naval and Military) of the Russo-Japanese War. Vol. II. Liao Yang, the Sha Ho, Port Arthur. Prepared by the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. London, 1912. 

British cargo ship Si-shan seized by the Japanese on 7 October 1904

Gross tonnage 1,351 tons. Underway from Hong Kong to Newchuang. Type cargo live stock and provisions. Captured at Newchuang on 7 October 1904. Ship and carggo relaesed as illegal seizure in neutral port. The war between the Russian and Japanese empires was between 8 February 1904-5 September1905.

Source

Official history (Naval and Military) of the Russo-Japanese War. Vol. II. Liao Yang, the Sha Ho, Port Arthur. Prepared by the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. London, 1912. 

Dutch cargo ship Colytto 1925-1950 ( Kemiö 1950-1954, Gunn 1954-1959)

Exhibition Varen voor Vrijheid. Museum Katwijk

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Laid down by De Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij N.V., Rotterdam, Netherlands with yard number 1833 on 11 May 1925, launched on 10 April 1926, delivered to manager Firma Hudig & Veder (ca. 1951 N.V.), owner N.V. Maatschappij Zeevaart, both at Rotterdam, on 27 April 1926, sold to manager Paul Eriksson,owner Kouran Laiva O/Y., both at Wasa, Finland and renamed Kemiö in March 1950, later manager Alf Korhonen, owner Vaasan Laiva O/Y., both at Helsinki, Finland, sold to manager/owner Wallem&Co. Ltd., Hong Kong in 1954 and renamed Gunn and broken there in 1959

Japanese naval tanker Kamoi visited the North American region in 1923

As seaplane tender. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

The Japanese embassy at Washington, USA supplied on 16 April 1923 the Department of the US Navy the schedules of the movements of Japanese naval oil tankers which were active in the North American region. Departure Yokosuka on 11 April, arrival at San Pedro on 30 April, departure San Pedro on 5 May, arrival San Francisco on 7 May, departure San Francisco on 12 May, arrival at Honolulu on 21 May and departure Honolulu, Hawaii for Japan on 26 May. Remarks were that stops at Honulu and Hilo were only made for bunkering coal, water and provisions. The schedule could be slightly changed owing to the weather and other necessities.(1)

Note

1. Originally to be built under the Eight-eight final plan dating 1920 as an oiler. Laid down by New York Shipbuilding on 14 September 1921, launched on 8 June 1922, completed and commissioned on 12 September 1922, converted into a seaplane tender including fitting out with a hangar in 1932, reclassified as a seaplane tender in February 1933, reclassified as a flying boat tender in 1939 and as an oiler on 15 April 1944, heavy damaged during an air attack on Hong Kong on 16 January 1945, again damaged in an air attack on 5 April 1945, afterwards sunk and decommissioned on 3 May 1947. Apparently broken up by British forces.

Source

Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration Series: Records of the Department of State Relating to Internal Affairs of Japan. Naval Affairs, Navy, Naval Vessels: 894.30 - 894.304 THRU Naval Affairs, Navy, Naval Vessels: Movements of Naval Vessels: 894.33 - 894.3311f. Microfilm 422 roll 19. 

British warships HMS Hollyhock, Bluebell and Marazian temporarily stationed at Wei-hai-Wei, China according to the Weekly Intelligence Summary Nr. 10 for the week ending 11 September 1920

An item reported that the British warships HMS Hollyhock (1), Bluebell (2) and Marazian (3) would temporarily stayed at Wei-hai-Wei, China.

Notes

1. Part of Acacia-class minesweeping sloops succeeded by Azalea-clas, launched by Swan Hunter&Wigham Richardson, Wallsend on Tyne, England on 15 April 1915 and sold to be broken up on 6 September 1930.

2. Part of Acacia-class minesweeping sloops succeeded by Azalea-class, launched by Scotts Shipbuilding&Engineering Company, Greenock, Scotland on 24 July 1915 and sold on 26 May 1930.

3. Part of Hunt-class Aberdare sub-class minesweepers, launched at Fleming&Ferguson, Paisley, Scotland with yard number 453 on 15 April 1919 and sold at Hong Kong in March 1933

Source

The National Archives CAB-24-111-56. Weekly Intelligence Summary Nr. 10 for the week ending 11 September 1920.

Dutch cargo ship (ex-Guatemala Victory 1944-1946) Aalsdyk 1946-1960 (Hongkong Manufacturer 1960-1961, Hongkong Clipper 1961-1974)

Victory VC2-S-AP3 type. Laid down by Permanente Metals Corporation Inc. Shipyard No. 1, Richmond, California, USA with yard number 533 on 1 May 1944, launched on 13 July 1944, delivered as Guatemala Victory to manager American-Hawaiian Steamship Company Inc., New York), U.S.A., owner United States Maritime Commission, Washington (D.C.), USA on 6 September 1944, bought by the Staat der Nederlanden in October 1946, as Aalsdyk owner/manager N.V. Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij 'Holland-Amerika Lijn', Rotterdam, Netherlands since 7 November 1946, as Hongkong Manufacturer, manager Pacific Union Lines Ltd., Hong Kong, owner Overseas Maritime Company Inc., Monrovia, Liberia since 21 November 1960, as Hongkong Clipper same manager/owner since March 1961, manager Island Navigation Corporation Ltd (C.Y. Tung), Taipeh, Taiwan, owner same since 1964 and broken up at Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1974 completed on 3 July. 

Dutch cargo ship (ex-Berry Victory 1945-1946) Tjikampek 1946-1970

Fred Boom (1938)

Exhibition Varen voor Vrijheid-Museum Katwijk, Netherlands.

Laid down by Permanente Metals Corporation Inc., Shipyard No., Richmond, California, USA with yard number 756 on 8 April 1945, launched on 19 May 1945, delivered to the owner United States War Shipping Administration, Washington, USA, manager De La Rama Steamship Company Inc., New York, on 13 June 1945, bought by the Dutch government on 13 Otcober 1946, handed over to the N.V. Java-China-Japan Lijn, Amsterdam, Netherlands on 12 December 1946, since 1 September 1947 the Koninklijke Java-China Paketvaart Lijnen N.V., Amsterdam, sold to be broken up to Fuji, Marden&Co. Ltd., Hong Kong in 1970. Victory ship type VC2-S-AP2 .

Chinese bulk carrier JNS Prosperity 2025-

Schelde off Vlissingen 6-12-2035

Hong Kong-flagged, IMO 1068982, MMSI 477134200 and call sign VRWQ9. Ex-Jiangmen Nayang 170. Owner JNS Prosperity Shipping Ltd. Built By Jiangmen Nanyang, China in 2025. 

English cargo ship King Stephen 1928-1957 (Golden Delta 1957-1965)

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Similar King Neptune, King Stephen and King William. Call sign GNVD. Launched by Harland&Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland with yard number 764 on 24 April 1928, completed on 14 June 1928, sold to Hong Kong and renamed Golden Delta in 1957 and broken up in 1965. Owner King Line Ltd, manager Dodd, Thompson&Co. Ltd. Gross tonnage 5,274 ton, under deck 4,883 tons, net tonnage 3,171 ton and as dimensions 400.7 x 54.8 x 27.2 feet. 

Chinese container ship OOCL Denmark 2024-

Schelde off Vlissingen, Netherlands 3-11-2025

Hong Kong/China-flagged, IMO 9922548. MMSI 477949400, HK-5906, and call sign VRWA8. Built in 2024.