An item reported that on 29 March was torpedoed and sunk by an enemy submarine the British merchant ship mv Hylton, tonnage 5,917 tons , loaded with wheat and lumber , underway from Vancouver, Canada to the Tyne, part of convoy yes, on the position 570 miles north west of Bloody Foreland. Crew landed at Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
Source
National Archive UK. CAB-66-16-1.
An item reported the loss on 5 November of the cargo ship Kenbane Head, tonnage 5,225 tons, loaded with general stores, underway from Montreal, Canada to Beefast, Northern Ireland sunk by a surface raider on the position approximate 52.26 North and 32.34 West; Part of a convoy. Of the crew landed 20 men in Newfoundland.(1)
Note
1. The raider was the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer. She was part of the convoy HX84 escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay.
Source
National Archive UK. CAB-66-13-37.
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Homeport EIKX. Owner in 1939 South Georgia Co. Ltd., managers Chr. Salvesen&Co. Homeport Dublin, United Kingdom-flagged. Launched by Workman Clark&Co., Belfast, Northern Ireland for the Royal Mail Steamship Co. Ltd at Belfast with yard number 324 on 30 September 1913, during the First World War troop transport, sold to Christian Salvesen Company and converted into a whale factory ship active in the Falklands, hit a magnetic mine and sunk in the Firth of Scotland on 27 July 1940. Gross tonnage 11,938 tons, under deck 10,769 tons, net tonnage 8,597 and as dimensions 500.3 x 62.4 x 34.6 feet.
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Call sign LDIB. Owner in 1939 Hvalfangstslsk Finnhval A/S and managers Yngvar Hvistendahl. Homeport Oslo, Norway. Launched by Harland&Wolff Ld., Belfast, Northern Ireland with yard number 333 on 17 March 1900, shipwrecked on the British south coast in 1907, broken into two parts was a new bow section connected to the saved stern section and completed in 1908, converted at Kiel, Germany into a whaling factory ship, interned at Gotenburg, Sweden in 1940, tried to escape on 31 March-1 April and scuttled by her own crew to prevent capture by the Germans on 1 April 1942. Gross tonnage 12,358 tons, under deck 9,045 tons, net tonnage 7,276 tons and as dimensions 550.0 x 63.3 x 39.9 feet.
©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com
Owner in 1939 South Georgia Co. Ltd., managers Chr. Salvesen&Co. Homeport Dublin, United Kingdom-flagged. Completed by Workman Clark&Co., Belfast, Northern Ireland in February 1915, converted into a whale factory ship in 1929 and as part of convoy HX-212 southeast of Cape Farewell torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-436 on 27 October 1942. Gross tonnage 10,107 tons, under deck 9,036 tons, net tonnage 7,194 tons and as dimensions 470.2 x 58.3 x 32.2 feet.
©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com
Call sign JDPC. Owner in 1939 Kita Kisen K.K., Kobe, Japan. Launched by Harland&Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland for the Australian United Steam Navigation Company for the Rockhampton-Sydney line with yard number 407 from slip 6 on 25 March 1909, completed on 29 April 1909, requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy in 1914, in service as coalier and stone carrier HMAS Mallina, commissioned in August 1914, decommissioned in February 1915, sold to Machida Shokai Kisen Kaisha Juy 1929, sold to Kita Nippon Kisen K.K. on 31 October 1934, requisitioned by the army in November 1941, later converted into a hospital ship but also used as troop transport and sunk in an American air attack in the Sulu Sea, Philippines on 24 September 1944.
Gross tonnage 3,461 tons, under deck 2,777 tons, net tonnage 2,011 tons, deadweight 4,500 tons and as dimensions 350.5 x 44.3 x 23.3 x 12.5 (light)-19 (loaded) feet. Reciprocating propulsion, one screw, horsepower 643 bhp, coal bunker capacity 240 ton, range 3,000 nautical and speed 11.5 (normal cruising)-14.5 (maximum) knots.
In the Merwehaven, Rotterdam, Netherlands returned from a voyage dated 4 March 1939
Bought still under construction, ordered by the British government as a G-type standard ship. Launched by Barclay, Curle&Co. Ltd., Clydeholm Shipyard, Whiteinch, Glasgow, Scotland on 25 March 1921, delivered to the N.V. Koninklijke Hollandsche Lloyd, Amsterdam, Netherlands on 11 June 1921, since 1936 owner/manager N.V. tot Voortzetting van de Koninklijke Hollandsche Lloyd and sunk and torpedoed by German submarine U.758 as part of convoy HX.229 underway from Port Lincoln via New York, USA toward Belfast, Northern Ireland and Avonmouth, England in the Atlantic on 16 March 1943.
Exhibition Varen voor Vrijheid. Museum Katwijk
Launched by Harland and Wolff Ltd., Queens Islands, Glasgow, Scotland with yard number 650 on 18 November 1922, completed at Belfast, Northern Ireland, delivered to the owner/manager N.V. Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij 'Holland-Amerika Lijn', Rotterdam, Netherlands on 29 March 1923, during the German invasion lying at Rotterdam and damaged by fire on 11 May 1940, seized by Germans on 11 May 1941, brought to Hamburg, German on 30 May 1941, managed by HAPAG since 21 June to accommodate personnel of the German Organisation Todt at Gotenhafen [Gdynia, Poland], returned to Hamburg on 28 April 1942, became barracks for submarine crews as Marine stützpunkt Tollerort since 1 May 1942, found back partly sunk and burned out at Hamburg in May 1945, towed to Amsterdam, arrival in 16 January 1946 and repaired by NDSM and arrived at Baltimore, USA to be broken up on 30 October 1953.
An item reported the arrival of the British mv Georgic at New York armed with 1-6” gun and 1-3” anti aircraft gun. On board were 51-6” cordite shells, 20-6”CPG shells, 20-6” H.E. shells, 393 H.A. shells and charges and 6 practice shots for 6” guns. (1)
Note
1. Building started on 9 July 1929, launched by Harland and Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland with yard number 896 on 12 November 1931, completed on 20 June 1932, delivered to the White Star Line, since 1934 the Cunard-White Star Line, in service of the Ministry of War Transport 1944-1946. Troop transport. Broken up in 1956.
Source
Franklin D. Roosevelt. Presidential Library and Museum. Box 62. Reports&Bulletins 1939-March 1940.
,_KCB,_CMG,_CVO,_DSO'.jpg)
Sketch of Vice Admiral Sir Roger Keyes (1872–1945), KCB, CMG, CVO, DSO, by the British painter Glyn Warren Philpot, 1918.
Courtesy of the collection of the Imperial War Museums.
The American Consulate at Valetta, Malta wrote the US State of Secretary on 10 January 1928 No. 223 that the British Mediterranean Fleet under admiral Sir George Keyes (1) was to depart from Malta on 16 January for exercises and afterwards to be splitted into divisions for a cruise to the Levant. The entire fleet was to reassemble at Malta on 2 February. The 4th Destroyer Flotilla and Sandhurst (2) were to arrive at Valona [Vlorë, Albania?] on 20 January, leaving on 30 January and arriving at Malta on 2 February.
Notes
1. 1. Roger John Brownlow Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes (4 October 1872 Punjab, British India-26 December 1945 Tingewick, United Kingdom). served in the Royal Navy between 1885-1935 and 1940-1941 ending his career in the rank of Admiral of the Fleet.
2. Launched by Harland&Wolff from slip 5 on 14 December 1905, delivered on 13 January 1906, hired as merchant ship Mainupur by the Royal Navy in 1914, purchased in 1915, served as dummy for the British battleship HMS Indomitable, conversion into a depot ship which completed in September 1916, several times de- and recommissioned, served in the Mediterranean and finally broken up at Dalmuir, Scotland in April 1946.
Source
National Archives. Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records AdministrationSeries: Records of the Department of State Relating to Internal Affairs of Great Britain. Naval Affairs, Navy, Navy Vessels: 841.315 THRU 841.31553 THRU Naval Affairs, Navy, Navy Vessels: Movement of Naval Vessels: 841.33 - 841.3311/64. Microcopy 580 roll 92.
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Algerine-class minesweepers preceded by Bangor-class succeeded by Ton-class. Totally 110 built (United Kingdom 50, Canada 60). Laid down by Harland&Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland on 11 January 1943, launched on 3 August 1943, completed on 15 October 1943, transferred to Ceylon in 1958, formally transfer on 6 April 1959 and broken up in 1964.
Vladivostok. Launched at Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1893. Displacement 3,400 tons. Armament unknown. Former Jebsen, Hamburg, Germany steamship Elsa. The war between the Russian and Japanese empires was between 8 February 1904-5 September1905. Battle Liao-Yang 23 August-5 September 1904, Battle Sha-Ho 5-18 October 1904 and surrender Port Arthurr 2 January 1905.
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.
Report dealing with the available repair ships, base ships and shipyards in early February 1942 mentioned the base ship Pelagos which was a former Norwegian whale factory ship lying at Narvik, Norway. Fitted out with an expanded workshop but lacking personnel. In Germany was around 30 men available on call. A letter dated Berlin 5 November 1942 2308/42 mentioned her tank capacity heating oil 6,709 M3, V.f.t.oil 143 M3 and diesel oil 214 M3. (1)
Note
1.Launched as cargo ship Athenic by Harland&Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland with yard number 341 for account of Shaw Savill&Albion on the shipping line London-Wellington, New Zealand on 17 August 1901, completed on 23 January 1902, commissioned on 14 February 1902, bought by the Norwegian Hvalfangersk Pelagos A/S and converted into a whale factory ship in 1928, captured by the German commerce raider Penguin on 15 January 1941, sunk at Kirkenes, Norway in 1944, salvaged and repaired and again active as whale factory ship until broken up in 1962.
Source
Bundesarchive RM 7-223.
Exhibition Varen voor Vrijheid. Museum Katwijk, Netherlands
Engines and boilers ordered on 9 April 1915, laid down by A. Vuyk&Zonen, Cappelle aan den IJssel, Netherlands with yard number 446 17 June 1916, arrived at Kon. Mij. De Schelde, Vlissingen, Netherlands on 23 December 1916, trail while berthed on 30 January 1917, trial on 25 March 1917 and delivered to manager Firma Vinke & Co., (1932 Firma Warnderink Vinke & Zoon, 1947 Firma Vinke & Zonen), owner N.V. Stoomvaart Maatschappij 'Oostzee', both at Amsterdam, Netherlands, seized by the U.S. Navy-Naval Overseas Transportation Service, New York (N.Y.), U.S.A. between 21 March 1918-May 1919 before retuning to her owner and torpedoed by the German submarine U 100 loaded with grain underway from Montreal, Canada via Sydney C.S. towards Belfast, Northern Ireland as part of convoy SC 11 about 90 miles west of Tory Island and abandoned on 23 November 1940, found back by the British tug Salvonia nut sunk before she could be towed to safety.
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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.
Arethusa-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com
Dido-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com
Fiji-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com
Part of Dido-class Bellona-sub-class preceded by Arethusa-class succeeded by Fiji-class and were designed to replace the C- and D-classes cruisers. Laid down by Harland&Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland with yard number 1049 on 2 November 1939, launched on 27 August 1942, completed on 20 November 1943, commissioned on 30 November 1943, loaned to Royal New Zealand Navy and commissioned on 25 May 1946, returned to the Royal Navy control on 1 April 1961, decommissioned and sold to be broken up in March 1962 and arrived at the scrapyard at Osaka, Japan on 2 May 1962.
An item reported that the 758 tons ss Fireking sunk in a collision with the Belfast mail boat ss Duke of Lancaster in the Liverpool Bay on 10 December 1939. Crew and passengers were rescued.(1)
Note
1. The Dutch newspaper Bataviaasch nieuwsblad said that the collision was in the Irish Sea. Her crew numbered 10 men. The heavily damaged Duke of Lancaster of the London-Midland and Scottish Railway was to be repaired in a drydock.
Source
The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939.
In his letter No. 1588 dated Lisbon 11 November 1941 reported the German naval attaché in Portugal to the Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine at Berlin according to an Italian source the arrival of the British corvette HMS Freesia (1) at Ponte Delgada, São Miguel, Azores coming from Gibraltar on surveillance in the Atlantic in the morning of 7 November for loading victuals.
Note
1. K 43. Flower-class corvette. Ordered on 19 September 1939, laid down by Harland&Wolff ltd., Belfast, Northern Ireland on 18 June 1940, launched on 3 October 1940, commissioned on 19 November 1940, sold on 22 July 1946 and sunk as the merchant ship Freelock while under tow off San Jorge on 1 April 1947.
Source
Bundesarchive. RM 11-17. German naval attaché in Portugal.
War between the Russian and Japanese empires 8 February 1904-5 September 1905. Launched at Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1897. Gross tonnage 6,222 tons. Armament -.
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.
HMS Wakeful, Admiralty W-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com
In his letter No. 1588 dated Lisbon 11 November 1941 reported the German naval attaché in Portugal to the Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine at Berlin according to an Italian source the arrival of the British destroyer HMS Wrestler (1) and corvette Freesia (2) at Ponte Delgada, São Miguel, Azores coming from Gibraltar in the morning of 7 November for loading supplies. Three other ships visible on the horizon including the British Mignonette (3) coming from Gibraltar on surveillance in the Atlantic. Waiting on their turn entering the harbour in the morning of the 8th.
Notes
1. W-class destroyer preceded by S- and Parker classes, succeeded by Thornycroft destroyer leaders Ambuscade and Amazon. Ordered on 9 December 1916, laid down by Swan Hunter, Wallsend, England on 9 December 1916, laid down in July 1917, launched on 25 February 1918, commissioned on 15 May 1918, mined off Juno Beach and out of service on 6 June 1944 and sold to be broken up on 20 July 1944.
2. K 43. Flower-class corvette succeeded by Castle-class. Ordered on 19 September 1939, laid down by Harland&Wolff ltd., Belfast, Northern Ireland on 18 June 1940, launched on 3 October 1940, commissioned on 19 November 1940, sold on 22 July 1946 and sunk as the merchant ship Freelock while under tow off San Jorge on 1 April 1947.
3. 3K 8. Flower-class corvette succeeded by Castle-class. Ordered on 31 August 1939, laid down by Hall, Russell&Co., Aberdeen, Scotland on 15 July 1940, launched pn 28 January 1941, commissioned on 7 May 1941, sold in 1946 and sunk as the Greek passenger annex cargo ship Alexandrouplis underway from Lemnos to Piraues after hitting a reef to the south of Islet Tiganion 30 November 1948. Owned by the Greek government.
Source
Bundesarchive. RM 11-17. German naval attaché in Portugal.
