German passenger-cargo ship ss Watuss scuttled and destroyed by British Royal Navy on 2 December 1939

An item reported that the German 9,531 tons passenger-cargo ship ss Watussi (1) which was lying at Mozambique, Portuguese East Africa since the outbreak of the Second World War, departed on 22 November 1939 and was seen by an plane patrolling 60 miles south of Cape Point on the morning of 2 December 1939. Her own crew set her on fire and scuttled her. The entire crew of 155 men and 42 passengers including 16 women and children escaped with the boats, picked up by the British heavy cruiser HMS Sussex (2) and brought to Simonstown, South Africa.

Notes

1. Built by Blohm&Voss, Hamburg, Germany in 1928. Owner Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie (DOAL). The British battle cruiser HMS Renown was a battle cruiser,  sunk the Watussi by gunfire, assisted by the Sussex with picking up the people.

2. Pennant 96. Part of County-class London-sub-class preceded by Hawkins-class succeeded by York-class. Laid down by Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn-on-Tyne, England on 1 February 1927, launched on 22 February 1928, commissioned on 19 March 1929, decommissioned on 3 January 1950 and breaking up at Dalmuir, Scotland begun on 23 February 1950.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-1 Weekly Résumé (No. 14) of the naval, military and air situation from 12 noon 30 November to 12 noon 7 December 1939. 

Portuguese gunboat Patria 1903-1931

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Built with the funds of the Great National Subscription after the 1890 British Ultimatum when Portugal claimed a large area between her colonies Mozambique and Angola covering most of Zimbabwe and Zambia and a large part of Malawi resulting in witdrawing Portuguese forces from areas which both countries claimed. Launched at Lisbon, Portugal on 27 June 1903, sent to the Macau Naval Station in 1908 and sold to China in 1931. 

British cargo ship (ex-Arckwear 1934-1936) Lord Cochrane 1936-1950 (Frieden 1950-1958, Martha 1958-164, Boston L 9161-1966, Helene 1966-1968)

Lord Byron. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Similar Lord Byron and Lord Cochrane. Call sign GWRM. Built by Short Bros Ld., Pallion Yard Sunderland, England with yard number 443 in January 1934, German owned 1950-1958, Greek owned 1958-1966, Italy owned 1966-1968, stranded off Inhaca Island underway from Constantza towards Jeddah on 25 July 1968, towed to Lourenco Marques (nowdays Maputo), (Republic of) Portuguese Mozambique and sold to be broken up starting at Durban, South Africa in 15 September 1968. Gross tonnage 4,157 tons, under deck 3,815 tons, netto tonnage 2,503tons and as dimensions 362.7 x 57.5 x 24.7 feet. 

Dutch cargo ship Brastagi 1936-1947

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Laaid down by Kon.Mij. De Schelde, Vlissingen, Netherlands with yard number 203 on 19 February 1936, launched on 6 February 1937, delivered to manager Firma Wm Ruys & Zonen, owner N.V. Rotterdamsche Lloyd, both at Rotterdam, Netherlands on 6 April 1937, converted into a troop transport in the Second World War, reconverted into a cargo ship in 1947, grounded underway from Lourenco Marques to Dar es Salaam on 31 October 1947, fire broke out on 20 November 1947 and total loss.

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 2-2cm guns supplied at Norfolk on 25 March 1942

Armed with 2-2cm guns supplied at New York.

Armed with 4-2cm guns supplied at San Francisco on 22 March 1943

Armed with 1-10,16cm/4” 50 Mk.9 gun

Armed with 3-7,62cm/3” 50 dual purpose guns.

Source

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

British sailing barque Lady Elizabeth 1879-

Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas, January 2025

Launched as a barque with yard number 98 by Robert Thompson Jr., Southwick, Sunderland, England on 6 June 1879, homeport London, since 1886 Castletown, Isle of Man and since 1906 Tvedestrand, Norway (owner Skibasaktiegeselskabet, Sundet, Boroen), departed Vancouver, Canada on 4 December 1912 destined for Delagoa Bay, [Portuguese] Mozambique, damaged off Cape Horn and afterwards striking Uraine Rock arrived she at Port Stanley, Falkland Island, there condemned and in June 1913 converted into a coal hulk, new owner Crown Receiver of Wrecks, drifted away to Whalebone Cove on 17 February 1936

Colliers Yeddo and Cleaverly unloaded their cargoes at Port Said, Egypt acccording to the Dutch newspaper De Sumatra Post dated 30 December 1904

An item dated London, England 25 December reported that the colliers Yeddo and Cleaverly underway towards Mozambique with 10,000 tons coal un loaded their cargoes at Port Said, Egypt. A German ship loaded part of this coal in her holds and departed with unknown destination.(1)

Note

1. Russo-Japanese War 8 February 1904-5 September 1905

Colliers Yeddo and Cleaverly unloading coal at Port Said, Egypt acccording to the Dutch newspaper Soerabijasch handelsblad dated 27 December 1904

An item reported that colliers coming from Yedo [probably meaning the colliers Yeddo and Cleaverly] bound for Mocambique loaded with 10,000 tons of coal were unloaded at Port Said, Egypt. Part of the coal was loaded on a German ship with an unknown destination.(1)

Note

1. Russo-Japanese War 8 February 1904-5 September 1905

Colliers waiting at Lourenço Marques for Russian fleet acccording to the Dutch newspaper De Sumatra Post dated 21 December 1904

An item dated Singapore 21 December reported that 4 colliers were lying at Lourenço Marques (Maputo), Mocambique [then Portuguese Mozambique or Portuguese East Africa] waiting for the Russian Baltic Sea squadron.(1)

Note

1. Russo-Japanese War 8 February 1904-5 September 1905