Italian sailing ship Argentina lost in 1917

According to a list of the Italian Department for transport over sea and by rail was she lost on 7 June due to bombs on the location Tunis, Tunisia. Tonnage 41 tons.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM 20/728.

The composition of Wrangel’s Fleet lying at Bizerte, French Tunisia in 1925

Imperator Aleksandr III©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

A US Navy report dated Constantinople, Turkey 31 January 1925 No. 4221 while referring to a report dated 9 January No. 4174 described the Russian ships (1) lying at Bizerte, French Tunisia and which the Soviet government wanted to take over from France and presumably would be moved to the Black Sea consisted of:

-battle cruiser General Alexeiff (2), 22,800 tons and built in 1914

-armed cruiser Georgii Pobiednosets [Ekaterina II-class battleship], 10,200 tons and built in 1892

-light cruisers General Korniloff and Alinaz of 6,600 and 3,300 tons and built in 1902 and 1900 respectively

-7 destroyers of between 810-1,300 tons and built between 1907-1915.

-3 torpedo boats of each 350 tons and built in 1905

-4 submarines of between 467-756 tons and built between 1913-1918

-3 gunboats of between 1,100-1,300 tons and built between 1892 and 1916

Notes

1. Wrangel’s Fleet. Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangler (15/27 August 1878 Novalexandrovsk, Russian Empire-25 April 1928, Brussels, Belgium), commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of South Russia 1920-1921

2. Imperator Aleksandr III 1912-1917-Volia 1917-1919, General Alekseyev 1919-1936. Her keel was laid down at the Russud Shipyard at Nikolayev was ordered on 30 April 1911, the contract for building her dates from 13 April 1912!launched on 15 April 1914, commissioned on 17 July 1917 in the Imperial Russian navy, renamed on 29 April Volia and not Wolga/Volga as sometimes is suggested, in November that year was she commissioned in the Soviet Navy, on 19 June 1918 refused her crew to scuttle her and she went to Sevastopol where her armament was removed and the crew landed except for guards. On 1 October was she fallen into German hands and on the 15th made she a short voyage under German flagged. On 24 November handed the German forces her over to British forces and in December she departed towards Izmit manned by sailors from the HMS Agamemnon which ‘accompanied’ her during this voyage. Returning in 1919 to Sevastopol was she on 1 November handed over to the White Russian forces which commissioned her as the General Alekseyev. As part of the so-called Wrangel’s fleet was she interned by the French cabinet in Bizerte.End 20’s was she sold to be broken which actually happened not earlier as in 1936. Her main guns were used by German and Finnish forces and some were after the Second World War used by Soviet forces.

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.

Steamship Biskra underway from France to French Tunesia according to the Kriegsnachrichten of the Chef des Admiralstabes der Marine dated Berlin 21 August 1917

An item referred to a tiding of an agent reporting that the steamship Biskra of 2,143 tons departed Marseille, France on 4 August towards Tunis, French Tunesia.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM-40-622

German submarine SM UC 37 sunk unknown armed steamship according to the Kriegsnachrichten of the Chef des Admiralstabes der Marine dated Berlin 18 August 1917

German submarines UC 16-79©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item reported that An item reported that the German submarine SM UC 37 commanding officer Oberleutnant zur See List had torpedoed and sunk on 12 August an unknown armed steamship of about 5,000 tons part of a strong protected convoy near Marittimo.(1)

Note

1. Type UC II minelaying submarine. Ordered on 20 November 1915, launched by Blohm&Voss, Hamburg, Germany with yard number 178 on 5 June 1916, commissioned on 17 October 1916, surrendered at Sevastopol, Crimea on 25 November 1918 and scrapped at Bizerta, French Tunisia.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM-40-622

Romania pleased with possible end of the so-called Wrangels’s Fleet affaire in 1925

A report dated Romania 14 March 1925 No. 2474 reported that Romania was pleased how the Wrangels’s Fleet affaire seems to end.(1) The French premier M. Herriot recently stated that this fleet would not return to the Soviets unless they settled their public and private debts. This was near impossible to do so there was little occasion for worry. Romania seemed also to feel that if the fleet would return France assured the safeguarding of Romanian interests.

Note

1. Wrangel’s Fleet interned at Bizerte, French Tunisia, in fact what remained of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The ships were finally sold to be broken up. Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangler (15/27 August 1878 Novalexandrovsk, Russian Empire-25 April 1928, Brussels, Belgium), commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of South Russia 1920-1921

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.

French tanker Beauce underway from Romania towards Tunisia according to a letter of the German naval attaché at Istanbul dated 1940

In his letter dated Istanbul, Turkey 17 February 1940 No. 801 g. reported the German naval attaché to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Abteilung Ausland the neutral ships passing Istanbul coming out of the Black Sea and loaded with contraband for or chartered by the enemy. An item reported on 25 February the French armed tanker Beauce loaded with 5,640 ton petrol and 985 ton petroleum underway from Constanta, Romania towards Tunis, Tunisia.

Source

Bundesarchiv. German Marineattaché for Greece, Romania and Bulgaria 1939-1941. RM 12-II/459.

British sloop HMS Sandwich L12 1928-1946

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Part of Bridgewater-class, preceded by 24-class minesweeping sloops succeeded by Hastings-class. Ordered on 19 September 1927, laid down by Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Newcastle upon Tyne, England on 9 February 1928, launched on 29 September 1928, commissioned on 23 March 1929, sold at Bizerte, French Tunia for civil service in 1946. Her fate is unclear. One possibility renamed Prince Albert in 1946, later the Tunisian Amy sunk on 18 February 1948. Other possibility is that she was broken up after her conversion was cancelled. 

German submarine SM UC 37 sunk French steamship Breton according to the Kriegsnachrichten of the Chef des Admiralstabes der Marine dated Berlin 18 August 1917

German submarines UC 16-79©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item reported that the German submarine SM UC 37 (1) commanding officer Oberleutnant zur See List had torpedoed sunk on 8 August an unknown steamship of about 4,000 tons in the La Galite Canal.(2)

Notes

1. Type UC II minelaying submarine. Ordered on 20 November 1915, launched by Blohm&Voss, Hamburg, Germany with yard number 178 on 5 June 1916, commissioned on 17 October 1916, surrendered at Sevastopol, Crimea on 25 November 1918 and scrapped at Bizerta, French Tunisia.

2. French steamship Breton of 3,739 tons.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM-40-622

Allies Entente taken precautionary measures against enemy submarines according to the Kriegsnachrichten of the Chef des Admiralstabes der Marine dated Berlin 18 August 1917

An item referred to tidings received from patrolling submarines in the first half of August reporting that steamships at least were escorted by torpedo boats; the capes along the African north coast were only by night and outside 200 metres rounded . Off the capes were in the night guard vessels, and when it was time for the shipping traffic were the lights set. By day light were the ships lying in the harbors and when that was not possible were capes close to the coasline rounded. Steamships measured 3,000-4,000 tons. The steamships passing the North African coast used withut exception the La Galite Canal [Galite was a French Tunesian archipelago] keeping exactly in the 150 metres line. During the day were aircraft patrolling able to see enemy submarines. In the night was fire burning with/for correct identification. In the ‘free’water area were good positions in neutral stripes and north west Marittimo. There valuable heavily protected stamships coming from the Strait Messina passing apparently Sicily in the north.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM-40-622

German submarine SM UC 27 sunk the Tunesian sailing vessel El Khadra according to the Kriegsnachrichten of the Chef des Admiralstabes der Marine dated Berlin 14 August 1917

German submarine UC 16-79©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item reported that the German submarine SM UC 27 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Gerhard Schulz sunk on 6 August the Tunesian sailing vessel of 20 ton El Khadra.

Note

1. Type UC II minelaying submarine. Ordered on 29 August 1915, launched by AG Vulkan, Hamburg, Germany with yard number 66 on 28 June 916, commissioned on 25 July 1916, surrendered to France on 3 February 1919and scrapped at Landerneau in July 1921.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM-40-622

German submarine SM UC 27 sunk the Italian steamship Esemplare according to the Kriegsnachrichten of the Chef des Admiralstabes der Marine dated Berlin 14 August 1917

German submarine UC 16-79©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item reported that the German submarine SM UC 27 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Gerhard Schulz sunk with gunfire and explosives on 7 August the armed Italian steamship Esemplare of 999 ton underway from Sfax, French Tunesia to Catalina, empty, in the Kerkenah-Canal. Seized 1-6 cm gun of this ship.

Note

1. Type UC II minelaying submarine. Ordered on 29 August 1915, launched by AG Vulkan, Hamburg, Germany with yard number 66 on 28 June 916, commissioned on 25 July 1916, surrendered to France on 3 February 1919 and scrapped at Landerneau in July 1921.

Source

Bundesarchiv RM-40-622

Russian protected cruiser Kagul 1900-1907, Ochakov 1907-1919 and General Kornilov 1919-1933

Askold. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Bogatyr-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Part of the Bogatyr-class cruiser of which were 5 planned but 4 completed preceded by Askold succeeded by Novik. Laid down ar the Sevastopol dockyard, Russia [nowadays Crimea] in 1900, launched in October 1902, completed in 1905, seized by the White forces, part of the fleet of Wrangel, interned at Bizerta, French Tunisia in 1920 and sold to be broken up in 1933. 

Russian battleship Imperator Aleksandr III 1911-1917, Volia 1917-1919 and General Alekseyev 1919-1936

Gangut-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Imperator Aleksandr III . ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Imperator Nikolai I as Demokratiia. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Part of Imperatritsa Mariya-class preceded by Gangut-class succeeded by Imperator Nikolai I. Ordered on 13 April 1912, laid down by Russud Shipyard, Nikolayev, Ukraine on 30 October 1911, launched on 15 April 1914, commissioned on 17 July 1917, renamed Volia on 29 April 1917, taken over by the Bolsheviks in November 1917, handed over to Germany on 19 June 1918, handed over to the United Kingdom on 24 November 1918, handed over to the Russian White Army on 1 November 1919, renamed General Alekseyev, decommissioned on 29 December 1920, docked in Bizerte, French Tunisia until 1936 and broken up to compensate the unpaid docking fees. 

Russian destroyer Kapitan Saken 1906-1930s

Kapitan Saken. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Modernized design of the German built Vsadnik-class, often considered to be part of the Dobrovolets-class which included several small classes preceded by Leytenant Pushchin-class succeeded by Derzyky-class. Laid down by Naval Yard, Nikolayev, Ukraine on 16 September 1906, launched in September 1907, commissioned on 13 October 1909, interned in Bizerte, French Tunisia on 29 December 1920 and broken up early 1930s. Originally to be named Leytenant Pushchin but in March 1907 was decided otherwise. Part of the Black Sea Fleet. 

Russian transport Lili between 1904-1905

Vladivostok. Launched at Sunderland, England in 1890. Speed under 12 knots. Displacement 3,500 tons. Armament unknown. Former Drummond Co., Liverpool, England steamship Drummond. The war between the Russian and Japanese empires was between 8 February 1904-5 September 1905. Battle Liao-Yang 23 August-5 September 1904, Battle Sha-Ho 5-18 October 1904 and surrender Port Arthurr 2 January 1905.(1)

Note

1. A survey document on hec.lrfoundation.org.uk (24-11-2025) dated 23 January 1890 mentioned a screw steam ship Drummond built  between 1889-1890 with yard number 159, schooner rigged 3 masts, launched by Robert Thompson&Sons on 7 December 1889 for Gillison&Chadwick, Liverpool and manager S.S. Drummond. Website Sunderlandships.com mentioned at the Bridge Dockyard, sold to T. Legrand, Antwerp, Belgium and renamed Lily in 1904, acquired by the Russian governement and renamed Tschifu in 1906, since 1907 Japanese owners under the name Bandai Maru and sunk by gunfire of the German submarine SMS U-33 north east of Cap Bon, Tunisia underway from Naples, Italy to Stax, Tunisia on 15 August 1917.

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. 

Bulgarian coastal submarine (UB-8 1914-1916) Podvonik No. 18 1916-1919

Model Maritime Museum Varna, Bulgaria August 2025

Building ordered on 15 October 1914, laid down by Germaniawerft, Kiel, Germany with yard number 64 on 4 December 1914, launched in April 1915, completed and commissioned on 23 in April 1915, sold to Bulgaria in 25 May 1916, ceded to France as war reparations in February 1919 and broken up at Bizerta, Tunesia in August 1921. German UB 1 type coastal submarines. 

French steamship Alberta bound for Alerian and Tunisia according to a letter of the German naval attaché at Istanbul dated 27 January 1940

In his letter dated Istanbul, Turkey 27 January 1940 No. 690g. reported the German naval attaché to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Abteilung Ausland the ships passing Istanbul coming out of the Black Sea and loaded with contraband for or chartered by the enemy. An item reported on 25 January the French steamship Alberta laoded with 3,875 ton petrol underway from Constanta, Romania towards Tunis and Algiers.

Source

Bundesarchiv. German Marineattaché for , Greece, Romania and Bulgaria 1939-1941. RM 12-II/459. 

French merchant ship Massis visited the Black Sea according to a letter of the German naval attaché at Istanbul dated 20 January 1940

In his letter dated Istanbul, 20 January 1940 No. 650 g1. reported the German naval attaché to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Abteilung Ausland the ships passing Istanbul coming out of the Black Sea and loaded with contraband for or chartered by the enemy. An item reported on 14 January 1940 the French merchant ship Massis loaded with 2,670 ton petrol and 2,564 ton petroleum underway from Constanta, Romania towards Tunis and Algiers.

Source

Bundesarchiv. German Marineattaché for , Greece, Romania and Bulgaria 1939-1941. RM 12-II/459. 

French tanker Beauce visited the Black Sea according to a letter of the German naval attaché at Istanbul dated 6 January 1940

In his letter dated Istanbul, 6 January 1940 No. 618g. reported the German naval attaché to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Abteilung Ausland the ships passing Istanbul coming out of the Black Sea and loaded with contraband for or chartered by the enemy. An item mentioned on 5 January 1940 the French tanker Beauce loaded with 6,640 ton gasoline bound for La Goulette, French Tunisia. Armed with a gun at the stern manned by naval gunners. Completely light grey painted.

Source

Bundesarchiv. German Marineattaché for , Greece, Romania and Bulgaria 1939-1941. RM 12-II/459. 

Italian merchant ship Alberto Fassio bound for French Tunisia according to a letter of the German naval attaché at Istanbul dated 6 January 1940

In his letter dated Istanbul,  6 January 1940 No. 618g. reported the German naval attaché to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Abteilung Ausland the ships passing Istanbul coming out of the Black Sea and loaded with contraband for or chartered by the enemy. An item mentioned on 30 December 1939 the Italian merchant ship Alberto Fassio loaded with 3,400 ton petroleum bound for Sfax, French Tunisia.

Source

Bundesarchiv. German Marineattaché for , Greece, Romania and Bulgaria 1939-1941. RM 12-II/459.