Requisitioned Auxiliary – African Prince

 

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Official No:                                114448

Builder:                             Short Bros Ltd, Pallion Yard, Sunderland

Launched:                         12 February 1903

Pennant No:                               168 / Y 3.1542

Into Service:                      6 August 1914

Out of service:                    21 July 1917

Fate:                                 21 July 1917 torpedoed and sunk

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship:

 

Background Data:  One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA

 

Career Data:

 

12 February 1903 launched by Short Bros Ltd, Pallion Yard, Sunderland as Yard Nr: 309 and named AFRICAN PRINCE for Prince Line (James Knott, Manager) Newcastle. The vessel was named by the Lady Mayoress of Manchester (Mrs Royle) 

23 February 1903 grounded in the River Tees

26 February 1903 the Shields Daily Gazette reported …

 

26 2 1903 Shields Gazette African Prince

 

24 March 1903 arrived at the River Wear

4 May 1903 signed on a crew at the North Shields shipping office

7 May 1903 sailed on builders trials

24 November 1903 arrived at New York from the River Tyne

6 August 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as an Expeditionary Force Transport  and was employed on Cross-Channel trooping duties until 26 November 1916

27 November 1916 served as an Expeditionary Force Transport carrying wheat and horses until 5 April 1917

9 February 1917 was stopped by the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS MOTAGUA in position 56° 33N 11° 40W and after being checked was allowed to proceed

 

hms motagua

HMS MOTAGUA

 

6 April 1917 re-deployed as a collier until 11 May 1917

18 July 1917 transferred to the Liner Section as a transport until …

21 July 1917 torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-66 (Kptlt. Gerhardt Muhle) in the Atlantic 60 miles NNW Tory Island in position 56°00 N 09°30 W while on passage from Liverpool to Newport News carrying china clay.