as CONTE DI MISURATA
Official Number: 125685
Laid down:
Builder: Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Deptford Yard, Sunderland
Launched: 30 March 1908
Pennant No: Y7.30
Into Service: 10 August 1914
Out of service: 1918
Fate: 9 November 1941 sunk by gun fire
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:
30 March 1908 launched by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd., Deptford Yard, Sunderland as Yard Nr: 628 named Servian for Petroleum Steamship Co Ltd., (Lane & MacAndrews Ltd., Managers) London
May 1908 completed
18 December 1908 arrived at Sunderland from Port Arthur, Texas
25 March 1910 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Belfast and Manchester
11 May 1910 arrived at Philadelphia from Manchester
11 July 1910 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Rotterdam
2 September 1910 arrived Port Arthur, Texas from the River Tyne
4 April 1911 sailed Port Arthur Texas for Hamburg
18 April 1912 arrived at Philadelphia from London
22 April 1912 sailed Philadelphia for Hamburg
8 August 1912 at Gravesend
15 December 1912 arrived at Liverpool from Philadelphia
29 August 1913 arrived Port Arthur, Texas from Amsterdam
10 August 1914 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an Oiler Transport name unchanged until 14 February 1916
29 June 1915 arrived at Simons Bay, Simonstown and anchored
30 June 1915 docked at Simonstown with the assistance of 2 PO’s & 25 Seaman from HMS KINFAUNS CASTLE
HMS KINFAUNS CASTLE
29 October 1915 at 59°05N 15°2W intercepted by HMS PATUCA confirmed identity and allowed to proceed
June 1917 purchased together with six other ships by British Tanker Co Ltd., London name unchanged although nominal owners remained unchanged
7 June 1917 re-deployed as an Admiralty Oiler Transport until 1918
December 1917 registered owners became British Tanker Co Ltd., London
1918 renamed British Marquis by her owners
10 October 1918 was a straggler in a convoy from New York to London being escorted by HMS BAYANO
6 December 1921 sailed from Abadan for LEFO
12 October 1928 was 290 miles north of Wick when on passage to Swansea
21 January 1930 purchased by Soc. Anon. Impresi Navali ed Affini, Venice and renamed Conte Di Misurata
1934 owners became Cia. Industrie Maritime Affini, Rome – name unchanged
1935 owners restyled as Impresi Navali Commerciale Soc Anon, Rome – name unchanged
9 November 1941 sunk by gunfire from HMS’s AURORA and PENELOPE in position 37.08N 18.09E while on passage from Messina to Tripoli carrying petrol
Notes:
The 7 ships purchased and renamed by British Tanker Co Ltd from Petroleum Steamship Co Ltd were as follows and all were requisitioned for Admiralty service as Oiler Transports :
CARPATHIAN BRITISH PEER
DANUBIAN BRITISH KNIGHT
PINNA BRITISH EARL
ROCK LIGHT BRITISH VISCOUNT
ROUMANIAN BRITISH BARON
SERVIAN BRITISH MARQUIS
TEREK BRITISH DUKE
She was the 1st of 2 ships to bear this name in the BTC Fleet.