Requisitioned Auxiliary – British Sun

 

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Official Number:                       127990

Laid down:

Builder:                                   Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend

Launched:                               3 June 1909

Into Service:                            1914

Out of service:                         1917

Fate:                                      1 May 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:

 

3 June 1909 launched by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend as Yard Nr: 835 named BRITISH SUN for British Sun Co Ltd (Wm Smellie, Manager) Liverpool

July 1909 completed

11 March 1910 at Smith’s Dock, River Tyne

14 July 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard

1 December 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard east bound

22 December 1910 when off Gravesend on passage to Philadelphia in collision with fish carrier Khartoum. The British Sun was damaged on the port side under the bridge and had to put into Gravesend

27 January 1911 off Fayal lost all her propellor blades, anchor and 15 fathoms of anchor cable. There was no damage to the cargo. Ship towed 800 miles – information from Lloyds

27 July 1911 The Aberdeen Press reported –

Aberdeen Press 27 7 1911 Press cutting

 

17 May 1912 arrived at Philadelphia

1914 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an oiler, name unchanged

1 May 1917 was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine UB-43 230 miles ESE of Malta while on passage from Abadan to Malta with a cargo of fuel oil. No casualties