26 January 1914 launched by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Low Walker as Yard Nr 928 named EL ZORRO for
Lobitos Oilfields Ltd (C.T. Bowring & Co Ltd, Managers) London
February 1914 completed
29 September 1914 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an oiler, name unchanged.
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Official Number: 136644
Builder: Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Low Walker
Pennant No:
Launched: 26 January 1914
Into Service: 29 September 1914
Out of service: 1915
Fate: 1915 torpedoed, drifted ashore and broke in two
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:
26 January 1914 launched by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Low Walker as Yard Nr 928 named EL ZORRO for
Lobitos Oilfields Ltd (C.T. Bowring & Co Ltd, Managers) London
February 1914 completed
29 September 1914 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an oiler, name unchanged
3 February 1915 in mid Atlantic rescued the crew of a Norwegian steamer “Imataca” which had been bound from Ayr,
Scotland to Baltimore in ballast and had been abandoned in a sinking condition – reported in The Evening World
newspaper, and The Sun newspaper New York both editions from 9 February 1915
28 December 1915 she was torpedoed by U-24 about 10 miles S of Old Head of Kinsale, Co Cork while on passage
from Port Arthur, Texas to Dartmouth with the loss of 2 lives.
29 December 1915 was taken in tow but the tow parted, she anchored but this dragged and she drifted ashore in
Man o’War Cove near Cork where she broke in two and became a total loss in position 51.45 N 08.18 W
29 June 1917 proceedings in the Kings Bench Division of the High Court before Mr Justice Bray and Mr Justice Avory
concerning liability in respect of this and other Requisitioned ships was commenced
