Official Number: 143815
Laid down:
Builder: J.C. Tecklenborg A.G, Geestemunde
Pennant Nr:
Launched: 10 May 1911
Into Service: 7 February 1944
Out of service: 9 June 1944
Fate: Sunk as a Block Ship 9 June 1944
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: One of an additional group of ships purchased by the Admiralty during WW2 to serve as a Block Ship
Career Data:
10 May 1911 launched by J.C. Tecklenborg A.G, Geestemunde as Yard Nr: 240 named Schildturm for Deutsche Dampfschiffahrts Gesellscharft “Hansa”, Bremen
June 1911 completed August 1914 seized by Belgium at Antwerp but permission to take the vessel out of the River Scheldt was refused by Holland
October 1914 recaptured by Germany but permission was still refused by Holland
November 1914 was retaken by the Belgians
1919 was allocated to Great Britain and operated by the Shipping Controller under management of Turnbull Scott & Co – name unchanged
1921 purchased by Turnbull Scott Shipping Co Ltd., (Turnbull Scott & Co. Managers) June 1941 purchaed by Chas. Strubin & Co Ltd., London – name unchanged
WW2 acquired by MoWT under management of Chr Salvesen & Co, Leith
8 October 1939 sailed Milford Haven joining escorted convoy OB16 from Liverpool and which reformed on 11 October 1939 at sea as unescorted convoy OG2 to Gibraltar arriving 17 October 1939
25 October 1939 sailed Gibraltar independently to Alexandria arriving 3 November 1939
21 November 1939 sailed Alexandria independently to Gibraltar arriving 30 November 1939
8 December 1939 sailed Gibraltar in escorted convoy HG10 to Torbay arriving 16 December 1939. RFA’s THERMOL, WAR AFRIDI and WAR BHARTRA also sailed in this convoy
20 December 1939 sailed Torbay independently to the Downs arriving 22 December 1939
7 February 1944 purchased by the Admiralty for use as a block ship
5 June 1944 arrived at Poole Bay anchorage along with other British and Allied ships from Oban
9 June 1944 sunk as a block ship as one of the 15 ships which formed Gooseberry 3 and gave shelter to the ships off Gold Beach, Arromanches
1946 raised
7 July 1946 beached at The Mumbles
15 August 1946 arrived at Briton Ferry for demolition by T W Ward Ltd.
Notes:
Was one of a group of nearly 60 elderly, uneconomic or damaged merchantmen plus 4 old warships who formed part of Operation Corncob – the vital Gooseberry Breakwaters which were sunk to provide protection against the weather in the English Channel for the ships supporting Operation Overlord – the D-Day Landings