Official Number: 166300
Laid down:
Builder: Forges & Chantiers de la Mediterranee, Le Havre
Pennant Nr:
Launched: 1922
Into Service: 1944
Out of service: 9 June 1944
Fate: Scuttled as a Block Ship
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW2 for use as a Block Ship
Career Data:
1922 launched by Forges & Chantiers de la Mediterranee, Le Havre as Yard Nr: named Forbin for Cie de Chargeurs Reunis, Le Havre
March 1923 completed as a passenger / refrigerated cargo liner
15 October 1939 sailed Marseilles independently to Gibraltar arriving 20 October 1939
22 October 1939 sailed Gibraltar in escorted convoy HG4 to Le Havre arriving 21 October 1939. RFA ARNDALE also sailed in this convoy
2 December 1939 sailed Le Harve to Brest arriving 4 December 1939
6 December 1939 sailed Brest in convoy BS16 to Casablanca arriving 12 December 1939
1940 came under the auspices of MoWT with J Chambers & Co as Managers
1941 managers became Bibby Bros & Co – name unchanged
1944 purchased by the Admiralty for use as a Block Ship
29 May 1944 arrived Oban as one of 56 intended block ships gathered there
5 June 1944 arrived Pool Bay anchorage along with other British and Allied ships from Oban
9 June 1944 scuttled as part of Gooseberry 5 off Sword Beach, Ouistreham
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