Ford Castle after being renamed Naissaar
Official Number: 129785
Laid down:
Builder: J Crown & Sons Ltd., Monkswearmouth, Sunderland
Pennant Nr: Y 3.189
Launched: 7 November 1911
Into Service: 8 August 1914
Out of service: WW1
Fate: Mined, bombed & sank 29 August 1941
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:
7 November 1911 launched by J Crown & Sons Ltd., Monkswearmouth, Sunderland as Yard Nr: 143 named Ford Castle for Lamberton Collieries Ltd., (Edward T Nisbet, Manager) Newcastle
December 1911 completed
8 August 1914 requisitioned for Admiralty service as a collier – named unchanged
3 January 1915 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS PRINCESS ROYAL supplying 2,030 tons of bunker coal
HMS PRINCESS ROYAL
23 February 1915 at Cromarty alongside HMS LEVIATHAN supplying bunker coal
HMS LEVIATHAN
7 January 1917 and 8 January 1917 at Loch Ewe alongside HMS KILDONAN CASTLE supplying 1,650 tons of number coal
30 January 1917 and 31 January 1917 at Loch Ewe alongside HMS CHANGUINOLA supplying bunker coal
18 April 1917 at Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow alongside HMS FEARLESS. Tested coaling gear in no. 2, 3 and 4 holds to 15 bags and then supplied bunker coal. Lost overboard by accident:- Sacks, coal, tarred, 2 cwt, 9 in number
4 May 1917 at Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow alongside HMS FEARLESS supplying 127 tons of bunker coal
1918 returned to owners
1919 purchased by Tanfield Steamship Co Ltd., (William B Nisbet, Manager) Newcastle – name unchanged
1933 purchased by A/S Merilaid & Co, Tallinn and renamed Naissaar
1940 owners now Estonian Shipping Co., Tallinn – name unchanged
29 August 1941 mined, bombed and sunk by German aircraft E of Mokhni Island, Gulf of Finland while on passage from Tallinn to Kronstadt