Official Number:                     118606

Laid down:

Pennant No:                          M 06 / M 1.22

Builder:                                 Cammell Laird & Co Ltd., Birkenhead

Launched:                              12 February 1910 

Into Service:                           24 November 1914

Out of service:                        5 June 1918

Fate:                                     5 June 1918 torpedoed and sunk

Background Data:  One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA.

Career Details:

 12 February 1910 launched by Cammell Laid & CO Ltd., Birkenhead as Yard Nr: 758 named Snaefell for Isle of Man Steam Packet Co Ltd, Douglas, Isle of Man by Miss Daisey Baldwin niece of one of the Directors of the owners. As she left the slipway she was nearly in collision with the steamer Sarnac which tried to pass astern of her. 

9 June 1910 commenced her builders trials

25 July 1910 further preliminary trials

August 1910 completed at a cost of £59,275. Certified to carry 1,241 passengers

27 February 1911 at Douglas, Isle of Man while backing out of Douglas harbour was in collision with the steam trawler Manx Princess which attempted to cross her stern. The Manx Princess was damage. The Snaefell sailed for Liverpool

24 November 1914 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an Armed Boarding Vessel, was sent back to her builders for necessary conversion work and commissioned as HMS SNAEFELL

18 December 1914 sailed Mersey on completion of conversion for Plymouth where she joined the Plymouth Squadron patrolling the Channel

June 1915 ordered to escort the monitor HMS RAGLAN to Gallipoli. Acted as a Troop Transport – name unchanged and landed troops at Gallipoli. She was based at Mudros

7 July 1915 arrived at Gibraltar

17 August 1915 Able Seaman (Boatman) Alfred Lee discharged dead – illness. He is remembered with pride on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial

August 1915 damaged by shellfire and required repairs, after which she was switched to shore patrol work monitoring Turkish movements. During this period she ran aground and after emergency repairs sailed to Alexandria for more permanent repairs

2 November 1915 arrived at Salonika. Petty Officer Robert J French discharged dead from post operative shock. He is buried in Leytonstone (St. Patrick’s) Roman Catholic Cemetery, Essex in grave XI A 5.37

3 November 1915 sailed Salonika with Rear Admiral Weymss onboard

29 March 1916 sailed from Port Mudros

18 April 1916 arrived at Port Mudros

17 June 1916 arrived at Port Mudros

13 July 1916 sailed from Port Mudros

18 July 1916 arrived at Port Mudros

22 July 1916 sailed from Port Mudros

24 September 1916 at Stavros Point alongside HMS EMPRESS

25 September 1916 arrived at Port Mudros

11 October 1916 sailed Port Mudros

20 October 1916 arrived at Port Mudros

23 October 1916 arrived at Port Mudros

8 November 1916 at Stavros Point alongside HMS EMPRESS

14 November 1916 arrived at Port Mudros

18 November 1916 arrived at Port Mudros

20 November 1916 arrived at Port Mudros

25 November 1916 arrived at Port Mudros

30 November 1916 sailed Port Mudros

2 December 1916 sailed Port Mudros

6 December 1916 arrived at Port Mudros

3 January 1917 arrived at Port Mudros

20 September 1917 sailed Alexandria to Suda Bay escorted by HMS RIBBLE arriving 22 September 1917

26 November 1917 sailed Milo escorted by HMS RIBBLE

4 May 1918 suffered a serious fire at ALexandria which destroyed most of her middle decks

31 May 1918 sailed Alexandria for Malta, escorted by HMS GERANIUM and two armed trawlers

5 June 1918 torpedoed and sunk by UB105 in the Mediterranean 240 miles ESE of Malta with the loss of eight lives. The remainder of her crew were rescued by one of the Armed Trawlers. Those who were killed are remembered with pride on the Plymouth Naval Memorial or are buried in Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery