Official Number:                      129787

Laid down:

Builder:                                  S.P. Austin & Son Ltd, Wear Dock, Sunderland

Launched:                              21 November 1911

Signal Letters:                        HVBQ

Into Service:                           3 August 1914

Out of service:                        March 1919

Fate:                                     January 1965 reported as broken up

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:

21 November 1911 launched by S.P. Austin & Son Ltd, Wear Dock, Sunderland as Yard Nr: 261 named Tempo for Pelton SS Co Ltd, Newcastle

22 November 1911 the Sunderland Daily Echo & Shipping Gazette reported …

December 1911 completed

24 January 1912 arrived at Newcastle from London

19 June 1912 arrived on the River Wear from London

11 July 1912 arrived on the River Wear from Rouen

22 April 1913 sailed from the River Tyne for London

16 May 1913 an enquiry at Newcastle into the loss of the steamer Hawkwood off Flamborough Head on 12 January 1913 ended this day. Captain Evans of the Tempo and his Chief Officer were praised by the Chairman of the enquiry for the frank and lucid way they gave evidence concerning seeing and attempting to communicate with the Hawkwood. The Court was of the opinion that Captain Evans had done everything he was called upon to do so and then more

7 January 1914 arrived on the River Tyne  from London berthing at Tyne Dock

3 August 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a Collier, name unchanged until 27 November 1914

20 November 1914 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS FALMOUTH and supplied 315 tons of bunker coal

28 November 1914 re-deployed as an Ammunition carrier

29 January 1915 at 51.50°N 10.5°W while on passage from Devonport to Rosyth challenged by HMS VENUS (Light Cruiser) 

HMS VENUS

2 July 1915 at Rosyth alongside HMS PRINCESS ROYAL loading ammunition into her

HMS PRINCESS ROYAL

16 March 1917 sailed from St Helens Fort to Caen Roads together with Colliers FOURAS, EMBLA, ST. MATTHEW, KNATTEN, KRISTINE, NYASALAND, VINACS, EUROPA and SOUTHWOOD all escorted by HMS’s SAPPER, SEA SEARCHER, ROSE and GOZO

March 1919 returned to her owners

5 March 1919 sailed Grangemouth

7 June 1919 arrived at Grangemouth from the Tyne

12 June 1919 sailed Leith Docks for Christiania with a cargo of coal

30 July 1919 arrived at London from Fredrikshald

13 January 1927 at Antwerp grounded off Austruweel – refloated without damage – details from Lloyds Casualty reports

1931 purchased by Antonino Pollio, Naples and renamed POLINICE

1936  purchased by Achille Lauro, Naples name unchanged

10 September 1936 arrived at Malta from Tripoli and Bengasi

11 September 1936 sailed Malta for Torre Annunziata

29 April 1940 at Malta damaged during an enemy air raid while lying on buoys at Kalkara Creek. Sank after some 12 hours in 9 fathoms of water with with only the top of her masts and her funnel visible

20 June 1940 at Malta the Marshal of the Commercial Court gave notice that an action had been commenced in the Court for the Condemnation of the ship and its cargo

4 July 1940 at Malta the Marshall of the Prize Court invited tenders for the purchase of the vessel

7 September 1943 at Malta the Marshall of the Prize Court invited tenders for the purchase of the vessel

12 February 1944 at Malta offered for sale by public auction – still not raised from Kalkara Creek

October 1946 raised, repaired and purchased by Emmanuel Schembri, Valletta and renamed  Reborn

30 June 1947 sailed Tripoli for Malta

1 July 1949 sailed Malta for Haifa

March 1950 laid up in Grand Harbour

Decdember 1964 sold to Dominion & Colonial Trading Company of Luqa, Malta for scrapping                                

January/February 1965 broken up at Marsa, Malta