Official Number:                       142446  

Laid down:

Builder:                                   Earl’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd., Hull

Pennant No:                            Y 3.2335 / Y.8.137

Launched:                               30 April 1918

Into Service:                            June 1918

Out of service:                         13 November 1919

Fate:                                      unknown

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

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

Career Data:

30 April 1918 launched by Earle’s Shipbuilding Co Ltd., Hull as Yard Nr: 631 named War Magpie for the Shipping Controller

June 1918 completed, placed under management of H Samman & Co., Hull and requisition for Admiralty service as a collier – name unchanged

2 February 1919 at Colombo

2 April 1919 called at Fremantle

5 May 1919 arrived at Colombo while on passage to London

30 July 1919 became a stores carrier – name unchanged

August 1919 at Liverpool while being loaded with petrol and war stores 17 members of the crew stole a large number of bottles of whisky, brandy and port from the hold and became drunk. They then threw bombs around in a drunken orgy. They were arrested, appeared at court and were sentenced to terms of imprisonment

30 August 1919 sailed Liverpool for Archangel

12 October 1919 sailed Gravesend for Murmansk

13 November 1919 returned to her owners – name unchanged

24 November 1919 purchased by Strick Line Ltd., London and renamed Arabistan

15 May 1920 sailed Baltimore for Alexandria

13 November 1920 arrived Philadelphia from Melilla

1923 owners became Serbistan Steamship Co Ltd., London – name unchanged

1926 purchased by Kobe Sanbashi K K Kobe and renamed Kohryu Maru

10 March 1928 was wrecked 20 miles north of Cape Niuboys in a typhoon while on passage from Tacoma to Yokohama carrying timber

19 April 1931 at Gravesend in collision with British steamship Eston. Berthed at South West India Dock with damage to her port bow above the water. Eston damaged to the upper part of her stem and her port bow above the water

20 June 1932 while on passage from Kotka for Busreh grounded at Porkala near Helsingfors. Salvage steamer standing by

6 March 1933 at Eastham scrapped submerged article suffering damage to her portside below the waterline. Berthed with a list to starboard. Damage unknown

23 August 1934 at Busreh fire broke out in the galley and starboard bunkers causing damage to the ships cargo

25 September 1936 while on passage from Abadan to Liverpool and the River Clyde struck a rock one nmile west of the Smalls was reported she was leaking badly. Was trying to make for West Dale Bay, Milford Haven to be beached. Was beached and Lloyds reported 27 feet of water in No 1 port and starboard holds, 21 feet of water in No 4 port and starboard holds

27 September 1936 salvage ship Ranger alongside and commenced unloading sound cargo from No 1 tween decks into coaster alongside. Diver examination due shortly