The King Orry, (1,877 gross tons), was built in 1913 by Cammell Laird at Birkenhead and was the first ship in the Steam Packet's fleet to have geared turbines. In 1914 she was taken over as an armed boarding steamer and worked from Scapa Flow. In the latter part of the war she was adapted for battle practice work and on November 21, 1918 was the sole representative of the British Merchant Navy at the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet.
The King Orry returned to Steam Packet service in 1919, and the only event to shatter the calm routine of her peace-time service was a stranding off New Brighton on August 19, 1921. She had an extensive over¬haul in 1935 and in 1939 was converted to oil burning. Then in September 1939 she went to war again, once more as the armed boarding steamer H. M. S. King Orry.
Based at Dover she was a natural choice when ships were being sought for the Dunkirk evacuation. She sailed from Dover on May 26, 1940 and was damaged on return passage with 1,131 troops on board.
She returned to Dunkirk on May 29 and was dive-bombed and damaged approaching harbour. She was at¬tacked again while alongside the East Pier, and was ordered to return to Dover light. Soon after the King Orry had cleared the harbour entrance she sank, fortunately without loss of life. SG173 and label
King Orry lll
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Re: King Orry lll
Built as a ferry under yard No. 789 by Cammell, Laird & Co., Ltd. Birkenhead for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. Ltd., Douglas, Isle of Man.
11 March 1913 launched under the name KING ORRY (III).
Tonnage 1.877 gross, dim. 313 x 43.1 x 16.11ft.
Powered by two geared steam turbines, 9.400 ihp, speed 20½ knots. Twin screws.
Passenger accommodation 1.600 passengers and 59 crew.
July 1913 completed.
She was the last ship built for the company before World War I and used in the ferry service between the U.K and Isle of Man.
29 October 1914 requisition by the British Navy.
Late November 1914 she was fitted out as a boarding vessel for the British Admiralty by Cammell Laird, and after completing sailed to Scapa Flow. Armament 1 – 4inch gun.
Used from there as patrol boarding vessel, putting prize crews aboard when necessary, she patrolled to the border of the German minefields off Helgoland.
After the Battle of Jutland was she used for target towing for gunnery practice.
During 1916 she was disguised as a peaceful trader and renamed in VIKING ORRY, she patrolled off the Norway coast and intercepted ships carrying contraband to Germany.
After the German fleet surrendered at Scapa Flow on 21 November 1918, she was the only merchant ship which took part in the capitulation ceremony.
28 January 1919 she went back to her owners. (When she got her old name back I could not find out.)
The only mishap in her career after the war was when she stranded near Rock Lighthouse, New Brighton when entering the Mersey on 19 August 1921. She was later refloated without any damage.
1934 She was extensively overhauled.
1939 Fitted out from coal to oil burning.
25 August 1939 requisitioned by the Royal Navy as a boarding vessel.
27 September 1939 commissioned and assigned to the Dover Command, Royal Navy crewed.
22 May 1940 taken of her duties and put standby for the Dunkirk evacuation.
She made one voyage with troops from Dunkirk. Landed 27 May, 1.139 troops at Dover, when off Calais that voyage she was hit by fire from the shore batteries; she was damaged and got some casualties.
29 May late in the afternoon she returned to Dunkirk, survived and air attack from a dive-bomber, but then e new attack took place, which put her steering gear out of action, and all instruments on the bridge, were shattered. She collided with the pier but was able to berth. After darkness some temporary repairs were made, heavily damaged, and needing the berth, she was ordered to sail, she left after midnight and got free of the harbour entrance. Then she got a heavy list to starboard, and her engine room flooded, she was abandoned and shortly after two in the morning of 30 May 1940 she sank just north of the port, all crew were saved by nearby vessels.
Isle of Man 2010 £1.50 sg?, scott? (the vessel in the backgrownd is the ferry TYNWALD (IV)) 2019 ROW sg?, scott?
Sources: Register of Merchant vessels completed in 1913. Island Lifeline by Connery Chappell.
B.E.F Ships before, at and after Dunkirk by John de S. Winser. Short Sea Long War by John de S. Winser.
11 March 1913 launched under the name KING ORRY (III).
Tonnage 1.877 gross, dim. 313 x 43.1 x 16.11ft.
Powered by two geared steam turbines, 9.400 ihp, speed 20½ knots. Twin screws.
Passenger accommodation 1.600 passengers and 59 crew.
July 1913 completed.
She was the last ship built for the company before World War I and used in the ferry service between the U.K and Isle of Man.
29 October 1914 requisition by the British Navy.
Late November 1914 she was fitted out as a boarding vessel for the British Admiralty by Cammell Laird, and after completing sailed to Scapa Flow. Armament 1 – 4inch gun.
Used from there as patrol boarding vessel, putting prize crews aboard when necessary, she patrolled to the border of the German minefields off Helgoland.
After the Battle of Jutland was she used for target towing for gunnery practice.
During 1916 she was disguised as a peaceful trader and renamed in VIKING ORRY, she patrolled off the Norway coast and intercepted ships carrying contraband to Germany.
After the German fleet surrendered at Scapa Flow on 21 November 1918, she was the only merchant ship which took part in the capitulation ceremony.
28 January 1919 she went back to her owners. (When she got her old name back I could not find out.)
The only mishap in her career after the war was when she stranded near Rock Lighthouse, New Brighton when entering the Mersey on 19 August 1921. She was later refloated without any damage.
1934 She was extensively overhauled.
1939 Fitted out from coal to oil burning.
25 August 1939 requisitioned by the Royal Navy as a boarding vessel.
27 September 1939 commissioned and assigned to the Dover Command, Royal Navy crewed.
22 May 1940 taken of her duties and put standby for the Dunkirk evacuation.
She made one voyage with troops from Dunkirk. Landed 27 May, 1.139 troops at Dover, when off Calais that voyage she was hit by fire from the shore batteries; she was damaged and got some casualties.
29 May late in the afternoon she returned to Dunkirk, survived and air attack from a dive-bomber, but then e new attack took place, which put her steering gear out of action, and all instruments on the bridge, were shattered. She collided with the pier but was able to berth. After darkness some temporary repairs were made, heavily damaged, and needing the berth, she was ordered to sail, she left after midnight and got free of the harbour entrance. Then she got a heavy list to starboard, and her engine room flooded, she was abandoned and shortly after two in the morning of 30 May 1940 she sank just north of the port, all crew were saved by nearby vessels.
Isle of Man 2010 £1.50 sg?, scott? (the vessel in the backgrownd is the ferry TYNWALD (IV)) 2019 ROW sg?, scott?
Sources: Register of Merchant vessels completed in 1913. Island Lifeline by Connery Chappell.
B.E.F Ships before, at and after Dunkirk by John de S. Winser. Short Sea Long War by John de S. Winser.