CLAN MATHESON
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 8:41 pm
CLAN MATHESON, 1919
The CLAN MATHESON was launched at William Hamilton’s Port Glasgow yard on 18 February 1919. Powered by a triple expansion steam engine built by David Rowan & Co, she was registered at 5,613 gross tons. Owned by the Glasgow firm of Cayzer, Irvine, operators of the Clan Line, she was 397 feet in length, with a beam of 34 feet and a speed of 11.5 knots. The Clan Line of cargo liners ran scheduled services from Great Britain to South and East Africa and to India and specialised in heavy lifts, carrying most of the rolling stock and locomotives for the Indian railways. During the Second World War, in February 1940, the ship was requisitioned by the government; she was bombed and set on fire by Japanese aircraft while at Calcutta (Kolkata), India, on 5 December 1943. Repaired, she returned to Clan Line service after the war but in 1948 was sold, suffering several changes of name and ownership. In January 1955, renamed EMPIRE CLAIRE, the ship was loaded with obsolete ammunition and poison-gas canisters; after leaving Stranraer on 27 July, she was scuttled off Rockall in the North Atlantic.
Built as a cargo vessel under yard No 311 by William Hamilton & Co. Ltd, Port Glasgow original for the Australian Steamship Ltd., Sydney, with the intention to name her BOGONG later renamed in YOU YANGS, but before laid down the contract was sold on orders of the British Shipping Controllers to the Clan Line. The design was modified and she was lengthened.
1917 Keel laid down.
18 February 1919 launched as the CLAN MORGAN
Tonnage 5,614 gross, 3,453 net, dwt 8327 dwt. dim. 121.03 x 15.65 x 10.36m.
Powered by a one 3-cyl. triple expansion steam engine, 517 nhp., one shaft, speed 12 knots.
April 1919 delivered to the Clan Line Steamers Ltd., Glasgow and managed by Cayzer, Irvine & Co. Ltd., Glasgow as the CLAN MATHESON. Homeport Glasgow.
CLAN MATHESON was a 5,613 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1919 by William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow as CLAN MORGAN for Clan Line Steamers Ltd. She was sold in 1948 to British & South American Steam Navigation Co. Ltd (Houston Line Ltd.) Glasgow and renamed HARMODIUS. A further sale in 1951 when she was bought by Heron Steamship Co Ltd.,London and managed by Tsavliris Shipping Co., London saw her renamed CLAIRE T. 1953 Bought by Romney Steamship Co. Ltd., with Tsavliris manager. In 1955, she was purchased by the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and renamed EMPIRE CLAIRE. She was scuttled on 27 September 1955 with a cargo of obsolete chemical materiel.
The ship was built by William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow as yard number 311 as a sister ship to SS CHRONOS and SS MACEDON. She was laid down in 1917 and launched on 18 February 1919 as CLAN MORGAN with completion in April that year.
The ship was 397 feet 1 inch (121.03 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet 5 inches (17.20 m) and a depth of 34 feet 0 inches (10.36 m). She had a GRT of 5,613 and a NRT of 3,453.
The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 27 inches (69 cm), 44 inches (110 cm) and 73 inches (190 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by D Rowan & Co Ltd, Glasgow.
CLAN MATHESON was ordered by Australian Steamship Ltd, Sydney in 1917 as the 4,360 GRT BOGONG. It was later decided to rename her YOU YANGS. The contract was sold to Clan Line Steamers Ltd on the orders of the British Shipping Controller. Her design was modified and she was lengthened.
CLAN MATHESON was placed under the management of Cayzer, Irvine & Co Ltd. Her port of registry was Glasgow. The United Kingdom Official Number 141086 was allocated. The call sign JWPR were allocated. In 1934, her call sign were changed to GQMW. CLAN MATHESON served as a cargo ship, but she was also used as a cadet training ship.
In 1924, the Coconut Moth (Levuana iridescens) was a serious pest in Fiji and a biological solution was sought. A similar moth, Artona catoxantha was known to be parisitized by Ptychoyia and Apanteles. It was decided to use these parasites to eradicate the Coconut Moth. The parasites had to be imported from Singapore to Fiji. Most ships at that time did not sail direct, but via Australia, which would have meant putting the parasites into quarantine in Australia. Clan Line ships operated in the area. In July 1924, CLAN MACKAY was sailing from Singapore to Fiji via other ports. CLAN MATHESON was also due to sail from Java to Fiji. The parasites were transported on CLAN MACKAY to Surabaya, Java, where they were transferred to CLAN MATHESON for onward shipment to Fiji. Although no Apanteles survived, the introduction of the Ptychomia was a success and the Coconut Moth had been eradicated within two years.
During the Second World War, CLAN MATHESON was a member of a number of convoys.
OG 3
Convoy OG 3 formed at sea on 17 October 1939 bound for Gibraltar. CLAN MATHESON was carrying general cargo bound for East Africa.
OG 22
Convoy OG 22 formed at sea on 18 March 1940 bound for Gibraltar. CLAN MATHESON was a member of this convoy.
HX 228
Convoy HX 228 departed New York on 28 February 1943 and arrived at Liverpool on 15 March. CLAN MATHESON was carrying a cargo of sugar and general cargo. She was to have been a member of this convoy but returned to port.
HX 229
Convoy HX 229 departed New York on 8 March 1943 and arrived at Liverpool on 23 March. CLAN MATHESON was carrying general cargo, mail and a passenger, bound for Loch Ewe. She was also carrying the convoy's Vice Commodore. CLAN MATHESON was unable to maintain speed and put into Halifax, Nova Scotia.
In 1948, CLAN MATHESON was sold to British & South American Steam Navigation Co Ltd and was renamed HARMODIUS. She was placed under the management of Houston Line Ltd. In 1951, she was sold to the Heron Steamship Co Ltd, London and renamed CLAIRE T. In 1953, she was sold to the Romney Steamship Co Ltd, serving until 1955 when she was purchased by the MoT and renamed EMPIRE CLAIRE. As part of Operation Sandcastle, she was loaded with obsolete war materiel which included confiscated German munitions containing Tabun. Loaded with 16,000 bombs. EMPIRE CLAIRE was towed out of Stranraer on 27 July 1955. She was scuttled that day at 56 30N 12 00W.
Great Britain 2013 £1.28 sg?, scott?
Source: http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/v ... p?id=19625 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Clan_Matheson_(1919)
The CLAN MATHESON was launched at William Hamilton’s Port Glasgow yard on 18 February 1919. Powered by a triple expansion steam engine built by David Rowan & Co, she was registered at 5,613 gross tons. Owned by the Glasgow firm of Cayzer, Irvine, operators of the Clan Line, she was 397 feet in length, with a beam of 34 feet and a speed of 11.5 knots. The Clan Line of cargo liners ran scheduled services from Great Britain to South and East Africa and to India and specialised in heavy lifts, carrying most of the rolling stock and locomotives for the Indian railways. During the Second World War, in February 1940, the ship was requisitioned by the government; she was bombed and set on fire by Japanese aircraft while at Calcutta (Kolkata), India, on 5 December 1943. Repaired, she returned to Clan Line service after the war but in 1948 was sold, suffering several changes of name and ownership. In January 1955, renamed EMPIRE CLAIRE, the ship was loaded with obsolete ammunition and poison-gas canisters; after leaving Stranraer on 27 July, she was scuttled off Rockall in the North Atlantic.
Built as a cargo vessel under yard No 311 by William Hamilton & Co. Ltd, Port Glasgow original for the Australian Steamship Ltd., Sydney, with the intention to name her BOGONG later renamed in YOU YANGS, but before laid down the contract was sold on orders of the British Shipping Controllers to the Clan Line. The design was modified and she was lengthened.
1917 Keel laid down.
18 February 1919 launched as the CLAN MORGAN
Tonnage 5,614 gross, 3,453 net, dwt 8327 dwt. dim. 121.03 x 15.65 x 10.36m.
Powered by a one 3-cyl. triple expansion steam engine, 517 nhp., one shaft, speed 12 knots.
April 1919 delivered to the Clan Line Steamers Ltd., Glasgow and managed by Cayzer, Irvine & Co. Ltd., Glasgow as the CLAN MATHESON. Homeport Glasgow.
CLAN MATHESON was a 5,613 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1919 by William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow as CLAN MORGAN for Clan Line Steamers Ltd. She was sold in 1948 to British & South American Steam Navigation Co. Ltd (Houston Line Ltd.) Glasgow and renamed HARMODIUS. A further sale in 1951 when she was bought by Heron Steamship Co Ltd.,London and managed by Tsavliris Shipping Co., London saw her renamed CLAIRE T. 1953 Bought by Romney Steamship Co. Ltd., with Tsavliris manager. In 1955, she was purchased by the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and renamed EMPIRE CLAIRE. She was scuttled on 27 September 1955 with a cargo of obsolete chemical materiel.
The ship was built by William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow as yard number 311 as a sister ship to SS CHRONOS and SS MACEDON. She was laid down in 1917 and launched on 18 February 1919 as CLAN MORGAN with completion in April that year.
The ship was 397 feet 1 inch (121.03 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet 5 inches (17.20 m) and a depth of 34 feet 0 inches (10.36 m). She had a GRT of 5,613 and a NRT of 3,453.
The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 27 inches (69 cm), 44 inches (110 cm) and 73 inches (190 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by D Rowan & Co Ltd, Glasgow.
CLAN MATHESON was ordered by Australian Steamship Ltd, Sydney in 1917 as the 4,360 GRT BOGONG. It was later decided to rename her YOU YANGS. The contract was sold to Clan Line Steamers Ltd on the orders of the British Shipping Controller. Her design was modified and she was lengthened.
CLAN MATHESON was placed under the management of Cayzer, Irvine & Co Ltd. Her port of registry was Glasgow. The United Kingdom Official Number 141086 was allocated. The call sign JWPR were allocated. In 1934, her call sign were changed to GQMW. CLAN MATHESON served as a cargo ship, but she was also used as a cadet training ship.
In 1924, the Coconut Moth (Levuana iridescens) was a serious pest in Fiji and a biological solution was sought. A similar moth, Artona catoxantha was known to be parisitized by Ptychoyia and Apanteles. It was decided to use these parasites to eradicate the Coconut Moth. The parasites had to be imported from Singapore to Fiji. Most ships at that time did not sail direct, but via Australia, which would have meant putting the parasites into quarantine in Australia. Clan Line ships operated in the area. In July 1924, CLAN MACKAY was sailing from Singapore to Fiji via other ports. CLAN MATHESON was also due to sail from Java to Fiji. The parasites were transported on CLAN MACKAY to Surabaya, Java, where they were transferred to CLAN MATHESON for onward shipment to Fiji. Although no Apanteles survived, the introduction of the Ptychomia was a success and the Coconut Moth had been eradicated within two years.
During the Second World War, CLAN MATHESON was a member of a number of convoys.
OG 3
Convoy OG 3 formed at sea on 17 October 1939 bound for Gibraltar. CLAN MATHESON was carrying general cargo bound for East Africa.
OG 22
Convoy OG 22 formed at sea on 18 March 1940 bound for Gibraltar. CLAN MATHESON was a member of this convoy.
HX 228
Convoy HX 228 departed New York on 28 February 1943 and arrived at Liverpool on 15 March. CLAN MATHESON was carrying a cargo of sugar and general cargo. She was to have been a member of this convoy but returned to port.
HX 229
Convoy HX 229 departed New York on 8 March 1943 and arrived at Liverpool on 23 March. CLAN MATHESON was carrying general cargo, mail and a passenger, bound for Loch Ewe. She was also carrying the convoy's Vice Commodore. CLAN MATHESON was unable to maintain speed and put into Halifax, Nova Scotia.
In 1948, CLAN MATHESON was sold to British & South American Steam Navigation Co Ltd and was renamed HARMODIUS. She was placed under the management of Houston Line Ltd. In 1951, she was sold to the Heron Steamship Co Ltd, London and renamed CLAIRE T. In 1953, she was sold to the Romney Steamship Co Ltd, serving until 1955 when she was purchased by the MoT and renamed EMPIRE CLAIRE. As part of Operation Sandcastle, she was loaded with obsolete war materiel which included confiscated German munitions containing Tabun. Loaded with 16,000 bombs. EMPIRE CLAIRE was towed out of Stranraer on 27 July 1955. She was scuttled that day at 56 30N 12 00W.
Great Britain 2013 £1.28 sg?, scott?
Source: http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/v ... p?id=19625 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Clan_Matheson_(1919)