SMS Teodo

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Austria-Hungary-flag-1869-1914-naval-1786-1869-merchant.svg Austria-Hungary
NameSMS Teodo
Namesake Teodo (Tivat)
Builder Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino (STT), Trieste
Yard number501
Laid down14 March 1914
Launched8 January 1915
Completed17 February 1916
FateCeded to Italy as war reparation, 1921
History
Name
  • 1921: Teodo
  • 1924: Barbana
  • 1926: Barbana G
  • 1940: Empire Airman
Owner
  • 1921: Italian Government, Ministry of Transport
  • 1924: Ministry of Marine, Italy
  • 1926: Società Anonima di Navigazione Garibaldi, Genoa
  • 1940: Ministry of War Transport
Operator
  • Owner operated except:-
  • Mark Whitwill & Son Ltd, Bristol (1940)
Port of registry
  • 1921: Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Genoa
  • 1940: Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Newcastle upon Tyne
Identification
  • Italian official number 1496 (1926-40)
  • UK Official Number 165788 (1940)
  • Code letters NFVG (1926-40)
  • ICS November.svg ICS Foxtrot.svg ICS Victor.svg ICS Golf.svg
  • Code letters GLZT (1940)
  • ICS Golf.svg ICS Lima.svg ICS Zulu.svg ICS Tango.svg
FateSunk by U-100, 23 September 1940
General characteristics
Tonnage6,561  GRT
Displacement13,200 tons [1]
Length449 ft 8 in (137.06 m)
Beam55 ft 6 in (16.92 m)
Depth34 ft 1 in (10.39 m)
Propulsion1 × triple-expansion steam engine (STT) 369 hp (275 kW)
Speed14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement112 (as SMS Teodo) [1]
Crew37 (as Empire Airman) [2]
North Atlantic Ocean laea location map.svg
Red pog.svg
class=notpageimage|
Approximate location of the sinking of Empire Airman.

SMS Teodo was a 6,561 ton collier built in 1915 for the Austro-Hungarian Navy. She was ceded to Italy in 1921 as a war reparation. She was renamed Barbana in 1924 and Barbana G in 1926. In 1940, she was seized by the United Kingdom and renamed Empire Airman. On 21 September 1940, Empire Airman was torpedoed and sunk by U-100.

Contents

History

SMS Teodo was built by Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, Trieste as yard number 501 and launched on 8 January 1913, being completed on 17 February 1916. [3] SMS Teodo was a Pola Class collier of the Austro-Hungarian Navy. [4] At the end of the First World War, under Article 137 of the Treaty of Saint-Germain, SMS Teodo was classed as a merchant ship [5] and passed to the Italian Government Ministry of Transport. In 1924, she was passed to the Italian Ministry of Marine, and renamed Barbana. In 1926, she was sold to the Società Anonima di Navigazione Garibaldi, Genoa and renamed Barbana G. [2] On 6 November 1929, she collided with the Italian cargo ship Atlantide in the Nieuwe Waterweg at Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands. Atlantide was consequently beached. [6] Barbana G was captured off Leith and taken to Methil [2] on 10 June 1940 and passed to the Ministry of War Transport, being renamed Empire Airman [7] under the management of Mark Whitwill & Sons Ltd, Bristol. [8]

Convoys

HX 72

Convoy HX 72 sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia on 9 September 1940. [9] Empire Airman was carrying a cargo of iron ore, [10] she was bound for Cardiff. [11] At 00:22 on 22 September, Empire Airman was hit by a torpedo fired by U-100. The ship was taken in tow, but sank on 23 September at 55°11′N15°07′W / 55.183°N 15.117°W / 55.183; -15.117 . Thirty three of the thirty seven crew were killed in the attack. Four survivors were rescued by HMS La Malouine. [2] Those lost on Empire Airman are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London. [12]

Official number and code letters

Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers.

Barbana G had the Official Number 1496 on the Italian register. [13] Empire Airman had the Official Number 165788 on Lloyds Register. [8]

Barbana G used the Code Letters NFVZ. [13] Empire Airman used the Code Letters GLZT [8]

Related Research Articles

SS Empire Adventure was a 5,787-ton steamship built in 1920 as the Eastney. She was sold to France in 1924 and renamed Germaine L D. In 1931 she was sold to Italy, being renamed Andrea, being seized in 1940 and renamed Empire Adventure. She was torpedoed on the night of 20/21 September 1940 and sank while under tow on 23 September 1940.

SS Empire Advocate was a 5,787 ton steamship which was built in 1913 as the Solfels. She was taken as war reparations in 1919 and renamed Bowes Castle in 1920. In 1932 she was sold to Italy, being renamed Angelina Lauro, being seized in 1940 and renamed Empire Advocate. She was scrapped at Bo'ness in 1945.

Hoxie was a 4,714 ton cargo ship which was built in 1918. She was renamed Empire Albatross in 1940. In 1942, she was renamed Belgian Fisherman. In 1946 she was renamed Belgique and then Martha Hendrik Fisser in 1950. She was scrapped in 1958.

Savoia was a 5,490 ton refrigerated cargo ship which was built in 1922. She was captured by the Royal Navy in 1941 and renamed Empire Arun. In 1947 she was sold and renamed Granlake. Further name changes were Dryad in 1949, Shiranesan Maru in 1951 and Dainichi Maru in 1962. She was scrapped in 1968.

Belgian Airman was a 6,959-ton cargo ship which was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Glasgow in 1941 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was launched as Empire Ballantyne and transferred to the Belgian Government in 1942. She was sunk by a German U-boat on 14 April 1945.

Empire Baron was a 5,890 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1926 for Navigazione Generale Gerolimich & Compagnia Società in Anzioni, Trieste, Italy. She was captured by the Royal Navy in 1940 and ownership passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was renamed Empire Baron. She was sold in 1947 to Navigation & Coal Trade Ltd, London and renamed Rubystone. She was sold to a Panamanian company in 1951 and was scrapped in 1960.

RFA <i>Maine</i> (1924) 1924–1954 steam ship

RFA Maine was a 7,432 GRT hospital ship which was built in 1924 as the ocean liner Leonardo da Vinci by SA Ansaldo, La Spezia, Italy for the Società di Navigazione Transatlantica Italiana. In 1941, she was captured by the British at Kismayu, Italian Somaliland. Declared a prize of war, she was passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Clyde, serving as a hospital ship for the British Army during the Second World War. In 1948, ownership was passed to the Admiralty and she entered service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as RFA Maine. She served during the Korean War and was scrapped in 1954.

Norhauk was a 6,086 GRT refrigerated cargo ship which was built to Design 1015 by G. M. Standifer Construction Company, Vancouver, Washington in 1919 as Waban for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). After service with Lykes Brothers-Ripley Steamship Co Inc she was transferred to the Ministry of Shipping in 1940 and renamed Empire Sambar. A boiler-room explosion damaged her in 1941. After repairs she was renamed Empire Beaver. She was transferred to the Norwegian Government in 1942 and renamed Norhauk, serving until she struck a mine and sank in December 1943.

Empire Bell was a 1,744 GRT collier which was built by Öresundsvarvet, Landskrona, Sweden as the 2,023 GRT passenger ship Belgia in 1930. In 1940 she was rebuilt as a cargo ship. In 1941, she was damaged by enemy bombing and burnt out. She was salvaged and sold to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), repaired and renamed Empire Bell. She was torpedoed and sunk by U-442 on 25 September 1942.

Empire Blanda was a cargo ship that Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow built in 1919 as Nile. It was sold to a Yugoslavian company in 1930 and renamed Sokol in 1933, serving until 1939 when it was sold to a Panamanian company and renamed Rio Grande. In 1940, the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) requisitioned Nile, which was renamed Empire Blanda. On 19 February 1941 U-69 torpedoed Nile, sinking it.

Empire Cameron was a 7,015 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1941 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was sold in 1946 and renamed St Margaret. In 1960, she was sold and renamed Agna, serving until scrapped in 1963.

Holmbury was a 7,058 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1943 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) as Empire Canyon. In 1947 she was sold and renamed Holmbury. In 1960, she was sold to Pakistan and renamed Ilyasbaksh. In 1965, she was detained by India as war had broken out between India and Pakistan. She was declared a war prize and seized by the Indian Government. She was scrapped in 1970.

SS <i>Inkosi</i> (1937)

Inkosi was a 6,618 GRT refrigerated cargo liner which was built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was hired by the Royal Navy in 1940 for use as an ocean boarding vessel, but was sunk in an air raid before she could be used for this purpose. The ship was salvaged, converted to a cargo ship and passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), who renamed her Empire Chivalry. In 1946 she was sold and renamed Planter. She served until 1958, when she was scrapped.

Belgian Crew was a 7,048 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1942 by Sir W G Armstrong, Whitworth & Co (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne as Empire Claymore for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was transferred to the Belgian Government in 1943 and renamed Belgian Crew. In 1946 she was sold to Compagnie Maritime Belge and renamed Capitaine Parlet. In 1960 she was sold to Hong Kong and renamed Ardenode. A further sale to Panama in 1966 resulted in her being renamed Tynlee. She served until 1969, when she was scrapped.

Empire Clive was a 7,069 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1941 by Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). During the Second World War, she served as a CAM ship, armed with a Hawker Hurricane aircraft. In 1946 she was sold and renamed Charlebury. In 1958, she was sold to Hong Kong and renamed Isabel Erica. She served until 1969 when she was scrapped.

Empire Cloud was a 5,969 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1940 by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was torpedoed on her maiden voyage, but repaired and returned to service. In 1942, she was torpedoed and sank whilst under tow to port.

Almeria Lykes was a 7,773 GRT Type C3 cargo ship that was built in 1940 by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey for the Lykes Brother Steamship Co. She was transferred to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Condor. In 1942, she was transferred to the United States Maritime Commission (USMC) and renamed Almeria Lykes. She was torpedoed by Axis motor torpedo boats on 13 August 1942 and later scuttled.

Empire Dorado was a 5,595 GRT design 1019 cargo ship that was built in 1920 as Tolosa by Atlantic Corporation, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB), passing to the United States Maritime Commission (USMC) in 1937. She was sold to the United Kingdom in 1940, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Dominica. She served until November 1941, when she was in collision with another ship. Although taken in tow, she subsequently sank.

Empire Eland was a 5,613 GRT Design 1019 cargo ship that was built in 1920 as West Kedron by Long Beach Shipbuilding Co, Long Beach, California, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). She was transferred to the United States Maritime Commission (USMC) in 1937. In 1940, she was transferred to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was torpedoed and sunk by U-94 on the night of 15–16 September 1941.

Empire Engineer was a 5,358 GRT refrigerated cargo ship that was built in 1921 as Canadian Commander by Canadian Vickers Ltd, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She was sold to an Italian firm in 1932 and renamed Giaocchino Lauro. She was seized by the United Kingdom in 1940, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Engineer. She served until 4 February 1941 when she was torpedoed and sunk by U-123.

References

  1. 1 2 "Teodo 17 Feb 1916". stile.coventry.ac. Archived from the original on 20 February 2006. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Empire Airman". uboat.net. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  3. ↑ "1165788" . Miramar Ship Index . Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  4. ↑ "Colliers". hicon.pl. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  5. ↑ "Treaty of Peace between the Allied and Associated Powers and Austria; Protocol, Declaration and Special Declaration" (PDF). emersonkent.com. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  6. ↑ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 45354. London. 7 November 1929. col A, p. 25.
  7. ↑ "Empire - A". Mariners. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  8. 1 2 3 "NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsollshipdata. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  9. ↑ "The Attack on Convoy HX 72". Annemarie Purnell. Archived from the original on 21 September 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  10. ↑ "The Attack on Convoy HX 72". Annemarie Purnell. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  11. ↑ "EMPIRE AIRMAN". Ubootwaffe.net. Archived from the original on 25 March 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  12. ↑ "Ship Index A-F". Brian Watson. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  13. 1 2 "NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 19 December 2008.

54°0′N18°0′W / 54.000°N 18.000°W / 54.000; -18.000

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