Ajax. | |
History | |
---|---|
Name | |
Owner | Torm Dampskibselsskabet |
Port of registry | Newcastle |
Builder | W. Dobson & Co. [1] |
Yard number | 32 |
Launched | 30 October 1889 |
Completed | 1889 |
Identification | 95216 |
Fate | Torpedoed and sunk 25 December 1917 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Cargo ship |
Tonnage | 1,018 GRT |
Length | 64 metres (210 ft 0 in) |
Beam | 9.2 metres (30 ft 2 in) |
Depth | 5 metres (16 ft 5 in) |
Installed power | Triple expansion steam engine |
Propulsion | Screw propeller |
The SS Ajax was a Danish cargo ship that was torpedoed by U-104 in the Bay of Biscay off Audierne, France, while she was travelling from Bilbao, Spain, to Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
SS Ajax was constructed in 1889 with yard no. 32 at the W. Dobson & Co. shipyard in Newcastle, United Kingdom. She was launched on 30 October 1889 and completed in December. She sailed under the name SS Antiquary under the British flag until she was sold in 1901 to Torm Dampskibselsskabet in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The ship was 64 metres (210 ft 0 in) long, with a beam of 9.2 metres (30 ft 2 in). She had a depth of 5 metres (16 ft 5 in). The ship was assessed at 1,018 GRT. She had a triple expansion steam engine driving a single screw propeller. The engine was rated at 111 nhp.
On 25 December 1917, Ajax was on a voyage in a convoy from Bilbao, Spain, to Cardiff, Wales. At 0200 hrs the Ajax was struck by one torpedo from U-104 off Audierne, France ( 47°53′N4°32′W / 47.883°N 4.533°W ). The torpedo struck in the engine room which made the boilers explode a few seconds later and sent the ship to the bottom of the Bay in just 30 seconds. The survivors reached land in a badly damaged life boat. At the time of her sinking the Ajax was carrying a cargo of iron ore. The ship sank to a depth of over 58 metres (190 ft), along with its cargo and the eleven sailors. [2] [Note 1]
The wreck sits 54 to 58 metres (177 to 190 ft) deep at 47°53′N4°32′W / 47.883°N 4.533°W .
German submarine U-49 was a Type VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 21 November 1936 and laid down on 15 September 1938 at the yards of Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG in Kiel as yard number 584. Launched on 24 June 1939, she was commissioned on 12 August and assigned to the 7th U-Boat Flotilla under the command of Kurt von Goßler.
SS Eastfield was a 2,150-ton armed steamship which was torpedoed by the German U-boat SM UB-57 on 27 November 1917. The wreck sits intact at 50°14.255′N4°42.262′W at a depth of 50 metres (160 ft) off Mevagissey, Cornwall. The cargo of coal can be found scattered on the sea bed nearby.
The SS Espagne was a Belgian cargo ship that was torpedoed by the Imperial German Navy submarine SM UC-71 in the English Channel off St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom while she was travelling from Le Havre, France to Newport, Monmouthshire, United Kingdom.
SS Ajax was a Norwegian cargo ship that was destroyed with explosive charges by SM UC-17 in the English Channel 30 nautical miles (56 km) north of Ouessant, Finistère, France, while she was travelling from Rufisque, Senegal to Liverpool, United Kingdom.
SSKeltier was a Belgian cargo ship that was torpedoed by U-55 in the Atlantic Ocean while she was travelling from Milford Haven, Wales, United Kingdom, to New York, United States, in ballast.
SS Oslo was a British passenger ship that was torpedoed by the German submarine SM U-87 in the North Sea 15 nautical miles (28 km) east by north of the Out Skerries, Shetland Islands. She was travelling from Trondheim, Norway to Liverpool, United Kingdom while carrying passengers and a cargo of copper ore.
SS Dettifoss was an Icelandic Cargo Ship that was Torpedoed by German submarine U-1064 in the Irish Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) out of Belfast, United Kingdom, while she was travelling from New York, United States to Belfast, United Kingdom and later to Reykjavík, Iceland.
SS Linda was an Estonian Cargo Ship that was torpedoed by U-9 in the North Sea 100 nautical miles (190 km) west of Utsira, Norway, while she was travelling from Blyth, United Kingdom to Göteborg, Sweden.
SS Germaine was a Greek cargo ship that was torpedoed by U-48 in the Atlantic Ocean, while she was travelling from Albany, New York, United States to Cork, Ireland.
SS Iberian was a British cargo ship that was torpedoed by SM U-28 in the Atlantic Ocean 9 nautical miles (17 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock while she was travelling from Manchester, United Kingdom to Boston, United States with a general cargo.
SS Prunelle was a British cargo ship that the German submarine SM UB-112 torpedoed on 22 August 1918 in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) south east of Blyth, Northumberland. Prunelle was carrying a cargo of jute from London, United Kingdom, to Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom.
SS Supetar was a Yugoslavian Cargo ship that was torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese submarine I-16 on 12 June 1942 in the Indian Ocean, 100 nautical miles (190 km) south of Beira, Mozambique.
SS Argo was a Finnish Cargo ship that the Soviet submarine Shch-317 torpedoed on 16 June 1942 in the Gulf of Finland between Bogskär and Utö, Finland.
SS Rio Tercero was an Argentinian Cargo ship that the German submarine U-202 torpedoed on 22 June 1942 in the Atlantic Ocean 120 nautical miles (220 km) east of New York City while she was travelling from New York City to Buenos Aires, Argentina while carrying 3500 tons of general cargo including coal and mail.
SS Uniwaleco was a South-African Whale Factory ship that was torpedoed by the German submarine U-161 in the Caribbean Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) west of the Saint Vincent Passage on 7 March 1942 while she was travelling from Curaçao to Freetown with a stopover in Trinidad while carrying a cargo of 8800 tons of fuel oil.
SS Tolten was a Chilean Cargo ship that was torpedoed by the German submarine U-404 in the Atlantic Ocean 32 nautical miles (59 km) off Barnegat, New Jersey, United States on 13 March 1942 while she was travelling from Baltimore, United States to New York City, New York (state), United States in ballast.
SS Equipoise was a Panamanian Cargo ship that was torpedoed by the German submarine U-160 in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) south east of Cape Henry, Virginia, United States on 27 March 1942.
SS Monagas was a Venezuelan tanker that was torpedoed by the German submarine U-502 in the Gulf of Venezuela 12 nautical miles (22 km) west of Punta Macollawest on 16 February 1942 while she was travelling from Maracaibo, Venezuela to Aruba while carrying a cargo of oil products.
SS Presidente Trujillo was a Dominican Cargo ship that was torpedoed by the German submarine U-156 in the Caribbean Sea off Fort-de-France, Martinique on 21 May 1942 while she was travelling from Fort-de-France, Martinique to San Juan, Puerto Rico carrying a cargo of beer, machinery and forage.
SS Cork was an Irish passenger ship that was torpedoed by the German submarine SM U-103 in the Irish Sea nine nautical miles north east of Point Lynas, Anglesey on 26 January 1918 while on route from Dublin, Ireland to Liverpool, United Kingdom while carrying a general cargo of sheep, horses, and cattle.