SS Alk

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

History
Name
  • Alk (1924-45)
  • Empire Contest (1945-46)
  • Vereshyagin (1946-60)
Owner
  • Roland Linie AG (1924-26)
  • Norddeutscher Lloyd (1926-33)
  • Argo Reederei AG (1933-37)
  • Argo Reederei Richard Adler & Co (1937-45)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1945)
  • Ministry of Transport (1945-46)
  • Soviet Government (1946-60)
Operator
  • Roland Linie AG (1924-26)
  • Norddeutscher Lloyd (1926-33)
  • Argo Reederei AG (1933-37)
  • Argo Reederei Richard Adler & Co (1937-45)
  • W A Wilson Ltd (1945-46)
  • Soviet Government (1946-60)
Port of registry
  • Merchant flag of Germany (1919-1933).svg Bremen (1924-33)
  • Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Bremen (1938-45)
  • Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg London (1945-46)
  • Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Archangelsk (1946-60)
BuilderNeptun AG
Launched1924
Identification
  • Code Letters QLWM (1924-34)
  • ICS Quebec.svg ICS Lima.svg ICS Whiskey.svg ICS Mike.svg
  • Code Letters DOMF (1934-45)
  • ICS Delta.svg ICS Oscar.svg ICS Mike.svg ICS Foxtrot.svg
  • Code Letters GQXW (1945-46)
  • ICS Golf.svg ICS Quebec.svg ICS X-ray.svg ICS Whiskey.svg
  • United Kingdom Official Number 180727 (1945-46)
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Type Cargo ship
Tonnage
Length221 ft 4 in (67.46 m)
Beam34 ft 9 in (10.59 m)
Depth11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
Installed powerTriple expansion steam engine
PropulsionScrew propeller

Alk was a 1,175 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1924 by Neptun AG, Rostock, Germany for German owners. She was seized by the Allies in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Contest. In 1946, she was allocated to the Soviet Union and renamed Vereshyagin (Верещагин). She served until about 1960, being deleted from Lloyd's Register in that year.

Contents

Description

The ship was built in 1924 by Neptun AG. [1]

The ship was 221 feet 4 inches (67.46 m) long, with a beam of 34 feet 9 inches (10.59 m) and a depth of 11 feet 2 inches (3.40 m). The ship had a GRT of 1,175 and a NRT of 612. [2]

The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 17+916 inches (44.6 cm), 29+916 inches (75.1 cm) and 47+18 inches (120 cm) diameter by 31+12 inches (80 cm) stroke. The engine was built by Neptun. [2]

History

Alk was built for Roland Linie AG, Bremen. [3] Her port of registry was Bremen and she was allocated the Code Letters QLWM. [2] By 1926, Norddeutscher Lloyd had taken over Roland Linie. In 1933, Alk was transferred to Argo Reederei AG, Bremen. [3] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to DOMF. [4] In 1936, the company changed its name to Argo Reederei Richard Adler & Co. [5]

In May 1945, Alk was seized by the Allies at Brunsbüttel. She was passed to the MoWT and renamed Empire Contest. [1] Her port of registry was changed to London. The Code Letters GQXW and United Kingdom Official Number 180747 were allocated. She was placed under the management of W A Wilson Ltd. [6]

In 1946, [1] Empire Contesnt was transferred to the Soviet Government and was renamed Vereshyagin. [3] Her port of registry was changed to Archangelsk. [7] She served until c1960, when she was deleted from shipping registers. [3]

Related Research Articles

Stettin was a 2,646 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1923 for the Stettiner Dampfer Compagnie. In 1930 she was sold to Norddeutscher Lloyd and renamed Akka. She was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in 1940. Akka was seized as a war prize in 1945, passing to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and being renamed Empire Calder.

Ceuta was a 2,719 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1929 for the Oldenburg-Portugiesische Dampfschiffs-Reederei. She was sunk during an air raid in 1943, but later raised, repaired and returned to service. She was seized as a war prize in 1945, passed to the British Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Camel.

Klio was a 1,403 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1924 by AG Weser, Bremen, Germany for Neptun Line. In 1945, she was seized by the Allies and passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), renamed Empire Conclyde. In 1946, she was passed to the Soviet Union and renamed Shota Rustavelli.

Borussia was a 948 GRT coaster that was built in 1912 by Nüscke & Co, Stettin for German owners. She was renamed Timandra in 1939. She was seized by the Allies at Rendsburg in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Confal. In 1947, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Woodwren. She was renamed Artemis in 1953 and hulked. The hulk was scrapped in 1960.

Elbe was a 1,197 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1921 by Nobiskrug Werft, Rendsburg for German owners. She was seized by the Allies at Copenhagen, Denmark in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Confederation. In 1946, she was transferred to the Soviet Union and renamed José Dias. She served until she was scrapped in 1966.

Orlanda was a cargo ship that was built in 1920 by F Krupp AG, Emden for German owners. She was seized by the Allies in Hamburg, in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Conington. In 1946, she was allocated to the Newfoundland Government. In 1949, she was sold to Panama and renamed Alabe. She served until 1958, when she was scrapped.

Bessel was a cargo ship that was built in 1925 as Sorrento by AG Weser, Bremen for German owners. She was sold in 1926 and renamed Bessel. She was seized by the Allies in Vigo, Spain, in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Coniston. In 1946, she was lent to the Danish Government and was allocated to them in 1947. She was sold into Danish merchant service and renamed Birgitte Skou. In 1959, she was sold to Italy and renamed N Martini. She was renamed Nicolo Martini in 1961, serving until 1972 when she ran aground at Portoscuso, Sardinia. Although refloated she was declared a total loss and was scrapped in 1973.

Ambria was a cargo ship that was built in 1922 by Deutsche Werft, Finkenwerder for German owners. She was sold in 1934 and renamed Gumbinnen. She was sunk by a British destroyer in 1941, raised and repaired. Gumbinnen was seized by the Allies in Flensburg, in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Conleith. In 1946, she was allocated to the Norwegian Government and renamed Dragnes. She was sold into Norwegian merchant service and renamed Mimona. In 1959, she was sold and renamed Malay. She served until 1961 when she was scrapped.

Charlotte Cords was a cargo ship that was built in 1923 by Neptun AG, Rostock for German owners. She was seized by the Allies in Travemünde in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Connah. In 1946, she was allocated to the Soviet Government and renamed Nikolai Bauman. The ship was scuttled while carrying a cargo of nuclear waste in 1964.

Akademik Karpinsky was a 1,122 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1936 as Thalia by Nordseewerke, Emden, Germany for German owners. She was interned at Cadiz, Spain in 1943, and surrendered to the Allies in May 1945. Thalia passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Consett. In 1946, she was transferred to the Soviet Union and renamed Akademik Karpinsky, serving until 31 August 1953 when she foundered.

Ganter was a 1,771 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1927 by G Seebeck AG, Bremerhaven, Germany for German owners. She was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War and operated as Transporter RO 29, she was seized by the Allies in May 1945. She was passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Consistance, being sold into merchant service in 1948. In 1950, she was sold to the Dutch government and renamed Jan Willem and then sold and renamed Maria in 1951. She was sold to Finnish owners later that year and being renamed Dagny. She served until she was scrapped in 1967.

Memel was a 1,102 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1925 as Reval by Schiffs-und Dockbauwerft Flender AG, Lübeck, Germany for German owners. A sale in 1934 saw her renamed Memel. She was seized by the Allies in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Constellation. In 1946, she was transferred to the Soviet Union and renamed Ivan Sechenov.

SS <i>Barlind</i>

Barlind was a 1,453 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1938 as Süderau by Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG, Bremen, Germany for German owners. She was seized by the Allies in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Content. In 1946, she was allocated to Norway and renamed Svartnes. She was sold into merchant service in 1947 and renamed Barlind. In 1971, she was sold to Greece and renamed Ikaria. She served until 1972 when she was scrapped.

Jean Marie was a 964 GRT coaster that was built in 1922 by F Schichau GmbH, Elbing, Germany as Tertia for German owners. A sale in 1925 saw her renamed Hornland. In 1926, a further sale saw her renamed Taube. She was seized by the Allies in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Contour. In 1946, she was transferred to Belgium and renamed Jean Marie. She was sold into merchant service, serving until 1951 when she sank after her cargo shifted.

Anakriya was a 1,000 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1925 as Riga by Travewerk Gebrüder Goedhart AG, Hamburg, Germany. After a sale in 1934 she was renamed Königsberg. In 1939, she was renamed Stettin. In 1945, she was seized by the Allies at Hamburg, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Conway. In 1946, she was passed to the Soviet Union, initially renamed Stettin, and then renamed Anakriya.

Kolno was a 2,487 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1936 as Nordcoke by Lübecker Flenderwerke AG, Lübeck, Germany. In 1940, she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine and was renamed Nordlicht. In 1945, she was seized by the Allies at Hamburg, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Conwear. In 1946, she was passed to the Soviet Union and renamed Armavir. In 1947, she was sold to Poland and renamed Kolno. She served until 1971 when she ran aground off Falsterbo, Sweden, following which she served as a hulk until scrapped in 1983.

Empire Conyngham was a 1,408 GRT cargo ship that was built as Marie in 1899 by Neptun AG, Rostock, Germany for German owners. A sale in 1923 saw her renamed Norburg. She was sold to Latvia in 1925 and renamed Gauja, serving until 1941 when she was captured by the Kriegsmarine in the Baltic Sea. In 1945, she was seized by the Allies, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Conyngham. In 1946, she was scuttled with a cargo of obsolete bombs.

V 104 Falke was a German-built cargo ship which was converted into an auxiliary warship for the Kriegsmarine as a Vorpostenboot and then Sperrbrecher. The ship was built as Toreador and was also known as Poldorf and Düsseldorf.

Phönix was a cargo ship built in 1913 by Stettiner Oderwerke, Stettin, Germany for Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft Argo AG, Bremen, Germany. She served with a number of German shipping lines before being requisitioned in 1939 by the Kriegsmarine as VP-106 Phönix, later serving as Sperrbrecher 36 and Sperrbrecher 136. She was scuttled at Saint-Nazaire, Loire-Inférieure, France on 25 August 1944.

Reiher was a 975 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1909 by Bremer Vulkan, Bremen, Germany for Argo Line. She was renamed Flamingo in 1938 and was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in 1939, serving as the vorpostenbootV-109 Flamingo and the sperrbrecherSperrbrecher 39 and Sperrbrecher 139. She struck a mine and sank off the coast on Norway in February 1945.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mitchell, W.H.; Sawyer, L.A. (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN   1-85044-275-4.
  2. 1 2 3 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Roland Line / Roland Linie Aktien Gesellschaft 1905-1925 Bremen". The Ships List. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  4. "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  5. "Argo Line, Bremen / Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft Argo AG 1896-1923 / Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft Argo mbH 1923-1925 / Argo Reederei AG 1933-1936 / Argo Reederei Richard Adler & Co. 1936-1952 / Argo Reederei Richard Adler & Söhne 1952-present". The Ships List. Archived from the original on 4 February 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  6. "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  7. "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 23 September 2010.