Operational history
In early 1900s, the Clan Line operated two main routes between United Kingdom and her colonies in the East. The first one was a direct route from the home ports through the Strait of Gibraltar, Suez Canal and to the ports of India and Ceylon. The second one involved sailing down the western coast of Africa first to the ports of South African colonies, then onto the ports of Ceylon and India, and occasional trips to Australia.
Upon delivery, Clan Alpine proceeded to Middlesbrough and from there to Glasgow for loading, where she arrived on 18 November 1899. From there, the ship sailed to Liverpool and Manchester to load more cargo. She departed from Manchester to Bombay for her maiden journey on 12 December 1899, [5] passing through Suez Canal on 30 December and arriving in Bombay on 13 January 1900. [6] After calling at several Indian ports Clan Alpine left for England, passed through Suez Canal on 13 February and arrived in Dunkirk on 3 March. [7] After unloading the ship proceeded to England and arrived at Greenock on 15 March. [8] After a brief stop, the ship left Greenock on 22 March 1900, stopped to load cargo at Liverpool and departed from there for Cape Town on 29 March. [9] [10] After calling at various South African ports the ship sailed to Ceylon via Mauritius and arrived at Galle on 3 July. [11] From Galle the ship continued on to India including Madras, where she arrived on 28 July. From India Clan Alpine departed for England via Colombo and arrived in London on 8 September 1900 [12] before continuing on to Glasgow which she reached on 22 September. [13] She soon departed for another trip, leaving from Liverpool for Calcutta on 6 October 1900. [14]
Clan Alpine continued service on both routes through the rest of her career.
On 22 November 1908 Clan Alpine departed Liverpool for South Africa. [15] On 11 December 1908 it was announced that Clan Alpine was chartered to transport wheat from South Australia to England and Europe. [16] The vessel arrived at Cape Town on 19 December 1908 from Liverpool, [17] left there on 23 December, calling at Mossel Bay and Port Elizabeth and arriving at East London on 31 December 1908. [18] Clan Alpine departed from East London on 2 January 1909 and continued on to Australia. She arrived at Adelaide from East London in South Africa on 23 January 1909 and immediately continued on to Geelong [19] arriving there three days later. [20]
Sinking
On 10 June 1917 Clan Alpine was torpedoed and sunk 40 nautical miles of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands on a passage from Tyne to Archangel with a loss of 8 crew by German submarine U-60.
Empire Cheer was a 7,297 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1943 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and completed in July 1943. After the Second World War she was sold to her managers, Sir William Reardon Smith & Sons Ltd, who renamed her Cornish City. On 8 December 1962 she suffered an engine room fire, after which she was scrapped in March 1963.
Empire City was a 7,295 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1943 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was torpedoed and sunk on 6 August 1944 by U-198.
Derwentfield was an 8,602 GRT tanker that was built as Empire Coral in 1941 by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, United Kingdom. She was built for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1946, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Derwent River. Another sale in 1947 saw her renamed Derwentfield. She served until 1952 when she was severely damaged by an explosion and subsequent fire. In 1953, she was declared a constructive total loss and scrapped.
Empire Cromwell was a 5,970 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941 by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was torpedoed and sunk off Trinidad on 28 November 1942 by U-508.
Empire Dawn was a 7,241 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1940 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Entering service in April 1941, she served until 11 September 1942 when she was sunk by the German raider Michel.
Empire Day was a 7,241 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941 as a CAM ship by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1943, she was converted to a standard cargo ship. She served until August 1944 when she was torpedoed and sunk by U-198.
Empire Driver was a 7,042 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1942 by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1945, she was transferred to the French Government and renamed Radiotélégraphiste Biard. She was sold to an Italian company in 1950 and renamed Dea Mazzella. In 1956, she was renamed Maria Mazzella. Further sales in 1960 and 1964 saw her renamed Falzarego and Grazia Prima respectively. In 1965, she was sold to Liberia and renamed Missouri. She served until 1969 when she was scrapped.
Empire Dryden was a 7,164 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Completed in February 1942, she had a short career, being torpedoed and sunk on 20 April 1942 by U-572.
John Lyras was a 7,513 GRT heavy lift ship that was built in 1942 as Empire Elaine by Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd, Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She spent most of the Second World War serving in the Indian Ocean, although she did visit the Mediterranean to take part in Operation Husky and Operation Dragoon.
Sheaf Mount was a 7,123 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1944 by Burntisland Shipbuilding Company, Burntisland, Fife, United Kingdom as Empire Fancy for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1947, she was sold and renamed Sheaf Mount. A further sale in 1957 saw her renamed Valldemosa. In 1961, she was sold to Hong Kong and renamed Ardfinnan. A sale in 1968 to Gibraltar saw her renamed Court Harwell. She was scrapped in Hong Kong in 1969.
Prins Harald was a 7,244 GRT cargo ship that was built as Empire Field in 1941 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was transferred to the Norwegian Government in October 1942 and renamed Prins Harald. She was torpedoed and sunk on 20 November 1942 by U-263 with the loss of three of her crew.
Clan Allan was a 7,043 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1942 as Empire Forest by John Readhead & Sons Ltd, South Shields, County Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was sold to Clan Line in 1946 and renamed Clan Allan. Sold in 1958 to Bullard, King & Co Ltd and renamed Umtali, she was sold back to Clan Line the following year and renamed Clan Allan. She was sold to Mullion & Co Ltd, Hong Kong in 1961 and renamed Ardsirod, serving until 1966 when she was scrapped.
Clan Matheson was a steam ship built in 1905 by the Furness, Withy & Co. of Hartlepool. She was the second ship named Clan Matheson in service with the Clan Line used on their Oriental routes.
Clan Macalister was a steam ship built in 1903 by the Archibald McMillan & Son of Dumbarton. She was the second ship named Clan Macalister in service with the Clan Line used on their Oriental routes.
Redgate was a 7,131 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1945 as Empire Freetown by Burntisland Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Burntisland, Fife, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was sold to B J Sutherland & Co. Ltd. in 1946 and was renamed Inverness. She was sold to Turbull, Scott & Co. Ltd. in 1957 and renamed Redgate. She was sold to Compagnia Marvalia Navigazione SA, Monrovia, Liberia in 1963 and was renamed Agia Elpis. She was sold to Southern Cross Shipping Co. Ltd., Cyprus in 1967 and was scrapped in Shanghai, China in 1968.
Belle of Spain was a steam cargo ship built in 1908 by the Northumberland Shipbuilding Co of Newcastle for Crow, Rudolf & Co of Liverpool. The ship was designed and built for general cargo trade and spent her career doing tramp trade.
Monterey was a cargo schooner-rigged steamer built in 1897 by the Palmer's Ship Building & Iron Co of Jarrow for Elder, Dempster & Co. of Liverpool to serve on their cross-Atlantic routes.
Langton Grange was a refrigerated steam cargo ship built in 1896 by the Workman, Clark & Co. of Belfast for Houlder Brothers & Co. of London to transport meat and other produce from Australia and South America to United Kingdom.
Anglo-African was a steam cargo ship built in 1900 by the Short Brothers of Sunderland for Lawther, Latta & Co. of London with intention of operating on their Australian routes. The vessel operated mostly on South America to North America route during her career and was wrecked on one of her regular voyages in January 1909.
SS Ben H. Miller was a British merchant ship of World War II. A Liberty ship built in the United States in 1943, she was bareboat chartered to the British Ministry of War Transport, with Ellerman and Papayanni as managers. Sold to her managers after the war, she was renamed SS City of Shrewsbury in 1947. Resold in 1959, she became the Compagnia de Navigazione Arcoul's SS Marucla, and was scrapped in 1969. Her original namesake was Ben H. Miller.
United Kingdom 
