SS Fultala

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History
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameFultala
Owner British India SN Co
Port of registry Glasgow
Builder Wm Doxford & Sons, Pallion
Yard number200
Launched4 October 1890
CompletedNovember 1890
Identification
Fatescrapped, 1923
General characteristics
Type cargo liner
Tonnage4,154  GRT, 2,702  NRT, 5,900  DWT
Length366.0 ft (111.6 m)
Beam48.1 ft (14.7 m)
Draught23 ft 9 in (7.2 m)
Depth26.6 ft (8.1 m)
Decks3
Installed power473 NHP, 2,450 ihp
Propulsion
Speed11+1⁄2 knots (21.3 km/h)
Capacitypassengers: 12 × 1st class, 1,667 × deck class
Notes sister ship: Fazilka

SS Fultala was a British India Steam Navigation Company (BI) steamship. She was built in England in 1890, operated mostly in the Indian Ocean, and was scrapped in India in 1923. She was a troop ship in the Second Boer War and the First World War. From 1901 to 1906 she took Indian indentured labourers to Fiji.

Contents

She was the first of three BI ships to be called Fultala. The second was a motor ship that was built in 1940 and sunk in 1942. [1] The third was a steamship that was built in 1948 and sold in 1961. [2]

Building

In 1890 William Doxford & Sons at Pallion in Sunderland built a pair of sister ships for BI. Yard number 199 was laid down on 12 May 1890, launched on 17 August as Fazilka, and delivered on 11 October. [3] Yard number 200 was launched on 4 October as Fultala, and completed that November. [4]

Fultala's registered length was 366.0 ft (111.6 m), her beam was 48.1 ft (14.7 m), her depth was 26.6 ft (8.1 m) and her draught was 23 ft 9 in (7.2 m). Her tonnages were 4,154  GRT, 2,702  NRT, and 5,900  DWT. She had berths for 12 first class passengers, and was licensed to carry 1,667 unberthed passengers on deck. [4]

Fultala had a single screw, driven by a three-cylinder triple-expansion engine. It was rated at 462 NHP [5] or 2,450 ihp, and gave her a speed of 11+1⁄2 knots (21.3 km/h). [4]

Career

On 12 November BI registered Fultala at Glasgow. [4] Her United Kingdom official number was 98589 and her code letters were LWMB. [6]

Her maiden voyage was from Britain to Aden. On Christmas Eve, 24 December 1890, she stopped at Gibraltar with engine failure. On 13 September 1897 she suffered a minor collision with the pier at Williamstown, Victoria. [4]

All BI ships were designed to be converted into troop ships, by putting troop accommodation in the holds. [7] In the Second Boer War the UK Government chartered at least 37 BI ships for war service. [8] On 19 January 1900 Fultala left Bombay (now Mumbai) carrying 280 horses supplied by Indian princes, [9] and 103 personnel to look after them: a captain of the 6th Bengal Lancers, a lieutenant of the 5th Bengal Lancers, a veterinary assistant, 25 Indian soldiers, and 74 syces (grooms). [10] On 12 or 13 February she reached Cape Town. [11]

In 1901 Fultala took troops to Kismayo in Jubaland, which at that time was part of Britain's Kenya Colony. [4] From 1901 to 1906 she made four voyages taking Indian indentured labourers to Fiji, as shown in the table below.[ citation needed ]

Fiji voyages
Voyage NumberDate of ArrivalNumber of Passengers
I12 May 1901809
II10 April 1905827
III17 August 1905790
IV28 April 1906801

Fultala was a troop ship in the First World War. In September 1914 she carried part of the 3rd (Lahore) Division from Bombay to Marseille. In June 1917 she came under the Liner Requisition Scheme. [4]

By 1918 Fultala was equipped with wireless telegraphy. Her call sign was GDC. [12]

On 15 August 1923 BI sold Fultala for scrap for 60,000 rupees. She was broken up at Bombay. [4]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Haws 1987, p. 154.
  2. ↑ Haws 1987, p. 165.
  3. ↑ "Fazilka" (PDF). P&O Heritage. November 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Fultala" (PDF). P&O Heritage. November 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  5. ↑ Lloyd's Register 1891, FUK–FYE.
  6. ↑ Mercantile Navy List 1891, p. 104.
  7. ↑ Haws 1987, p. 12.
  8. ↑ Haws 1987, p. 20.
  9. ↑ "Shipping records – January 1900". Miscellaneous information. AngloBoerWar.com. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  10. ↑ Grant, David. "1st Bombay Lancers". The Indian Contingent. AngloBoerWar.com. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "Shipping records – February 1900". Miscellaneous information. AngloBoerWar.com. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  12. ↑ The Marconi Press Agency Ltd 1918, p. 699.

Bibliography

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