SS Melita

Last updated

History
Name
  • 1917: Melita
  • 1935: Liguria
Namesake1935: Liguria
Owner
Operator
Port of registry
Builder Barclay, Curle & Co & Harland & Wolff
Yard number517, 463
Laid down1913
Launched21 April 1917
Completed12 January 1918
Maiden voyageLiverpool to St John, NB
Reclassified1935: troop ship
Refit1925: Palmers, Jarrow
Identification
FateSunk 1940, raised 1941, scrapped 1950
General characteristics
Type Ocean liner
Tonnage
  • 1918: 13,967  GRT, 8,526  NRT
  • 1927: 15,183  GRT, 9,973  NRT
Length520 ft (160 m)
Beam67.2 ft (20.5 m)
Draught340 ft 4 in (103.73 m)
Depth50.3 ft (15.3 m)
Decks3
Propulsion
Speed16+1⁄2 knots (30.6 km/h)
Capacity
Notes sister ship: Minnedosa

SS Melita was one of a pair of transatlantic steam ocean liners that were built in the United Kingdom, launched in 1917 and operated by Canadian Pacific until 1935. Her sister ship was Minnedosa.

Contents

In 1935 Flotte Riuniti Cosulich-Lloyd Sabaudo obtained both ships, renamed them, and converted them into troop ships for the Italian government. Melita was renamed Liguria, and in 1936 passed to Lloyd Triestino.

In 1940 a British aircraft torpedoed Liguria in the Mediterranean. In 1941 Italian forces scuttled her at Tobruk. Her wreck was raised, and in 1950 it was scrapped.

Building

In 1913 Hamburg America Line ordered a pair of liners from Barclay, Curle & Co. During that war Canadian Pacific (CP) bought the two partly built ships and had them completed [1] to its specification. [2]

Barclay, Curle & Co built Melita in Glasgow as yard number 517 and launched her on 24 April 1917. [3] She was then towed to Belfast where Harland & Wolff installed her engines. Her Harland & Wolff yard number was 463. [1]

Melita had three screws. A pair of four-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines drove her port and starboard screws. Exhaust steam from their low-pressure cylinders powered a low-pressure steam turbine that drove her middle screw. [4] Between them the three engines gave her a top speed of 16+1⁄2 knots (30.6 km/h) [5] and cruising speed of 15 knots (28 km/h). [1]

Melita's registered length was 520 ft (160 m), her beam was 67.2 ft (20.5 m) and her depth was 50.3 ft (15.3 m). [4] Her holds included 37,460 cubic feet (1,061 m3) of refrigerated space. [6] As built, her tonnages were 13,967  GRT and 8,526  NRT. [7]

Just before the First World War, CP was developing the idea of cabin class to replace both first and second class. Accordingly it had Melita and Minnedosa fitted out with only two classes of passenger accommodation. [2] Melita had berths for 550 passengers in cabin class and 1,200 in third class. [1]

UK service

CP took delivery of Melita on 12 January 1918. Her maiden voyage was from Liverpool to St John, New Brunswick, but her regular route was between Liverpool and New York. In 1919 the UK Government chartered her for one voyage from Glasgow to Bombay. [1]

In 1920 Melita was overhauled in Antwerp. From 1922 to 1927 her route was between Antwerp and St John [1] via Southampton. [8] In 1925 Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company refitted her in Jarrow. [1] The refit increased her tonnages to 15,183  GRT and 9,973  NRT. [9]

In 1927 CP put Melita on its route between Britain, Quebec and Montreal. In 1932 Melita made her final transatlantic crossing, which was from Liverpool, Belfast and Greenock to Halifax, Nova Scotia and St John. She had crossed the North Atlantic 146 times. [1]

From 1932 Melita was laid up, but then CP then used her to run a series of cruises from Glasgow. [10] In 1935 CP sold Melita and Minnedosa to breakers in Italy. [11]

Murder of Captain Clews

In the early hours of 21 October 1925 Melita was in port in Antwerp when her Chief Officer, Thomas Towers, shot dead her Master, AH Clews, as the latter slept in his cabin. Towers also shot the Assistant Chief Engineer, David Gilmour, in the head, but without killing him. Other officers then overpowered Towers, but in the struggle he twice shot the Second Engineer, John Holliday, in the chest. [12] Towers tried to shoot himself in the head, but failed. [13]

Belgian police arrested Towers, who blamed Clews and others for "trying to wreck his career". The police then put him back aboard to be surrendered to British police. Gilmour and Holliday were initially treated in hospital in Antwerp, where one of the bullets was removed from Holliday's lung. [12] The next day Melita reached Southampton, where a police launch put a surgeon aboard to treat Gilmour and Holliday, and Towers was removed under arrest. [14]

Captain Clews was the nephew of the banker Henry Clews (1834–1923). [12] Towers was found insane and detained at His Majesty's pleasure in Broadmoor Hospital. [13]

Italian service

The sale contract specified that the two ships must be broken up. [15] This clause was breached when the pair were passed to Flotte Riuniti Cosulich-Lloyd Sabaudo, who had them refitted as troop ships for the Italian Government. [16] Melita was renamed Liguria. [1] [3] In 1936 she was transferred to Lloyd Triestino. [17]

On 5 July 1940 a British aircraft torpedoed Melita in the Mediterranean, but she stayed afloat and reached port in Tobruk. When British and Australian forces captured Tobruk the retreating Italians scuttled Melita in the approach to Tobruk harbour on 22 January 1941. [3]

Melita was later refloated. [1] In 1950 her wreck was towed to Savona, where she arrived on 31 August to be scrapped. [3]

Related Research Articles

SS <i>Commissaire Ramel</i>

SS Commissaire Ramel was a French cargo liner that was launched in 1920 and sunk in the Indian Ocean by the German auxiliary cruiser Atlantis in World War II.

HMS Montclare (F85) was a British ocean liner that was commissioned into the Royal Navy as an armed merchant cruiser in 1939, converted into a destroyer depot ship in 1944 and a submarine depot ship in 1946. She was decommissioned in 1954 and scrapped in 1958.

SS <i>Akaroa</i> (1914)

SS Akaroa was a UK steam ocean liner and refrigerated cargo ship. She was launched in 1914 in Ireland as Euripides for Aberdeen Line. When new, she was the largest ship in the Aberdeen Line fleet.

SS <i>Conte Rosso</i> Italian transatlantic ocean liner

SS Conte Rosso was an Italian transatlantic ocean liner that was built in Scotland in 1921–22, became a troop ship in the 1930s and was sunk by HMS Upholder in 1941.

SS <i>Minnedosa</i>

SS Minnedosa was one of a pair of transatlantic steam ocean liners that were built in the United Kingdom, launched in 1917 and operated by Canadian Pacific until 1935. Her sister ship was Melita.

SS <i>Lapland</i> Early 20th century ocean liner

SS Lapland was a steam ocean liner built in Ireland for the Belgian Red Star Line. When new she was Red Star's flagship: similar in appearance to the company's SS Samland, SS Gothland and SS Poland, but far larger. She was a half sister to White Star Line's "Big Four", just smaller and not as luxurious. They are similar in many ways, such as the island bridge, 4 masts, 2 funnels. But Lapland had a less luxurious interior.

Messina was a cargo steamship that Neptun Werft of Rostock, Germany built in 1937 for Robert M. Sloman Jr, Hamburg. In 1940 the Kriegsmarine requisitioned her. In 1945 the UK seized her as a war prize, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) who renamed her Empire Cherwell. In 1947 she was transferred to the USSR and renamed Polus (Полюс). She may have survived until the early 1960s. Her name was removed from shipping registers in 1961 and her ultimate fate is unknown.

SS <i>Polar Chief</i> British merchant steamship

SS Polar Chief was a merchant steamship that was built in England in 1897 and scrapped in Scotland in 1952. In her 55-year career she had previously been called Montcalm, RFA Crenella, Crenella, Rey Alfonso, Anglo-Norse and Empire Chief. Early in the First World War she spent eight months pretending to be the battleship HMS Audacious.

MV <i>Wickenburgh</i>

Wickenburgh was a cargo liner that was built in 1938 as Adler by Lübecker Maschinenbau Gesellschaft, Lübeck for German owners. Requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in 1940, she was seized by the Allies in Vordingborg, Denmark in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Coningsby. In 1946, she was transferred to the Dutch Government and renamed Margeca. In 1947 she was sold into merchant service and renamed Wickenburgh. In 1953 her compound steam engine and low-pressure steam turbine were replaced with a diesel engine, with a reduction in gross register tonnage from 1,494 to 1,420. She was sold to Greek owners in 1963 and renamed Nissos Thassos. In 1970 she was sold to Panamanian owners ahd renamed Savilco. She was scrapped in 1984.

SS <i>Calgaric</i>

SS Calgaric was a steam ocean liner that was completed in 1917, assumes service in 1918 and scrapped in 1934. She was built for the Pacific SN Co Line as Orca. In 1923 she was transferred to the Royal Mail Line. In 1927 she was transferred to White Star Line and renamed Calgaric.

SS <i>Themistocles</i> (1911)

SS Themistocles was a UK steam ocean liner and refrigerated cargo ship. She was launched in 1910 in Ireland and scrapped in 1947 in Scotland. She was built for Aberdeen Line, White Star Line managed her for a few years, and she spent the latter part of her career with Shaw, Savill & Albion Line.

SS Calabria was a passenger and cargo steamship. AG Weser built her for Norddeutscher Lloyd. She was launched as D/S Werra and completed in 1922.

SS Hertford was a refrigerated cargo steamship that was launched in Germany in 1917, seized by the United Kingdom in 1920 as World War I reparations, and sunk by a U-boat in 1942 with the loss of four members of her crew.

SS <i>Pennland</i>

SS Pennland was a transatlantic ocean liner that was launched as Pittsburgh in Ireland in 1920 and renamed Pennland in 1926. She had a succession of UK, German and Dutch owners and operators. In 1940 she was converted into a troopship.

SS <i>Westernland</i>

SS Westernland was a transatlantic ocean liner that was launched as Regina in Scotland in 1917, renamed Westernland in 1929 and was scrapped in 1947. She began her career as a troop ship repatriating US troops after the Armistice of 11 November 1918. In the Second World War, Westernland served as a troop ship, repair ship and destroyer depot ship.

MV Asiatic Prince was a motor cargo liner that was built in Germany in 1926, operated by a British shipping line, and disappeared without trace in the Pacific Ocean in 1928. When she was lost she was carrying silver bullion worth £263,000.

SS <i>Reliance</i>

SS Reliance was one of a pair of transatlantic steam ocean liners that were launched in 1914 in Germany for the Hamburg America Line (HAPAG), sold to a Dutch shipping line in 1916, and seized by the United States as World War I reparations in 1922. United American Lines (UAL) operated her until 1926, when HAPAG bought her back.

SS <i>Lombardia</i> Passenger steam ship launched in 1914

SS Lombardia was one of a pair of transatlantic steam ocean liners that were launched in 1914 in Germany for the Hamburg America Line (HAPAG), sold to a Dutch shipping line in 1916, and seized by the United States as World War I reparations in 1922. United American Lines (UAL) operated her until 1926, when HAPAG bought her back.

SS Algarve was a Danish cargo steamship that was built in 1921 for DFDS. After Germany invaded Denmark in April 1940 Algarve was transferred to the UK Ministry of War Transport. In 1941 an E-boat sank her with all hands in the North Sea.

SS <i>Rhineland</i> (1938)

Rhineland was a 1,312 GRT cargo steamship that Howaldtswerke of Kiel, Germany built in 1938 for Argo Line, Bremen. She was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in 1939, and served as VP-101 Schwan, Sperrbrecher 31 and Sperrbrecher 131. She served post-war with the German Mine Sweeping Administration before being declared a prize and passed to British owners. She was renamed Weltonwold in 1948 and then Rhineland in 1949. She was sold to South African owners in 1956 and renamed Herrisbrook. She was renamed Inyoni in 1957 and scrapped in 1962.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Melita". Harland and Wolff. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 Wilson 1956, p. 36.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Melita". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Steamers & Motorships". Lloyd's Register (PDF). Lloyd's Register. 1930. Retrieved 28 February 2021– via Southampton City Council.
  5. ↑ Harnack 1930, p. 344.
  6. ↑ "List of vessels fitted with refrigerating appliances". Lloyd's Register (PDF). Lloyd's Register. 1930. Retrieved 28 February 2021– via Southampton City Council.
  7. ↑ Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen (1918). Mercantile Navy List. Board of Trade. p. 373. Retrieved 1 March 2021– via Crew List Index Project.
  8. ↑ Wilson 1956, p. 40.
  9. ↑ Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen (1927). Mercantile Navy List. Board of Trade. p. 351. Retrieved 1 March 2021– via Crew List Index Project.
  10. ↑ Wilson 1956, p. 208.
  11. ↑ "Steamers & Motorships". Lloyd's Register (PDF). Lloyd's Register. 1934. Retrieved 28 February 2021– via Southampton City Council.
  12. 1 2 3 Associated Press (22 October 1925). "Capt. Clews, Late Banker's Nephew, Is Slain By Mate on Liner at Antwerp; 2 Others Shot". The New York Times . p. 1. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  13. 1 2 Avery, John. "The Murder on S.S. Melita". John Avery Heritage. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  14. ↑ "Southampton, Oct. 22". The New York Times. Associated Press. 23 October 1925. p. 16. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  15. ↑ Wilson 1956, p. 196.
  16. ↑ "Steamers & Motorships". Lloyd's Register (PDF). Lloyd's Register. 1935. Retrieved 28 February 2021– via Southampton City Council.
  17. ↑ "Steamers & Motorships". Lloyd's Register (PDF). Lloyd's Register. 1936. Retrieved 28 February 2021– via Southampton City Council.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.