Sirsa (1883)

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History
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
NameSirsa
Namesake Sirsa
Owner British India SN Co
Port of registry Glasgow
Route Indian coastal routes
Builder A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow
Yard number177
Launched19 October 1883
CompletedDecember 1883
Maiden voyage31 December 1883
Out of servicelaid up 1906
Identification
FateScrapped 1908
General characteristics
Type cargo liner
Tonnage2,351  GRT, 1,691  NRT
Length310.0 ft (94.5 m)
Beam39.2 ft (11.9 m)
Depth25.0 ft (7.6 m)
Decks3
Installed power180 NHP
Propulsion
Sail plan3-masted barquentine
Speed10 knots (19 km/h)
Capacity48 passengers
Notes sister ships: Sirdhana, Scindia, Secundra

SS Sirsa was a steel-hulled merchant steamship that was built in Scotland in 1883 and scrapped in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1908. She spent her entire career with the British India Steam Navigation Company (BI).

Contents

She was the first of three BI ships to be named after the city of Sirsa in India. The second was a steamship that was built in 1920, sold in 1951, and scrapped in 1960. [1] The third was a motor ship that was built in 1950 and scrapped in 1971. [2]

Building

In 1879 William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton built for BI Sirdhana and Scindia, a pair of sister ships. In 1883 A. & J. Inglis of Glasgow built a second pair of ships for BI, Secundra and Sirsa, to the same design. [3]

Sirsa was the last of the four to be built. Inglis built her at Pointhouse as yard number 177. She was launched on 19 October 1883 and completed that December. [4] Her registered length was 310.0 ft (94.5 m), her beam was 39.2 ft (11.9 m) and her depth was 25.0 ft (7.6 m). Her tonnages were 2,351  GRT and 1,691  NRT. [5] She had berths for 48 passengers. [3]

Sirsa had a single screw, driven by a two-cylinder compound engine. It was rated at 180 NHP, [5] and gave her a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h). She also had three masts for sailing, and was rigged as a barquentine. [3]

BI registred the ship in Glasgow. Her UK official number 87726 was and her code letters were JCGS. [5] [6]

Career

Sirsa's maiden voyage was to Brisbane, leaving Britain on 31 December 1883. Thereafter she worked coastal routes around India.

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 20 September 1899 in Bombay she embarked part of the Second Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders. She reached Durban on 9 October. [9] She also made a trooping voyage in 1900. [3]

Sirsa was laid up in 1906. She was scrapped in Bombay in September 1908. [2]

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References

  1. ↑ Haws 1987, p. 134.
  2. 1 2 Haws 1987, p. 180.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Haws 1987, p. 59.
  4. ↑ "Sirsa". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 Lloyd's Register 1884, SIR.
  6. ↑ Mercantile Navy List 1884, p. 150.
  7. ↑ Haws 1987, p. 12.
  8. ↑ Haws 1987, p. 20.
  9. ↑ "Maurice: History – Vol 1: Appendix 1 - Reinforcements Sanctioned On The 8th September, 1899". Books. AngloBoerWar.com. Retrieved 19 January 2024.

Bibliography

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