SS Michael E
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Michael E |
| Owner | Bury Hill Shipping Co Ltd[3] |
| Operator | Counties Ship Management Co Ltd, London[1] [2] |
| Port of registry |  London[1] |
| Builder | William Hamilton & Co, Port Glasgow[2] |
| Completed | May 1941[1][2] |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk, 2 June 1941[2] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cargo ship |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | |
| Beam | 60.4 ft (18.4 m)[1] |
| Draught | 23 ft 2+1⁄4 in (7.07 m)[1] |
| Depth | 35.8 ft (10.9 m)[1] |
| Installed power | 443 NHP[1] |
| Propulsion | triple-expansion steam engine; screw[1] |
| Crew | 46 DEMS gunners[2] |
| Aircraft carried | 1 Hawker Sea Hurricane |
| Aviation facilities | aircraft catapult |
| Notes | sister ships: Kingston Hill, Lulworth Hill, Marietta E, Primrose Hill |
SS Michael E was a 7,628 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941. She was the first British catapult aircraft merchant ship (CAM ship): a merchant ship fitted with a rocket catapult to launch a single Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft to defend a convoy against long-range German bombers. She was sunk on her maiden voyage by a German submarine.
Description
Michael E was built by
The ship was 421.1 feet (128.4 m) long
She had six corrugated furnaces feeding two 225 lbf/in2 (1,550 kPa; 15.8 kgf/cm2) single-ended boilers with a combined heating surface of 5,940 square feet (552 m2).[1] The boilers fed a 443 nominal horsepower triple-expansion steam engine that had cylinders of 24 inches (61 cm), 39 inches (99 cm) and 68 inches (170 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke.[1] The engine was built by David Rowan & Co Ltd, Glasgow.[1]
History
Michael E was owned by the Bury Hill Shipping Co Ltd.
Michael E was a sister ship of Kingston Hill, Lulworth Hill, Marietta E and Primrose Hill, which also were managed by CSM and owned by companies associated with R&K.
Sinking
On 28 May 1941 Michael E sailed in ballast on her maiden voyage from
Replacement ship
In September 1941 William Hamilton & Co completed a second CAM ship of the same class for CSM. She was launched as Primrose Hill and effectively replaced Michael E. Primrose Hill survived until October 1942 when a German-operated submarine sank her by torpedo and shellfire.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Lloyd's Register, Steamships and Motor Ships (PDF). London: Lloyd's Register. 1940. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Helgason, Guðmundur (1995–2010). "Michael E." uboat.net. Guðmundur Helgason. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
- ^ Slader 1988, p. 143.
- ^ a b Fenton, Roy (2006). "Counties Ship Management 1934–2007". LOF-News. p. 1. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
Sources & further reading
- Sedgwick, Stanley; Kinnaird, Mark; O'Donoghue, K.J. (1993) [1992]. London & Overseas Freighters, 1948–92: A Short History. Kendal: ISBN 0-905617-68-1.
- Sedgwick, Stanley; Sprake, R.F. (1977). London & Overseas Freighters Limited 1949–1977. Kendal: ISBN 0905617037.
- Slader, John (1988). The Red Duster at War. London: William Kimber & Co Ltd. pp. 143–144. ISBN 0-7183-0679-1.
48°30′N 29°00′W / 48.50°N 29.0°W
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in June 1941 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents | |
