SS Oropesa (1919)
Oropesa
| |
History | |
---|---|
United Kingdom | |
Name | Oropesa |
Namesake | Either of two Oropesa Districts in Peru |
Owner | Pacific Steam Navigation Company |
Port of registry | Liverpool[1] |
Builder | Cammell Laird, Birkenhead[1] |
Yard number | 835 |
Launched | 9 December 1919[3] |
Maiden voyage | 4 September 1920[3] |
Identification |
|
Fate | Sunk by torpedo, 16 January 1941[4] |
General characteristics | |
Tonnage | |
Length | 530 ft (160 m)[1] |
Beam | 66.3 ft (20.2 m)[1] |
Draught | 34 ft 3+1⁄2 in (10.45 m)[1] |
Depth | 41.2 ft (12.6 m)[1] |
Installed power | 1,647 NHP[1] |
Propulsion | 6 Steam turbines, twin Propeller[1] |
Speed | 14 knots (26 km/h)[5] |
Capacity |
|
Sensors and processing systems | Direction finding equipment[1] |
Armament | DEMS |
SS Oropesa was a British steam turbine ocean liner of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company (PSNC). She was built on Merseyside in 1920 and operated between Liverpool and South America. In 1941 the German submarine U-96 sank her in the Western Approaches, killing 106 people aboard.[4]
Building and civilian service
Cammell Laird built Oropesa at Birkenhead, launching her on 9 December 1919[3] and completing her in September 1920.
She was built as a coal-burner,
Oropesa's maiden voyage began from Liverpool on 4 September 1920, taking her to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Buenos Aires in Argentina.[3]
In May 1921 PSNC chartered Oropesa to Royal Mail Lines, for whom she worked the Hamburg – Southampton – New York route. She reverted to her owners in November 1922.[3]
In 1924 PSNC had Oropesa converted to oil fuel, which is a more efficient fuel and takes less bunker space. In 1927 the company transferred her to the route between Liverpool and Valparaíso in Chile.[3]
In January 1931[6][7] Oropesa took Edward, Prince of Wales and his brother Prince George to South America. She was then laid up at Dartmouth, Devon from October 1931 until 1937.[3]
War service
In September 1939 Oropesa was requisitioned as a troop ship.[3] However, she spent the next 16 months carrying general cargo and passengers.
On 27 September carrying general cargo she left Liverpool with Convoy OB 11: an outward-bound convoy which then dispersed in the North Atlantic.
On 3 March 1940 Oropesa left Liverpool with Convoy OB 103.[11] Two days later, on 5 March, OB 103 joined Convoy OG 21F, which was bound for Gibraltar. Further out at sea Oropesa left OG 21F and continued independently to Bermuda.[12] On 7 May carrying general cargo Oropesa left Bermuda with Convoy BHX 41, which joined Convoy HX 41 at sea on 13 May.[13] HX 41 reached Liverpool on 23 May.[14]
On 15 June 1940 carrying general cargo Oropesa left Liverpool with Convoy OB 168. Two days later, on 17 June, OB 168 formed Convoy OG 34F, which was bound for Gibraltar.[15] Further out at sea Oropesa left OG 34F and continued independently to Panama.[16] She returned with another general cargo, sailing independently as far as Bermuda. On 27 August she left Bermuda with Convoy BHX 69, which joined Convoy HX 69 at sea on 1 September.[17] HX 69 reached Liverpool on 12 September.[18]
Oropesa's next destination was
Final voyage and sinking
Oropesa left Suez on 30 November with Convoy BS 9A, which dispersed off
On 16 January 1941 at 03:56 hrs Oropesa was southeast of
The
U-96 had been at the scene for more than two hours, but escaped before Westcott could detect her. The next morning the submarine struck in the Western Approaches again, sinking SS Almeda Star and killing all 360 people aboard.[22]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Steamers and Motor Ships". Lloyd's Register of Shipping (PDF). London: Lloyd's Register or Shipping. 1933. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ "Steamers and Motor Ships". Lloyd's Register of Shipping (PDF). London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1934. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Erskine, Barry. "Oropesa (II)". Pacific Steam Navigation Company. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Helgason, Guðmundur (1995–2013). "Oropesa". Ships hit by U-boats. Guðmundur Helgason. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Harnack 1938, p. 557.
- ^ "Arrival at Windsor by Air". The Straits Times. National Library, Singapore. 30 April 1931. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ^ "Princes Home". The Advertiser and Register. National Library of Australia. 1 May 1931. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy OB.11". OB Convoy Series. Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ a b Hague, Arnold. "Convoy HXF.11". HXF Convoy Series. Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy HXF.16". HXF Convoy Series. Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy OB.103". OB Convoy Series. Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy OG.21F". OG Convoy Series. Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy BHX.41". BHX Convoy Series. Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy HX.41". BHX Convoy Series. Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy OB.103". OB Convoy Series. Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy OG.21F". OG Convoy Series. Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy BHX.69". BHX Convoy Series. Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy HX.69". BHX Convoy Series. Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy WS.3". Shorter Convoy Series. Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy WS.3". Shorter Convoy Series. Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy BS.9A". Shorter Convoy Series. Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur (1995–2013). "Almeda Star". uboat.net. Guðmundur Helgason. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
Sources
- Harnack, Edwin P (1938) [1903]. All About Ships & Shipping (7th ed.). London: Faber and Faber. p. 557.
- Murfin, David (2020). "The Mobile Naval Base". In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2020. Oxford, UK: Osprey. pp. 188–192. ISBN 978-1-4728-4071-4.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur (1995–2013). "Oropesa". Crew lists from ships hit by U-boats. Guðmundur Helgason. Retrieved 15 December 2013.