SS Robin Doncaster

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For other ships named Empire Curlew, see SS Empire Curlew.

History
Name
  • Robin Doncaster (1940-41)
  • Empire Curlew (1941-42)
  • Robin Doncaster (1942-57)
  • Flying Gull (1957-68)
Owner
  • United States Maritime Commission (1940-41)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1941-42)
  • United States Maritime Commission (1942-48)
  • Seas Shipping Co Inc (1948-57)
  • Flying Gull Inc (1957-62)
  • American Export Isbrandtsen Lines Inc (1962-68)
Operator
  • Ministry of War Transport (1941-42) (1941-42)
  • War Shipping Administration (1942-46)
  • United States Maritime Commission (1946-48)
  • Seas Shipping Co Inc (1948-57)
  • Isbrandtsen & Co Inc (1957-62)
  • American Export Isbrandtsen Lines Inc (1962-68)
Port of registry
  • United States New York (1940-41)
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom (1941-42)
  • United States New York (1942-68)
BuilderBethlehem Steel Co
Cost$2,250,000
Yard number4342
Launched7 December 1940
Completed16 April 1941
CommissionedJanuary 1944
DecommissionedApril 1946
Maiden voyage14 April 1941
Out of serviceApril 1942 - January 1944
Identification
  • United States
    Official Number
    240462 (1941, 1942-68)
  • United Kingdom
    Official Number
    168169 (1941-42)
  • Code Letters WMRD (1947-68)
FateScrapped in 1968
General characteristics
Class and type
  • Type C2-S cargo ship (1940-41)
  • Cargo liner (1944-68)
Tonnage
Length
  • 479 ft 8 in (146.20 m)overall
  • 450 ft 0 in (137.16 m) between perpendiculars
Beam66 ft 0 in (20.12 m) maximum
Draft27 ft 0 in (8.23 m)
Depth43 ft 0 in (13.11 m)
PropulsionTwo steam turbines, single screw propeller
Speed
  • 18.17 knots (33.65 km/h) maximum
  • 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h) service speed
Range18,500 nautical miles (34,300 km)
Capacity
  • 593,655 cubic feet (16,810.4 m3) bale capacity
  • 659,215 cubic feet (18,666.9 m3) grain capacity
  • 11,530 cubic feet (326 m3) refrigerated cargo space
  • 3,485 cubic feet (98.7 m3) special cargo space
  • 612 long tons (622 t) water
  • 2,012 long tons (2,044 t) coal
  • 12 passengers
Crew43

SS Robin Doncaster was a 7,101 GRT cargo liner that was built in 1940 as a Type C2-S cargo ship by Bethlehem Steel Co, Sparrows Point, Maryland, United States for the United States Maritime Commission (USMC). On completion in April 1941, she was transferred to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Curlew. In 1942, she was transferred to the USMC, regaining her former name Robin Doncaster. She was rebuilt as a troop transport, and entered service with the War Shipping Administration in January 1944. She was returned to the USMC in April 1946 and was sold to Seas Shipping Co Inc in 1948. In 1957, she was sold to Isbrandtsen Lines and was renamed Flying Gull. Sold to American Export Lines in 1962, she served until she was scrapped in 1968.

Description

The ship was built in 1940 by

$2,250,000.[3]

The ship was 479 feet 8 inches (146.20 m) long overall (450 feet 0 inches (137.16 m) between perpendiculars), with a beam of 66 feet 0 inches (20.12 m). She had a depth of 34 feet 2 inches (10.41 m), and a draft of 27 feet 0 inches (8.23 m). She was assessed at 7,101 GRT, 4,258 NRT.[4] Her DWT was 9,970.[2]

The ship was propelled by two

shp and driving the propeller at 85 rpm, they could propel her at a normal service speed of 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h), with a maximum speed of 18.17 knots (33.65 km/h).[4]

As built, Robin Doncaster had a bale capacity of 593,655 cubic feet (16,810.4 m3), or a grain capacity of 659,215 cubic feet (18,666.9 m3), as well as capacity for 11,530 cubic feet (326 m3) of refrigerated cargo,[4] and 3,485 cubic feet (98.7 m3) special cargo space in five holds.[3] Carrying 612 long tons (622 t) water and 2,012 long tons (2,044 t) coal, she had a range of 18,500 nautical miles (34,300 km). She had a crew of 43 and could carry twelve passengers.[4] The ship had sixteen 5-ton derricks, one 10-ton derrick and one 30-ton derrick to allow loading and unloading of cargo.[3]

History

Robin Doncaster was built at the request of the Robin Line.[6] Intended for service between the United States and South Africa,[3] she was launched on 7 December 1940.[7][8]

World War II

The ship was delivered on 16 April 1941.

Burma, arriving three days later. On 8 September, Empire Curlew departed from Rangoon bound for Cape Town, South Africa, where she arrived on 26 September. She departed the next day for Trinidad, arriving on 11 October and departing the next day for New York, where she arrived on 17 October.[11]

On 2 November, Empire Curlew departed New York for Halifax. She arrived the next day, and on 4 November she joined Convoy TC 14A.[11] The convoy arrived at the Clyde on 12 November.[14] She left the convoy at the Belfast Lough and then sailed to Liverpool, Lancashire, arriving on 13 November. Empire Curlew departed from Liverpool on 5 December for the Clyde, where she joined Convoy WS 14.[11] The convoy assembled off Oversay, and arrived at Freetown, Sierra Leone on 21 December.[15] She departed from Freetown on 25 December for Cape Town, arriving on 5 January 1942.[11]

On 9 January 1942, Empire Curlew departed from Cape Town for

Tanganyika. She departed Tanga on 11 March for Baltimore via Cape Town and Trinidad, arriving at Baltimore on 11 April.[11]

Empire Curlew was returned to the USMC 17 April 1942, documented under U.S. registry and renamed Robin Doncaster 16 May 1942 and operated by Seas Shipping Co. as agent for the War Shipping Administration.[16] Conversion to a transport ship by Sullivan Drydock and Repair Corporation, New York was completed in January 1944.[1] On 4 April 1946 she was transferred back to the USMC for reconversion.[16]

In November 1942, Robin Doncaster transported some of the survivors from the American-owned,

crude oil. Her stern section sank, but the bow section was towed to Port Elizabeth by HMSAS David Haigh. The survivors took to the lifeboats. Ten were rescued by Steel Mariner, with the rest landing at Durban and Port Alfred.[18]

In April 1944, Robin Doncaster transported troops from

Typhoon Louise.[20]

On 29 September 1944, Robin Doncaster transported troops of the

Operation Forager from Tanapag Harbor, Saipan Mariana Islands to the Enewetak Atoll and then to Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
, arriving on 4 October.

Post-war

On 4 April 1946, Robin Doncaster was placed in the

Reserve Fleet pending re-conversion to a cargo vessel. She was laid up in the James River, Virginia.[16] On 18 July, Maryland Drydock Company were authorised to remove certain items of equipment from Robin Doncaster for installation on Robin Wentley. The removed items were to be replaced within 60 days at no cost to the War Shipping Administration or USMC. The replacement was recorded as having been completed on 19 May 1947.[16][21] The planned conversion of Robin Doncaster back to a cargo ship was canceled due to a lack of funds. On 18 March 1947, she was sold to Seas Shipping Company. She was delivered on 7 October.[16]

The United States

Code Letters were WMRD.[23] On 9 January 1952, Robin Doncaster collided with the tug Ruth, which was towing the barge Agram in the Delaware River, Philadelphia. The collision occurred because of confusion over signals given, and the presence of Mormacpenn which was also attempting to pass Ruth. Although agreement was made between Mormacpenn and Ruth as to how the ships would pass, no such agreement was made between Robin Doncaster and Ruth. Robin Doncaster desired to pass port-to-port, whereas Ruth desired the pass to be starboard-to-starboard. After colliding with Ruth, she then collided with Agram, damaging the barge beyond economic repair. The New York Company, the owners of the barge, successfully sued the Seas Shipping Company Inc for damages. Robert B. Wathen, the owner of Ruth was successful in his appeal to be exonerated from blame for the collision, which was placed squarely on the Robin Doncaster.[24]

The Robin Line, operating twelve ships, was sold in 1957 with eight ships acquired by

Robin Kettering. On 11 April 1957 Moore McCormack exercised the option to exclude both vessels. Seas Shipping then sold each vessel to independent third parties.[26][note 1] Robin Doncaster was sold to Flying Gull Inc and renamed Flying Gull. She was operated under the management of Isbrandtsen & Co Inc,[5] retaining the Code Letters WMRD.[27] Flying Gull was sold to American Export Lines in 1962. She was transferred to American Export Isbrandtsen Lines Inc in 1966.[5] About this time, Flying Gull was involved in a collision when she was hit by Batus at Kobe, Japan. Repairs took a week to complete.[28] Flying Gull served until 1968. She arrived on 21 June 1968 at Bilbao, Spain for scrapping by Hierros Arbulu.[5]

Footnotes

  1. ^ The two excepted ships were unique among the C2-S ships in one respect which may account for the exception. They both had undergone extensive modifications for war service by the U.S. Navy and British Ministry of War Transport. Vessel Status Cards for the other four show they were operated by the War Shipping Administration. Conversion to cargo-passenger service for the two modified ships thus would probably cost more.

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 1-85044-275-4
    .
  2. ^ a b "C2 Cargo Ships". Shipbuilding History. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d "Maritime Commission Design C2-S, Descriptions for MC-72 to 74 and 99 to 101". Karsten-Kunibert Krueger-Kopiske. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Technical Specifications Maritime Commission Design C2-S". Karsten-Kunibert Krueger-Kopiske. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Donaldson Line Ltd. beheer" (in Dutch). ponl.com. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  6. ^ "Outboard Profiles of Maritime Commission Vessels, The C2 Cargo Ship and his Subdesigns". Karsten-Kunibert Krueger-Kopiske. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  7. ^ Pacific American Steamship Association; Shipowners Association of the Pacific Coast (January 1941). "Bethlehem Launches Robin Line Steamer". Pacific Marine Review. San Francisco: J.S. Hines: 86. Retrieved 30 October 2020.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Four U.S. Freighters, Shifted to Britain, Rush to Load Arms". The Evening Star. Washington, D.C.: W.D. Wallach & Hope: A-15. 18 April 1941. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Amerika requireert schepen". Utrechtse Nieusblad. No. 18 April 1941. p. 2.
  10. ^ "American Steamers for Britain". The Times. No. 48903. London. 18 April 1941. col D, p. 3.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "EMPIRE CURLEW". Convoyweb. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  12. ^ "Convoy SA.1". Convoyweb. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  13. ^ "WS9A". Naval History. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  14. ^ "Convoy TC.14A". Convoyweb. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  15. ^ "Convoy WS.14". Convoyweb. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  16. ^ a b c d e Maritime Administration. "Robin Doncaster". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  17. ^ "Plaudit". Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  18. ^ "Anne Hutchinson". Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  19. ^ "MARTY'S USMC LOG & DIARY" (PDF). Wordpress. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  20. ^ "History of The USS Tutuila (ARG-4)". Mobile Riverine Force Association. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  21. ^ "Back of Card 1". United States Maritime Administration. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  22. ^ "Robin Doncaster". Moore-McCormack. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  23. ^ "International List of Selected and Supplementary Ships, 1955" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  24. ^ "233 F. 2d 889 - The New York Company the Agram v. The Robin Doncaster B Wathen the Ruth". The Open Jurist. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  25. ^ Swiggum, S.; Kohli, M. (11 May 2008). "Moore & McCormack Company, New York (1913-1982)". TheShipsList. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  26. ^ Thomas, Ella C. (1965). Reports of the Tax Court of the United States — April 1, 1965, to September 30, 1965. Vol. 44. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 746–749. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  27. ^ "International List of Selected and Supplementary Ships, 1959" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  28. ^ "untitled". Boom Ships. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.

External links

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