SS Tregarthen
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Tregarthen |
| Owner | Hain Steam Ship Co |
| Port of registry | London |
| Builder | Lithgows, Port Glasgow |
| Yard number | 884 |
| Launched | 30 July 1936 |
| Completed | September 1936 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sunk by torpedo, 6 June 1941 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cargo ship |
| Tonnage | 5,201 GRT, 3,067 NRT |
| Length | 432.3 ft (131.8 m) |
| Beam | 56.2 ft (17.1 m) |
| Draught | 24 ft 9 in (7.54 m) |
| Depth | 24.8 ft (7.6 m) |
| Decks | 1 |
| Installed power | 469 NHP |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 11 knots (20 km/h) |
| Crew | 42 + 3 DEMS gunners |
| Sensors and processing systems | wireless direction finding |
| Notes | sister ship: Trewellard |
SS Tregarthen was a cargo steamship that was built in Scotland for the Hain Steam Ship Co in 1936. She was sunk with all hands by a U-boat in 1941 in the Battle of the Atlantic.
She was the third ship to be called Tregarthen in the Hain SS Co fleet. The first was a steamship that was launched in 1904, sold in 1911 and renamed.[1] The second was a steamship that was launched in 1913, sold in 1933 and renamed.[2]
Building
In 1936 Lithgows built a pair of steamships in its Port Glasgow shipyard for the Hain SS Co. Trewellard was launched on 16 June 1936 and completed that July.[3] Her sister ship Tregarthen was launched on 30 July and completed that September.[4]
Tregarthen's registered length was 432.3 ft (131.8 m), her beam was 56.2 ft (17.1 m) and her depth was 24.8 ft (7.6 m). Her tonnages were 5,201 GRT and 3,067 NRT.[5]
Tregarthen had a single screw. David Rowan and Co of Glasgow built her engines. Her main propulsion was a three-cylinder triple expansion steam engine. Exhaust steam from its low-pressure cylinder drove a low-pressure steam turbine, which in turn drove a steam compressor. Her turbine drove the same propeller as her piston engine. Between them the two engines were rated at 469 NHP[5] and gave Tregarthen a speed of 11 knots (20 km/h).[6]
Second World War service
In the
Tregarthen made each of her eastbound Atlantic crossings with the protection of an HX convoy from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Britain.[7] In September 1940 she was Rear Admiral HH Rogers' commodore ship in Convoy HX 72, which lost 11 ships to a U-boat wolf pack attack.[11]
Tregarthen began most of her westbound Atlantic crossings with the protection of an OB (Outward Bound) convoy.[7] In March 1941 she took part on Convoy OB 293, whose escorts sank two U-boats including U-47.[12]
Loss
On 24 May 1941 Tregarthen left Cardiff carrying 7,800 tons of coal bound for Kingston, Jamaica.[13] Off Milford Haven she joined Convoy OB 327, which took her out into the Atlantic and dispersed on 1 June.[14]
At 2325 hrs on 6 June Tregarthen was in mid-Atlantic when two torpedoes fired by U-48 hit her in the stern. She capsized and sank within three minutes, killing all 42 of her crew and her three DEMS gunners.[13]
See also
References
- ^ "Tregarthen (1904)". Tyne Built Ships. Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Tregarthen (1913)". Tyne Built Ships. Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Trewellard". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Tregarthen (1936)". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Steamers & Motorships". Lloyd's Register of Shipping (PDF). Vol. I. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1937. Retrieved 9 April 2021 – via Southampton City Council.
- ^ Allen, Tony; Vleggeert, Nico (30 July 2013). "SS Tregarthen (+1941)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ a b c Hague, Arnold. "Ship Movements". Port Arrivals/ Departures. Don Kindell, Convoyweb. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy OA.115G". OA Convoy Series. Don Kindell, Convoyweb. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy SL.30". SL / MKS Convoy Series. Don Kindell, Convoyweb. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy HX.59". HX Convoy Series. Don Kindell, Convoyweb. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy HX.72". HX Convoy Series. Don Kindell, Convoyweb. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy OB.293". OB Convoy Series. Don Kindell, Convoyweb. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "Tregarthen". uboat.net. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ Hague, Arnold. "Convoy OB.327". OB Convoy Series. Don Kindell, Convoyweb. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in June 1941 | |
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| Other incidents | |
