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Blue Funnel
(Source: Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws)
S.S Pyrrhus photographs curtesy of Captain John Bax. |
1930-1934 - 1935-1944
1923 Four new Sarpendon Class ships built.
SARPEDON
Ransome-Wallis
Built: 1923 by Cammell Laird & Co, Birkenhead.
Tonnage: 11, 321g, 6, 921n, 11, 400 dwt
Engine: Twin Screw, 4 Single Reduction Steam Turbines, 15.5 Knots.
Passengers: 155 1st Class, 80 Crew.
Launched 2nd February 1923, Completed June 1923.
Son of Zeus and Laodamia, who was the daughter of Bellerophon. In the Iliad, as an ally of the Trojans, Sarpedon courageously led the Lycians against the Greeks in the Trojan War. He was killed by Patroclus, and Zeus had him carried back to Lycia for a hero's burial. According to post-Homeric legend, Sarpedon was the son of Zeus
First of a Class of four, regarded at the time as the best looking ships around Sarpedon was also the first of Blue Funnel's vessels to have substantial passenger accommodation. This Class of ships were a result of a meeting between the Government of the day and Alfred Holts to supply additional passenger accommodation for their voyages to the Far East, prior to this arrangement earlier passenger vessels accommodation had been designed with either Pilgrims or emigrants in mind. Sarpedon sailed on her maiden voyage from Liverpool on the 9th of June 1923 bound for the Far East. In 1927 during the 'Troubles' in China she carried supplies and ammunition for the garrison stationed at Hong Kong. She was one of the two of her Class which survived the war and sailed for Australia on the 5th of January 1946 carrying 48 passengers to Brisbane, the first post war sailing to Australia. Sarpedon arrived at the yard of John Cashmore & Co, Newport, Monmouthshire for breaking on the 5th of June 1953.
MENELAUS
With Thanks to Captain John Bax.
Built: 1923 by Caledon S.B.& E. Co, Dundee.
Tonnage: 10, 278g, 6, 334n
Engines: Twin Screw, 4 Turbines, Double Reduction Geared, 6, 500 SHP. 14 Knots.
Passengers: 4, Crew 70.
Launched 1st May 1923, completed 11th October 1923.
Menelaus was the King of Sparta, husband of Helen, and brother of Agamemnon. When Paris abducted Helen to Troy, Menelaus asked the Greek kings to join him in the Trojan War. At its end he returned to Sparta with Helen.
Menelaus the last of the turbine driven Calchas Class was completed for the Liverpool - Far East service. She escaped attention of the German Heavy Cruiser Admiral Hipper when she was rescued by convey escorts on Christmas Day 1940. She was fortunate again on the 1st May 1942 when she was attacked by the Raider 'Michel' when on passage from Durban to Baltimore. Menelaus was able to outrun the Motor Torpedo boats sent by Captain Helmut Von Ruckreschell using a smoke screen as she fled. The German Captain had a terrible record with survivors of his sinking always leaving them behind in the water and for this crime he was one of only two sea going Officers tried after the War. He died in prison whilst serving a ten-year sentence. Menelaus survived the War and continued on her commercial services until arriving at Dalmuir for breaking by W.H. Arnott Young & Co on the 25th of June 1952.
1924 Joint service on the Australian run with the White Star Line.
MELAMPUS
With Thanks to Captain John Bax.
Built: 1924 by Palmers Co, Newcastle.
Tonnage: 6, 321g, 3, 904n, 7, 848 dwt.
Engine: Single Screw, 2 x Double Reduction Geared Turbines by Builder, 12 Knots.
Melampus was a Seer/Healer. He raised a group of baby snakes whose parents had been killed. They taught him the language of the animals, and from listening to the animals he learned to read the future, learned the medicinal value of various herbs, and learned how to cure many diseases.
The lead ship in a loosely connected seven vessel Melampus Class this ship was completed for NSMO and flew the Dutch flag until 1950 when she was transferred to Ocean S.S. After five years service she was laid up in Holy Loch in 1955 and finally sold for breaking in 1957. She arrived at Inverkeithing on the 1st October work was carried out by Thomas W. Ward.
PHRONTIS
©J.C.
Built: 1925 by Caledon S.B. & E Co., Dundee.
Tonnage: 6,635g, 4,136n.
Engines: Twin Screw, 2 x 8 Cylinder 4S. SA. Burmeister Wain, Copenhagen, 4,800 B.H.P., 14 Knots.
Passengers: 12
Son of Phrixus and Chalciope, daughter of Aeetes.
She was the first of the Alcinous Class and completed for N.S.M.O. She sailed from Amsterdam in May of 1940 avoiding capture by the invading Germans. After thr War she returned to service and continued as such until being sold for scrap to M. Bakhashab, Saudi Arabia in June of 1958 becoming Ryad. She arrived at Hong Kong on the 25th of August 1958 for breaking.
1926 Blue Funnel and White Star joined by the Aberdeen Line on the Australian service.
STENTOR
Ransome- Wallis
Built: 1926 by Caledon S.B. & E. Co, Dundee.
Tonnage: 6, 634g, 4, 161n, 7, 700 dwt.
Engine: Twin Screw, 4 S. SA 2 x 8 Cylinder by North East Marine Eng, Newcastle, 4, 800 BHP, 14 Knots.
Passengers: 12.
Stentor had a brazen voice and could raise a shout like that of fifty men together. Hera took the shape of Stentor (and his "stentorian" voice) during the Trojan War when she addressed the Achaeans encouraging them to fight.
Three ships formed the Alcinous Class, Stentor was the second completed and the only one put under the Red Ensign for China Mutual. She had to be re-engined in1931 with more powerful Burmeister & Wain engines as the North East Marine engines were considered under powered. In May of 1933 she sank the British Steamer Guildford Castle when in transit in the river Elbe, at a later enquiry both ship's Captains were admonished with both sharing responsibility for the collision. She collided with British India's Dilwara on the 16th of September 1939 when forming up for the first westbound Mediterranean convoy. Stentor was attacked by British aircraft when in Jeddah on the 3rd of April 1941, subsequently her Captain demanded protection from a passing British Destroyer against attacks from 'friendly' aircraft. When in convoy S.L. 125 en route from Lagos to the UK West of the Canary Islands Stentor was struck by a torpedo from U-509 on the starboard side on the 27th of October 1942. Stentor had been lead ship in column nine carrying Commodore Gastin, she sank within eight minutes taking the Commodore, 21 Crew and 23 passengers with her. The remaining 202 survivors were picked up by H. M. S. Woodruff.
© J.C.
Built: 1927 by Scotts S.B. & E Co., Greenock.
Tonnage: 6,256g, 3,872n.
Engines: Twin Screw, 2 x 8 Cylinder 4S. SA., Burmeister Wain, Copenhagen, 12 Knots.
Son of King Codrus of Athens and colonizer of Ionia. He came into conflict with his brother Damasichthon and, after killing him, Promethus fled to Naxos (one of the Cyclades islands) where he died.
Completed for Ocean S.S. Co., she survived an attack from German Aircraft on the 26th of February 1941. In 1942/3 she took part in the allied landings in North Africa, Sicily and Salerno. In 1957 she was sold to Janus Compania Naviera SA of Panama, renamed Janus and flew the Liberian Flag. She suffered a severe fire when laid up at Alicante in October of 1958 and was subsequently sold to Italian breakers in January of the following year, work was carried out at Genoa.
XANTHUS
© J.C.
Built: 1927 by Cammell Laird & Co., Ltd.
Tonnage: 213g, 91n.
Engine: Single Screw, 2 Cylinder Compound, 8 Knots by A.G.Mumford of Colchester.
One of Achilles' immortal horses.
Completed for Alfred Holts but transferred to Ocean S.S. in the year of completion for use as an oil seperation barge in the River Mersey. Sold in 1959 to T.Routledge of Seaforth becoming Crosby Dale for use as a tank barge. Sold for scrap in June of 1968 for breaking by W.H.Arnott Young & Co at Dalmuir.
EURYBATES
Built 1928 Scotts S.B. and E. Co. Greenock
Tonnage 6, 436g 3, 988n
Engines Twin screw oil 2S S.A. 2x 5 cylinder steam 4 cylinder quad expansion with 1 regenerator 2500 BHP, 13.5 knots
Sydney. February 1949.
With Thanks to Captain John Bax.
Eurybates was a herald for Agamemnon.
Built for Ocean S.S.Co. this mixture of steam and diesel as main propulsion units was novel but doomed to failure because of the high maintenance required. She was eventually re-engined in 1948 at Harland and Wolff dispensing with the steam engine. She arrived in Ghent at Van Heyghen Freres in 1958 and was broken up some six years later.
Built 1929 Workman Clark (1928) Ltd. Belfast.
Tonnage 7, 593g 4, 806n
Engines Twin screw, 2x 8 cylinder 4S.SA Burmeister and Wain 1, 295NHP, 14 knots
Docking at Brunswick Dock, Liverpool
With Thanks to Captain John Bax.
He was the leader of the Greeks in the Trojan War; brother of Menelaus; son of Atreus. His children by Clytemnestra, whom he took by force, were Iphigenia, Electra, and Orestes. To obtain favorable winds for the fleet against Troy, he sacrificed Iphigenia to Artemis, incurring Clytemnestra's hatred. Upon his return from the war, he was murdered by Clytemnestra and her lover, Aegisthus. To avenge his death, Orestes and Electra killed Aegisthus and their mother.
Built for ocean S.S.Co. for the Liverpool-Far East service calling at ports in Europe on the return voyage. In 1940 she was converted into a Naval minelayer and served in that capacity until 1943 when she was converted yet again. This time as a rest and recuperation ship for the pacific fleet, to this end she was fitted with a brewery, cinema-theatre and swimming amenities.
In 1947 she commenced her normal trades until 1963 when she was broken up in Hong Kong.
With Thanks to Captain John Bax
Built: 1930 by Caledon S.B. & E. Co, Dundee.
Tonnage: 6, 701g, 4, 114n.
Engines: Twin Screw, 4 S.S.A. 2 x 6 Cylinder Werkspoor (Holland), 637 NHP, 13.5 Knots.
Maron, son of Euanthes, who was priest of Apollo the patron god of Ismarus.
First in her namesakes Class of four ships Maron was built for China Mutual S.N. Co. On the 12th of August 1937 she was requisitioned to transport 1, 100 soldiers of the Royal Welch Fusiliers to Shanghai and evacuate British Nationals to safety during Japan's invasion of China. In 1939 she was once more requisitioned for war service and on the 13th November 1942 whilst en route from Algiers to Gibraltar off Oran she was torpedoed and sank by U-81. The survivors were picked up by HMS Marigold and landed at Gibraltar the following day.
DEUCALION
Built 1930 Hawthorn Leslie and Co., Newcastle.
Tonnage 7, 740g 4, 799n
Engines Twin screw 2 x 8 cylinder B and W 1295 NHP, 14 knots
Built for ocean S.S.Co. The third sister of a five ship class, she was damaged in an air attack whilst in Gladstone Dock, Liverpool on the 21/22 December 1940.
In 1941 she achieved a round trip in convoy, Gibraltar-Malta. A feat worthy of note, worth mentioning also is that she was shelled by British shore batteries on leaving Malta and had some of her plates sprung by a mine a few minutes later. On the same day she was attacked by Italian Marchetti bombers, both planes failed to find the mark, one torpedo scrapping down her side. The other missing by some three feet. Later a submarine was spotted, fortunately by an escorting Destroyer and with the aid of a circling Sunderland the Delicanion was able to make good her escape.
However her luck was not to hold and on the 12th August 1942 she was bombed by a formation of five Heinkel aircraft. A direct hit which travelled through number five hold and out the side exploded flooding number one hold, and putting 9 ft in number five hold. Captain Ramsey brown D.S.C. maintained course for Malta but was attacked again this time by three aircraft, all the bombs released missed but an aerial torpedo struck number six hold breaking the prop shaft and igniting high octane fuel. With no alternative but to abandon ship the order was given and HMS Bramhan was on hand to pick up survivors.
Built: 1930 by Scotts S.B.& E., Greenock.
Tonnage: 6, 671g, 4, 117n
Engines: Twin Screw, 4S.S.A., 2 x 6 Cylinder. 637 NHP. 13.5 Knots.
Polyphemus was the most famous Cyclop. He was the son of Poseidon and a sea nymph. It was Polyphemus who captured Odysseus and his crew when they were shipwrecked on his island. After about half his men were eaten by the Cyclop, Odysseus managed to get him drunk and blinded him by plunging a burning stake into his eye. Odysseus and the rest of his men escaped when they clung to the bellies of the sheep being let out to pasture.
The last of a class of four to be completed and she was operated by N.S.M. 'Oceaan'. In 1941 the Atlantis declared herself to be this ship in an attempt to escape the Devonshire. On the 26th of May 1942 she was torpedoes twice by U-135 North of Bermuda en route from Sydney to Liverpool. Onboard were fourteen survivors from the Norwegian ship Norland, in command was Captain Koningstein, of 75 onboard only 30 were rescued. All four ships of this class were lost. They were Maron, Clytoneus, Myrmidon and of course Polyphemus herself.
MEMNON
Ransome- Wallis
Built: 1931 by Caledon S.B. & E. Co, Dundee.
Tonnage: 7, 731g, 4, 765n.
Engine: Twin Screw, 4 S. SA 2 x 8 Cylinder Burmeister & Wain, Copenhagen, 1, 295 NHP, 14 Knots.
King of Ethiopia, son of Tithonus and Eos. In the Trojan War he fought against the Greeks, and after he had killed Antilochus, he himself was killed by Achilles. Eos obtained immortality from Zeus for her son. Memnon was supposed to have lived in Egypt, and the Greeks gave his name to the great statue of Amenhotep III at Thebes. This statue was said to make a musical sound at daybreak, at which time Memnon greeted his mother, goddess of dawn.
She was delivered to China Mutual for the Company's Far East service. On the 11th of March 1941 she was torpedoed by U-106 North East of Cape Blanco, Cape Verde Islands, Memnon sank within fifteen minutes. Her two boats sailed for two weeks before reaching safety and the total loss of life was either four or five depending on the reference book used.
SARPEDON
Built 1931 at Scotts S.B. and E. Co., Greenock.
Tonnage 7, 797g 4, 803n
Engines As Agamemnon and Deucalion
Built for Ocean S.S.Co. and named Ajax. Last of the five sisters. In 1957 she is transferred to Glen Line and renamed Glenlochy. 1958 she reverts back to Ocean S.S.Co. and is renamed again to Sarpedon. In August 1962 she arrives in Hong Kong for scrapping.
AJAX
Built: 1931 by Scotts S.B.& E., Greenock.
Tonnage: 7, 797g, 4, 803n
Engines: Twin Screw, 4S.S.A., 2 x 8 Cylinder 4S.S.A. by Burmeister & Wain, 1, 295 NHP. 14 Knots.
Ajax was the son of Telemon, one of the formost Greek warriers. He went mad after Achilles armour had been given to Odysseus and committed suicide.
Built for Ocean S.S.Co she transferred to Glen Line in 1957, renamed Glenlochy, she reverted back to Ocean the following year becoming Sarpedon. She arrived in Hong Kong for scrapping in August of 1962.
GORGON
©J.C.
Built: 1933 by Caledon S.B. & E., Dundee.
Tonnage: 3,533g, 2,120n.
Engine: Single Screw, 2S 6 Cylinder Burmeister Wain, Copenhagen, 580 N.H.P., 12 Knots.
The Gorgons were snake-haired, and had great tusks like swine's, and brazen hands, and golden wings, and they turned to stone those who beheld them. Mortal Medusa is one of the three Gorgons, the others being the immortals Stheno and Euryale.
Gorgon and her sister Charon were built for the Singapore-West Australia service. Gorgon was initially owned jointly by Ocean S.S. and West Australian S.N., Co., ( Bethell, Gwynn & Co ), when the latters only ship Minderoo was sunk in 1935, West Australian pulled out of the trade and sold their share of Gorgon to Ocean S.S. in 1936. In January of 1942 she sailed from Melbourne bound for Singapore in Convoy MS 1 and on arrival was continuously bombed by Japanese aircraft. By the 11th of February her Master realised that it was pointless to continue discharging her cargo and so after taking 358 passengers and refugee's aboard he sailed for Australia. She was attacked by high level Japanese Bombers on the 12th on six occasions and was hit three times, two of which caused serious fires one adjacent to the ammunition store, fortunately both blazes were brought under control. The third bomb however failed to detonate and had embedded itself in bags of flour in one of the holds. Showing great bravery Chief Officer J. Bruce with the assistance of two soldiers gingerly carried the bomb out onto the deck and dropped it over the side, again it failed to explode. After the Australians successful defense of Port Moresby the Allies went on the offensive and in one action landed troops at Milne Bay, New Guinea on the 4th of April 1943, Gorgon took part. Again Gorgon was bombed by Japanese aircraft, six of her crew were killed and much of the ship was set on fire, so much so that she had to be towed to Brisbane for repairs, however the crew were delighted to report that they had shot down two enemy aircraft. After the War Gorgon returned to her normal service before making her final sailing from Fremantle on the 21st of July 1964, she arrived in Hong Kong for breaking in August of the same year.
1939 The start of the 2nd WW sees most of the Blue Funnel Fleet seconded into Government Service.
1940 Blue Funnel ship losses commence.
Chronological Order.
Jan 21 Protesilaus mined.
Feb 17 Pyrrhus II torpedoed.
June 17 Teiresias bombed.
July 2 Aeneas bombed.
Sept 4 Titan II sunk.
Sept 25 Eurymedon sunk
Nov 3 Patroclus III sunk.
Nov 11 Automedon sunk.
A total of eight ships lost in 1940.
1941
Jan 8 Clytoneus bombed.
Jan 14 Eumaeus II torpedoed.
Jan 24 Meriones bombed.
Jan 29 Eurylochus sank by German Raider Kormoran.
Feb 28 Anchises III bombed.
Mar 11 Memnon IV torpedoed.
April 21 Calchas II torpedoed.
May 7 Ixion II sank by submarine.
Dec 26 Tantalus bombed.
A total of nine ships sunk in 1941.
1942
As Empire Splendour. copyright N.M.M. .
Built: 1942 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast.
Tonnage: 7, 376g, 4, 408n.
Engine: Single Screw, 4S.S.A., 6 Cylinder, 12 Knots.
Medon was a servant.
Completed as the Empire Splendour for the Ministry of War Transport, G.Heyn & Sons as managers. Late in the war the Government promised to hand over ships to companies who promised to buy them when hostilities had ceased, duly Alfred Holt & Co became managers of Empire Splendour and purchased her in 1946. On purchase of the vessel she was renamed Medon and the height of her masts and funnel were increased to give a more acceptable appearance as to that expected from Blue Funnel ships. After sixteen satisfactory years with Blue Funnel she was laid up in the Fal on the 23rd of November 1962. The following year she was sold to Olistim Nav. CIA of Monrovia, renamed Tina and in 1968 sold to Sanspyridon Shipping Co, Cyprus, same name. She was sold for scrapping at Shanghai in 1970.
With Thanks to Captain John Bax.
Jan 11 Cyclops II torpedoed.
Feb 6 Talthybius sank in Singapore but later refloated.
March 3 Helenus torpedoed.
April 5 Hector IV bombed.
April 6 Autolycus II shelled by Japanese cruisers.
April 10 Ulysses IV torpedoed.
May 3 Laertes III sank by submarine.
May 17 Peisander torpedoed.
May 26 Polyphemus III torpedoed.
May 28 Mentor torpedoed.
Aug 10 Medon II torpedoed.
Aug 12 Deucalion III bombed and aerial torpedoed.
Sept 5 Myrmidon III torpedoed.
Oct 11 Agapenor torpedoed.
Oct 27 Stentor III torpedoed.
Nov 13 Maron torpedoed.
Nov 27 Polydorus torpedoed.
In all eighteen ships sank in 1942 by far the worst year of the war for Blue Funnel.
Talthybius is refloated and salvaged by the Japanese and renamed Taruyasu Maru. She is sunk again 30th June 1945 by mines. Salvaged yet again at the end of the war and became the 'Empire Evenload'. Finally to be broken up at Briton Ferry, September 1949.
1943
With the tide turning in the Allies favour this year sees a drop in Allied tonnage losses. Blue Funnel lost four ships.
Feb 3 Rhexenor torpedoed.
Feb 5 Dolius torpedoed.
May 14 Centaur II torpedoed.
Dec 9 Phemius II torpedoed.
Built 1943 Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard Baltimore, Maryland.
Tonnage 7, 291g 4, 380n
Engine Single screw triple expansion 3 cylinder, 2, 500 IHP 11 knots by Elliot Machy Corp. Baltimore, Maryland.
Launched as the Peter Cooper for the war shipping administration branch of the United States Marine Corps, transferred to Great Britain and managed by Alfred Holt. Renamed Samarkand. Acquired by Ocean S.S. Co in 1947 and renamed Talthybius, transferred to Glen Line and became Gleniffer, sold on twice before finally scrapped at Split in Yugoslavia.
TROILUS
With Thanks to Captain John Bax
Built: 1943 by Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyards, Baltimore, Maryland.
Tonnage: 7, 287g, 4, 375n.
Engine: Single Screw, Triple Expansion, 2, 500 IHP, 11 Knots by General Machinery Corp, Hamilton, Ontario.
Passengers: Originally designed at 45 but later increased to accommodate 36 Anti-Aircraft Gunners.
Troilus, a Trojan prince (son of Priam and Hecuba), fell in love with Cressida (Chryseis), daughter of Calchas. When she was exchanged for a Trojan prisoner of war, Cressida swore to be faithful to Troilus, but then deceived him with Diomed. Troilus was killed by Achilles.
Launched as Martha C. Thomas for the War Shipping Administration. Transferred under the Lend Lease Scheme on bare boat charter to the Ministry of War transport with Alfred Holts as managers renamed Samharle. Purchased for Ocean S.S. Co and renamed Troilus in 1947 and in 1958 she was sold to Cia de Nav. San Augustin S.A. of Panama and registered in Liberia becoming Green River. She was broken at Osaka, Japan in 1963.
Go to 1944 - 1957