SS Clan Matheson (1919)
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: |
Clan Morgan (1919) Clan Matheson (1919-48) Harmodius (1948-51) Claire T (1951-55) Empire Claire (1955) |
| Owner: |
Clan Line Steamers Ltd (1919-48) British & South American Steam Navigation Co Ltd (1948-51) Heron Steamship Co Ltd (1951-53) Romney Steamship Co Ltd (1953-55) Ministry of Transport (1955) |
| Operator: |
Cayzer, Irvine & Co Ltd (1919-48) Houston Line Ltd (1948-51) Heron Steamship Co Ltd (1951-53) Romney Steamship Co Ltd (1953-55) Ministry of Transport (1955) |
| Port of registry: |
 Glasgow (1919-48) United Kingdom (1948-51) London (1951-55) |
| Builder: | William Hamilton & Co Ltd |
| Yard number: | 311 |
| Laid down: | 1917 |
| Launched: | 18 February 1919 |
| Out of service: | 27 September 1955 |
| Identification: |
Code Letters JWPR (1919-34) 30x15px30x15px30x15px30x15px Code Letters GQMW (1934-48) 30x15px30x15px30x15px30x15px United Kingdom Official Number 141896 |
| Fate: | Scuttled |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Cargo ship |
| Tonnage: |
5,614 GRT 3,453 NRT |
| Length: | 397 feet 1 inch (121.03 m) |
| Beam: | 51 feet 4 inches (15.65 m) |
| Depth: | 34 feet 0 inches (10.36 m) |
| Installed power: | Triple expansion steam engine |
| Propulsion: | Screw propellor |
Clan Matheson was a 5,613 GRT cargo ship which was built in 1919 by William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow as Clan Morgan for Clan Line Steamers Ltd. She was sold in 1948 and renamed Harmodius. A further sale in 1951 saw her renamed Claire T. In 1955, she was purchased by the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and renamed Empire Claire. She was scuttled on 27 September 1955 with a cargo of obsolete war materials.
Description
The ship was built by William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow as yard number 311 as a sister ship to SS Chronos and SS Macedon. She was laid down in 1917 and launched on 18 February 1919 as Clan Morgan,[1] with completion in April that year.[2]
The ship was 397 feet 1 inch (121.03 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet 5 inches (17.20 m) and a depth of 34 feet 0 inches (10.36 m). She had a GRT of 5,613 and a NRT of 3,453.[2]
The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 27 inches (69 cm), 44 inches (110 cm) and 73 inches (190 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke. The engine was built by D Rowan & Co Ltd, Glasgow.[2]
History
Clan Matheson was ordered by Australian Steamship Ltd, Sydney in 1917 as the 4,360 GRT Bogong. It was later decided to rename her You Yangs. The contract was sold to Clan Line Steamers Ltd on the orders of the British Shipping Controller. Her design was modified and she was lengthened.[1]
Clan Matheson was placed under the management of Cayzer, Irvine & Co Ltd. Her port of registry was Glasgow. The United Kingdom Official Number 141086 was allocated. The Code Letters JWPR were allocated.[2] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to GQMW.[3] Clan Matheson served as a cargo ship, but she was also used as a cadet training ship.[4]
In 1924, the Coconut Moth (Levuana irridescens) was a serious pest in Fiji and a biological solution was sought. A similar moth, Artona Catoxantha was known to be parisitized by Ptychomyia and Apanteles. It was decided to use these parasites to eradicate the Coconut Moth. The parasites had to be imported from Singapore to Fiji. Most ships at that time did not sail direct, but via Australia, which would have meant putting the parasites into quarantine in Australia. Clan Line ships operated in the area. In July 1924, Clan Mackay was sailing from Singapore to Fiji via other ports. Clan Matheson was also due to sail from Java to Fiji. The parasites were transported on Clan Mackay to Surabaya, Java, where they were transferred to Clan Matheson for onward shipment to Fiji. Although no Apanteles survived, the introduction of the Ptychomia was a success and the Coconut Moth had been eradicated within two years.[5]
During the Second World War, Clan Matheson was a member of a number of convoys.
- OG 3
Convoy OG 3 formed at sea on 17 October 1939 bound for Gibraltar. Clan Matheson was carrying general cargo bound for East Africa.[6]
- OG 22
Convoy OG 22 formed at sea on 18 March 1940 bound for Gibraltar. Clan Matheson was a member of this convoy.[6]
- HX 228
Convoy HX 228 departed New York on 28 February 1943 and arrived at Liverpool on 15 March. Clan Matheson was carrying a cargo of sugar and general cargo. She was to have been a member of this convoy but returned to port.[7]
- HX 229
Convoy HX 229 departed New York on 8 March 1943 and arrived at Liverpool on 23 March. Clan Matheson was carrying general cargo, mail and a passenger, bound for Loch Ewe. She was also carrying the convoy's Vice Commodore. Clan Matheson was unable to maintain speed and put into Halifax, Nova Scotia.[8]
In 1948, Clan Matheson was sold to British & South American Steam Navigation Co Ltd and was renamed Harmodius. She was placed under the management of Houston Line Ltd.[9] In 1951, she was sold to the Heron Steamship Co Ltd, London and renamed Claire T.[10] In 1953, she was sold to the Romney Steamship Co Ltd,[11] serving until 1955 when she was purchased by the MoT and renamed Empire Claire. As part of Operation Sandcastle, she was loaded with obsolete war materials which included confiscated German munitions containing Tabun.[12] Loaded with 16,000 bombs,[13] Empire Claire was towed out of Stranraer on 27 July 1955.[9] She was scuttled that day at 56°30′N 12°00′W / 56.5°N 12°WCoordinates: 56°30′N 12°00′W / 56.5°N 12°W.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Launched 1919: ss CLAN MATHESON". Clydesite. http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=19625. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS". Plimsoll Ship Data. http://www.plimsollshipdata.org/pdffile.php?name=30b0268.pdf. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ "LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS". Plimsoll Ship Data. http://www.plimsollshipdata.org/pdffile.php?name=34b0202.pdf. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ "Clan Line Steamers". Rakaia. http://www.rakaia.co.uk/clan-line.html. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ "COCONUT MOTH, Levuana irridescens Bethune-Baker -- Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae". University of California, Riverside. http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/biotact/ch-29.htm. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "OG Convoys – 1939-1942, Convoy OG 1 through OG 89". Warsailors. http://warsailors.com/convoys/ogconvoys.html. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ "CONVOY HX 228". Warsailors. http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx228.html. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ "CONVOY HX 229". Warsailors. http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx229.html. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "C.W. Cayzer & Company / Cayzer, Irvine & Company / Clan Line of Steamers Limited / Clan Line". The Ships List. http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/clan.html. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ "EMPIRE - C". Mariners. http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/EmpireC.html. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ "Standard reply to enquiries re sea dumping of munitions". Ministry of Defence. http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5750E1D8-5CC6-47F6-BC88-1849BB11B0A8/0/std_reply_sea_dump.pdf. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ↑ "TIMEBOMB II; Sunday Mail reveals where deadly poisons were dumped off Scotland". Bnet. http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/sunday-mail-glasgow-scotland/mi_7994/is_2002_March_17/timebomb-ii-sunday-mail-reveals/ai_n36575620/. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
