SS Palmyra (1944)

Palmyra was a Hansa A Type cargo ship which was built as Fangturm in 1944 by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, Germany for Hansa Line, Bremen, Germany. She was seized as a prize of war in 1945, passing to the Ministry of War Transport and renamed Empire Gallop. She was sold in 1947 and renamed Baltonia, the Baltic Oak in 1953. She was sold to West Germany in 1957 and renamed Palmyra. She served until 1962, when she was sunk in a collision with another ship.

For other ships with the same name, see SS Fangturm, SS Baltonia, and SS Palmyra.
History
Name
  • Fangturm (1944–45)
  • Empire Gallop (1945–47)
  • Baltonia (1947–53)
  • Baltic Oak (1953–57)
  • Palmyra (1957–62)
Owner
Operator
  • DDG Hansa (1944–45)
  • PD Hendry & Sons (1945–46)
  • United Baltic Corporation (1946–57)
  • Deutsche Levant Linie (1957–62)
Port of registry
BuilderDeutsche Werft
Yard number448
Launched23 October 1944
Completed29 December 1944
Out of service1962
Identification
  • call sign DOYT (1944–45)
  • UK official number 180674 (1945–57)
  • call sign GJKM (1945–57)
  • call sign DIQF (1957–62)
FateSunk in a collision
General characteristics
Class and typeHansa A type cargo ship
Tonnage1,944 GRT, 985 NRT, 3,200 DWT
Length87.68 m (287 ft 8 in)
Beam13.51 m (44 ft 4 in)
Draught5.59 m (18 ft 4 in)
Depth4.80 m (15 ft 9 in)
Installed powerCompound steam engine, 1,200IHP
PropulsionSingle screw propeller
Speed10.5 knots (19.4 km/h)

Description

The ship was 87.68 m (287 ft 8 in) long, with a beam of 13.51 m (44 ft 4 in). She had a depth of 4.80 m (15 ft 9 in), and a draught of 5.59 m (18 ft 4 in). She was assessed as 1,944 GRT, 965 NRT,[1] 3,200 DWT.[2]

The ship was propelled by a compound steam engine, which had two cylinders of 42 cm (169⁄16 inches) and two cylinders of 90 cm (357⁄16 inches) diameter by 90 cm (357⁄16 inches) stroke. The engine was built by Deutsche Werft.[1] Rated at 1,200IHP, it drove a single screw propeller and could propel the ship at 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h).[2]

History

Fangturm was a Hansa A Type cargo ship built in 1944 as yard number 448 by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, Germany for Hansa Line, Bremen, Germany. She was launched on 23 October 1944 and completed on 29 December. Her port of registry was Bremen,[2][3] and the Code Letters DOYT were allocated.[4]

In May 1945, Fangturm was seized as a prize of war at Kiel. She was passed to the Ministry of War Transport and renamed Empire Gallop.[3] Her United Kingdom official number was 180674 and her call sign was GJKM. She was registered in London and managed by PD Hendry & Sons.[1]

on 26 November 1946,[2] Empire Gallop was sold to the United Baltic Corporation, London. She was renamed Baltonia in 1947. Her port of registry was London.[5] She was renamed Baltic Oak in 1953.[3]

Baltic Oak was sold to Bock, Godeffroy & Co, Hamburg, West Germany in 1957 and was renamed Palmyra.[3][2] Her port of registry was Hamburg and the Code Letters DIQF were allocated.[4] She was operated under the management of the Deutsche Levant Linie.[2] On 27 March 1962, she collided with the British merchant ship British Mariner and sank 18 nautical miles (33 km) west of Ouessant, Finistère, France. Palmyra was on a voyage from Hamburg to Istanbul, Turkey with a cargo of vehicles, steel and general cargo.[3][4] British Mariner put in to the River Tyne for inspection. She was deemed a constructive total loss and was scrapped.[6]

References
  1. Lloyd's Register of Shipping (PDF). Vol. I Steamers and Motorships of 300 Tons Gross and Over. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1945. Retrieved 9 June 2020 – via Southampton City Council.
  2. "Fangturm (Ty.)" (in Danish). J Marcussen. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  3. Mitchell, WH; Sawyer, LA (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
  4. "Baltic Oak SS (1953~1957) Palmyra SS [+1962]". Wrecksite. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  5. "Public Notices". The Times. No. 50701. London. 5 March 1947. col C, p. 1.
  6. "British Mariner". The Yard. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
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