Difference between revisions of "HMAT A73 Commonwealth"
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Built for W. Lund's Blue Anchor Line and used on the Australian run until ownership changed in 1910. (Two ownership changes during this period) before she was leased by the Commonwealth in 1916, making four trips from Australia to the Middle East as a troop ship. Management was transferred to the British Admiralty on 23 Jun 1917. | Built for W. Lund's Blue Anchor Line and used on the Australian run until ownership changed in 1910. (Two ownership changes during this period) before she was leased by the Commonwealth in 1916, making four trips from Australia to the Middle East as a troop ship. Management was transferred to the British Admiralty on 23 Jun 1917. | ||
| − | On the 1 Feb 1918 the ''Commonwealth'' left Bini Saf, Algeria bound for Middlesbrough with a cargo of 5,300 tons of iron ore. When rounding Flamborough Head and making 7.5 knots following the war channel, the master altered course to NNW and had just gone below when a torpedo struck the ship's starboard side at 9:40pm. She sank within 5 minutes with those who survived getting away in the port life boat. Five others were later picked up, but 14 of the crew drowned. Survivors pulled all night and landed at Filey about 6.30 a.m. on the 20th. The enemy submarine was never seen. | + | |
| + | On the 1 Feb 1918 the ''Commonwealth'' left Bini Saf, Algeria bound for Middlesbrough with a cargo of 5,300 tons of iron ore. When rounding Flamborough Head and making 7.5 knots following the war channel, the master altered course to NNW and had just gone below when a torpedo struck the ship's starboard side at 9:40pm. She sank within 5 minutes with those who survived getting away in the port life boat. Five others were later picked up, but 14 of the crew drowned. Survivors pulled all night and landed at Filey about 6.30 a.m. on the 20th. The enemy submarine was never seen. | ||
==Soldiers carried== | ==Soldiers carried== | ||
Revision as of 15:36, 14 October 2021
 P & O postcard | |
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMAT A73 Commonwealth |
| Owner | Stewart Steam Ship Co Ltd, Liverpool |
| Builder | Furness Withy & Co., Ltd., West Hartlepool (Sunderland) |
| Yard number | 226 |
| Completed | 1896 |
| Fate | torpedoed and sank 19 Feb 1918 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | cargo ship |
| Tonnage | 6,616 tons |
| Length | 100.6m |
| Beam | 13.7m |
| Depth | 5.8m |
| Propulsion | single screw |
| Speed | 14 knots (25.93 kmph) |
| Capacity | crew 29, 1,200 troops or 75 x 1st class and 70 other passengers |
Contents
Remarks
Built for W. Lund's Blue Anchor Line and used on the Australian run until ownership changed in 1910. (Two ownership changes during this period) before she was leased by the Commonwealth in 1916, making four trips from Australia to the Middle East as a troop ship. Management was transferred to the British Admiralty on 23 Jun 1917.
On the 1 Feb 1918 the Commonwealth left Bini Saf, Algeria bound for Middlesbrough with a cargo of 5,300 tons of iron ore. When rounding Flamborough Head and making 7.5 knots following the war channel, the master altered course to NNW and had just gone below when a torpedo struck the ship's starboard side at 9:40pm. She sank within 5 minutes with those who survived getting away in the port life boat. Five others were later picked up, but 14 of the crew drowned. Survivors pulled all night and landed at Filey about 6.30 a.m. on the 20th. The enemy submarine was never seen.
Soldiers carried
Port Suez to Fremantle 24 January - 2 February 1916
Melbourne to Port Suez 2 November - 10 December 1917
Embarked in Fremantle on 9 November
England to Fremantle 13 April - 4 June 1919
Other Voyages
- 26 November 1915 from Melbourne, Victoria
- 28 March 1916 from Brisbane, Queensland
- 19 September 1916 from Melbourne, Victoria