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HMAT A8 Argyllshire

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Revision as of 01:03, 1 March 2021 by Linton (talk | contribs) (Fremantle to Devonport 9 November 1916 - 10 January 1917)
HMAT A8 Argyllshire.jpg
History
Name HMAT A8 Argyllshire
Builder/Built 1911 John Brown of Clydebank
Type Troopship (twin screw)
Displacement 10,392 tons
Speed 14 knots


Remarks

Owned by the Scottish Shire Line Ltd of London, and leased by the Commonwealth until 24 Jan 1918. Se was converted at Cockatoo Island Drydock in Sydney to carry 845 troops and 392 horses. Its first voyage for the Commonwealth was to participate in the 1st Convoy from Albany to Alexandria carrying artillery units.


While under Commonwealth control she completed seven voyages from Australia, with the final one from Fremantle in late 1916. During that time she was attacked twice by U Boats. The first occasion was on 27 May 1915 when two torpedoes fired by submarine missed her, and the second on 2 Feb 1917 when she was hit by a torpedo but able to reach Falmouth safely. Management transferred to the British Admiralty on 24 Jan 1918. During Aug - Sep 1919 she carried soldiers home to Brisbane.


Returned to normal service she was laid up for periods in 1927 and 1929 before being sold to the Clan Line and renamed Clan Urquhart. In 1936 she was sold for scrap, but before this was complete she caught fire and her hull was scuttled.

Staff

Soldiers carried

Fremantle to Port Suez 19 April - ? May 1915

Fremantle to Devonport 9 November 1916 - 10 January 1917

England to Fremantle 23 May 1917 - 9 July 1917

England to Fremantle 1 February - 6 April 1918

England to Albany 9 December 1918 - 18 January 1919

Passengers then railed to Fremantle.