MOYUNE
was built in 1895 by Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd. at Belfast
with a tonnage of 4646grt, a length of 410ft, a beam of 48ft
1in and a service speed of 10 knots. Built for the China Mutual
Steam Navigation she was acquired by Holts when the company
was purchased by them in 1902. On 14th April 1897 she was blown
ashore after dragging her anchor following an engine failure
in bad weather at Castle Haven near St. Catherines on the Isle
of Wight. She was refloated by two tugs on the same day and
proceeded on her voyage after it was established that little
damaged had been sustained. She was requisitioned by the Government
on 19th May 1915 and undertook voyages to Canada, Burma, the
USA, France and Egypt. During a voyage from Karachi to Liverpool
with a cargo of maize she was torpedoed and sunk by U-34 south
east of Cape Palos near Cartegena in Spain. (Photo: Ian J Farquhar
Collection)
TEENKAI
was built in 1895 by Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd. at Belfast
with a tonnage of 4642grt, a length of 410ft, a beam of 48ft
1in and a service speed of 10 knots. Built for the China Mutual
Steam Navigation she was acquired by Holts when the company
was purchased by them in 1902. In 1922 she was sold to "Globus"Rheederei
A. G. of Bremen and renamed Gerfrid. Five years later she was
sold to Pereira Carneiro & Cia of Rio de Janeiro who renamed
her Merity. If the records are correct she was broken up in
1971, an amazing 76 years after leaving the builders yard. (Photo:
Ian J Farquhar Collection)
YANG-TSZE
was built in 1899 by Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd. at Belfast
with a tonnage of 6457grt, a length of 450ft, a beam of 53ft
1in and a service speed of 10 knots. One of a class of three
ships she was built for the China Mutual Steam Navigation and
acquired by Holts when the company was purchased by them in
1902. On 25th April 1918 she was missed during a torpedo attack
west of Gibraltar. In 1927 she was sold to Madrigal & Co.
of Manila, renamed Macaria (2) and eventually broken up in Japan
during 1933. (Photo: Ian J Farquhar Collection)
PING
SUEY (1) was built in 1899 by Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd.
at Belfast with a tonnage of 6458grt, a length of 450ft, a beam
of 53ft 1in and a service speed of 10 knots. One a class of
three ships she was built for the China Mutual Steam Navigation
and acquired by Holts when the company was purchased by them
in 1902. On 24th June 1916, during a voyage from Liverpool to
Durban, she went aground on Dassen Island, Cape of Good Hope
and while the crew were waiting to be rescued they survived
by eating penguin eggs. She was refloated, patched up, and sold
to a company managed by Mitchell, Cotts who took her to Hong
Kong where more permanent repairs were made. On 25th April 1918
she survived a torpedo attack west of Gibraltar. In 1919 she
was sold to Lloyd de Pacifico of Savona who renamed her Attalita.
She was broken up in Genoa during August 1932. (Photo: Ian J
Farquhar Collection)
HYSON
was built in 1899 by Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd. at Belfast
with a tonnage of 6608grt, a length of 450ft, a beam of 53ft
1in and a service speed of 10 knots. The last of a class of
three ships she was built for the China Mutual Steam Navigation
and acquired by Holts when the company was purchased by them
in 1902. On 29th May 1917 she was chased by a U-boat in the
English Channel. In August 1926 she was sold to E. Bozzo and
L. Mortola of Genoa, renamed Maria Rosa and broken up at Spezia
in May 1932. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
KEEMUN
(1) was built in 1902 by Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd. at Belfast
with a tonnage of 9067grt, a length of 482ft, a beam of 58ft
2in and a service speed of 10 knots. She was being built for
China Mutual Steam Navigation Co. when the company was taken
over by Holt's. During the First World War she had the minor
distinction of carrying much needed fuel oil in her ballast
tanks from Shell installations in the Far East to Europe. On
13th June 1918 she survived a gunfire attack by a surfaced U-boat
in the Atlantic by driving her off with an accurate return of
fire. She remained with the company until 1933 when she was
sold to Japanese shipbreakers at Osaka. (Photo: John Clarkson
Collection)
NINGCHOW
was built in 1902 by Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd. at Belfast
with a tonnage of 8813grt, a length of 482ft, a beam of 58ft
2in and a service speed of 10 knots. She was being built for
China Mutual Steam Navigation Co. when the company was taken
over by Holt's. Sister of the Keemun she was one of a class
of three ships and the largest acquired with the purchase of
China Mutual. She remained with the company until 4th November
1932 when she arrived at Spezia in Italy for demolition. (Photo:
John Clarkson Collection)
OANFA
(2) was built in 1902 by Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd. at Belfast
with a tonnage of 8819grt, a length of 482ft, a beam of 58ft
2in and a service speed of 10 knots. The last of the class of
three ships she was completed after the acquisition of China
Mutual Steam Navigation Co. by Holt's. After an uneventful career
she arrived at Osaka on Christmas Day 1931 where she was broken
up. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
OANFA
(1)/RHIPEUS was built in 1888 by Aitken & Mansel at Glasgow
with a tonnage of 3061grt, a length of 325ft 6in, a beam of
47ft 2in and a service speed of 10 knots. She was built for
the China Shippers Company as the Oanfa, became part of the
China Mutual Steam Navigation Co's fleet in 1893 and was acquired
by N. S. M. 'Oceaan' in 1900, renamed Rhipeus and flew the Dutch
ensign. Two years later N. S. M. 'Oceaan' came under the Blue
Funnel umbrella. She was sold in 1910 to N. G. Pittaluga of
Genoa, renamed Ginolia and broken up at Genoa in May of the
following year. (Photo: G. J. de Boer Collection)
MEMNON
(2) was built in 1888 by R & W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co.
Ltd. at Newcastle with a tonnage of 2458grt, a length of 320ft,
a beam of 40ft 3in and a service speed of 10 knots. She was
built as the Gulf of Guinea for the Gulf Line of Greenock, a
company which later became the Greenock Steam Ship Company.
Acquired by Holt's in December 1899 she was renamed Memnon and
transferred to N. S. M. 'Oceaan' under the Dutch flag in 1900.
She was sold to K Watanabe of Hakodate, Japan in 1905 and renamed
Togo Maru No.1, later reduced to Togo Maru. On 20th July 1923
whilst on a voyage from Tsingtao to Yokohama with a cargo of
coal, coak and cattle she was wrecked off Mokpo in Korea. (Photo:
G. J. de Boer Collection)
CHARON
(1) was built in 1903 by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Dundee with a tonnage of 2682grt, a length of 306ft 1in,
a beam of 45ft 2in and a service speed of 12 knots. She was
built for the Singapore - Batavia - Fremantle service in conjunction
with the West Australian Steam Navigation Co. and flew the house
flags of both companies. In 1925 she was sold to Yuang Heng
Steam Ship Co. of China and renamed Yuan Lee. Ten years later
her owners renamed her King Lee and later in 1935 she was sold
to Kwang Tung Product Sales Bureau of Canton who renamed her
Wing Fook. In 1941 she was sold to Wallem & Co. of Hong
Kong who renamed her Iris and flying the Panamanian flag. Surviving
the war the was sold in 1947 to Chinese owners who renamed her
Hsiang Hsing. On 7th March 1950 she had to beached in the outer
Harbour at Keelung when all her holds began to leak. She was
refloated after several attempts and drydocked at Keelung. The
Chinese Government condemned the ship for demolition in order
to recoup their salvage costs but she sank in the outer harbour
at Keelung on 12th August 1950. (Photo:Peter Newall Collection)
GORGON
(1) was built in 1908 by Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. Ltd. at Greenock with a tonnage of 2885grt, a length of
300ft, a beam of 42ft and a service speed of 12 knots. Built
for the Ocean Steam Ship Company she was deployed on the Singapore
- Batavia - Fremantle service alongside the Charon. In 1917
she was requisitioned by the British Government and used in
the Mediterranean to transport motor transport and troops as
an Expeditionary Force Transport. She was sold to the Cheong
Hing Steamship Co. Ltd of Hong Kong, renamed Lyeemoon and used
as an emigrant ship in Chinese and South East Asian waters.
Apparently avoiding Japanese control during WW2 she was supposedly
wrecked at Benghazi on 4th January 1943.(Photo as the Lyeemoon:
Peter Newall Collection)
PRIAM
(3) was built in 1904 by R & W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co.
at Greenock with a tonnage of 4543grt, a length of 382ft 8in,
a beam of 47ft 2 in and a service speed of 10 knots. From 1904,
when she was delivered to Ocean Steam Ship Co., all Holt ships,
with few exceptions, were either built for for Ocean or China
Mutual. She was broken up in 1931 in Japan.
(Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
LAERTES (2) was built in 1904
by R & W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co. at Greenock with a tonnage
of 4541grt, a length of 382ft 8in, a beam of 47ft 2 in and a
service speed of 10 knots. Sister of the Priam she was built
for Ocean Steam Ship Company and entered service in 1904. On
10th February 1915 she managed to survive a torpedo and gunfire
attack by a U-boat when off the Dutch coast but on 1st August
1917 she was torpedoed and sunk of Prawle point with the loss
of 14 lives.
TELAMON
(2) was built in 1904 by Workman Clark at Belfast with a tonnage
of 4509grt, a length of 383ft 4in, a beam of 47ft 2 in and a
service speed of 10 knots. Sister of the Priam she entered service
with the Ocean Steam Ship Co. in 1904. On 6th April 1910 during
a voyage from Brisbane to Liverpool a fire broke out in the
No.1 lower hold. Forced to put into Perim six days later the
cargo was quickly unloaded and the fire extinguished. Four days
later, with her cargo reloaded, she resumed her voyage. She
remained with the company until 1933 when she was sold to Douglas
& Ramsey and broken up Smith & Houston at Port Glasgow.
(Photo: Ian J Farquhar Collection)
BELLEROPHON
(2) was built in 1906 by Workman Clark at Belfast with a tonnage
of 8954grt, a length of 485ft 4in, a beam of 53ft 4in and a
service speed of 14 knots. The first of a class of 6 vessels,
the first to have 'goal post' masts and the largest to date.
Built for the Ocean Steam Ship Company she entered service on
the China Mutual service from Glasgow to Liverpool - Singapore
- China - Japan - Vancouver and Seattle, a route acquired with
the purchase of China Mutual in 1902. In August 1914 she was
requisitioned as a British Expeditionary Force troopship and
horse carrier operating out of Liverpool to France. She was
requisitioned again for troop ship duties when , in February
1927, she loaded troops , horses and supplies at Birkenhead
bound for Hong Kong and Shanghai during the 'China Affair'.
She carried 750 horses and their troopers at full speed and
only made one 12 hour stop for fuel at Suez. P&O's Karmala
and Aberdeen Line's Herminius accompanied her on the voyage.
On 18th April 1948 she arrived at Barrow - in - Furness where
she was scrapped at the British Iron & Steel Corporation
(BISCO) yard of Thos. W. Ward. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
TEUCER
(3) was built in 1906 by R & W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co.
Ltd at Newcastle with a tonnage of 9017grt, a length of 485ft
4in, a beam of 53ft 4in and a service speed of 14 knots. Sister
of the Bellerophon and built for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. she
actually the first of the class to enter service. Relatively
fast ships burning 90 tons of coal per day she used her speed
effectively in December 1915 when she outpaced a surfaced U-boat
in the Mediterranean. On 10th January 1948 she arrived at Troon
where she was broken up by W. H. Arnott Young & Co. (Photo:
John Clarkson Collection)
ANTILOCHUS
(1) was built in 1906 by R & W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co.
Ltd at Newcastle with a tonnage of 9011grt, a length of 485ft
4in, a beam of 53ft 4in and a service speed of 14 knots. Sister
of the Bellerophon she was delivered to the Ocean Steam Ship
Co. in 1906. On 10th September 1915 she successfully avoided
a gunfire attack by a German submarine in the Mediterranean.
During the Second World War, on 29th May 1942, she rescued the
survivors of the Mentor which had been sunk off Florida. She
was sold to the British Iron & Steel Company (BISCO) in
1948 and arrived at Briton Ferry on 11th April where she was
broken up by Thos. W. Ward. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
CYCLOPS
(2) was built in 1906 by D & W Henderson & Co. at Glasgow
with a tonnage of 8998grt, a length of 485ft, a beam of 58ft
4 in and a service speed of 14 knots. Sister of the Bellerphon
she was built for Ocean Steam Ship Co. On 11th February 1917
she was chased by a submarine off Southern Ireland and later
in the same year, on 11th April, she was missed by a torpedo
west of the Scilly Isles. After surviving WW1 she was torpedoed
on 11th January 1942 by U-123 (KapitanLeutnant Reinhard Hardegen
-Knights Cross with Oakleaves) 200 miles off Cape Sable on the
east coast of America (41 51N 63 48W) with the loss of 26 passengers
and 41 crew members. For many years she was commanded by Captain
W. Cosker who was affectionately known as 'God Bless You Cosker'
because of the invariable way he signed off his radio messages.
(Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
TITAN
(2) was built in 1906 by D & W Henderson & Co. at Glasgow
with a tonnage of 8954grt, a length of 485ft 4in, a beam of
58ft 4 in and a service speed of 14 knots. Sister of the Bellerphon
she was built for Ocean Steam Ship Co. She was torpedoed and
sunk on 4th September 1940 by U-47 (Korvetten Kapitan Gunther
Prien - Knights Cross with Oakleaves) north west of Rockall
(58 14N 15 50W) with the loss of six lives during a voyage from
London to Sydney in ballast. Her crew of 24 Europeans and 66
Chinese were rescued by HMS Godetia and HMCS St. Laurent. (Photo:
John Clarkson Collection)