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11th November 2021, 06:38 PM
#1
SS Somerset
I would be grateful if members can assist me with the following question -
Was SS Somerset - official number 142696 - armed during WWII?
thankyou in anticipation of your assitance.
Patricia
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11th November 2021, 09:23 PM
#2
Re: SS Somerset
Hi Patricia
The steam merchant Somerset from the Federal Steam Navigation Co. was in convoy SL.72, when she was attacked on 11 May 1941 by German FW200 Kondor bomber aircraft, off West-Ireland. She broke in two, the aft part sank immediately. The fore part remained afloat and was sunk by escorting HMS Alisma. There were no casualties.
Dont know if she was armed at this point, but she was in Camouflage gear when sunk, if this is the same one you ask about??? Built 1918
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 11th November 2021 at 09:55 PM.
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11th November 2021, 10:00 PM
#3
Re: SS Somerset
Just infilling minor Movements details re SOMERSET
Clyde, dep.Feb 14, 1941 in Convoy OB.286 (Liverpool - Dispersed)- Independent to Buenos Aires, arr.Mar 11, 1941 Buenos Aires, dep.Mar 19, 1941 Independent Montevideo, arr.Mar 20, 1941 Montevideo,dep. Mar 28, 1941 Independent Freetown, arr.Apr 11, 1941 Freetown, dep.Apr 17, 1941 in ConvoySL.72 (Freetown - Liverpool)
Somerset was lost in the N. Atlantic on May 11, 1941 whilst sailing as a part of convoy SL.72.
Cause of loss: AIRCRAFT.Convoy SL.72
Departed Freetown on 17 April 1941. |
Arrived Liverpool on 13 May 1941. |
Hague's records contain 36 merchants and 19 escorts (33 ships TDS) |
Vessel |
Pdt. |
Tons |
Built |
Cargo |
Notes |
ALCINOUS (Du) |
|
6,189 |
1925 |
Rubber, Aluminium |
|
ALISMA |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 10/05 - 13/05 |
ASPHODEL |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 17/04 - |
BANGALORE (Br) |
|
6,067 |
1928 |
Dried Fruit |
|
BARON DOUGLAS (Br) |
|
3,899 |
1932 |
Iron Ore |
|
CALENDULA |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 17/04 - |
COLUMBIA |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 10/05 - 13/05 |
CORACERO (Br) |
|
7,252 |
1923 |
Frig |
|
CORINALDO (Br) |
|
7,131 |
1921 |
Frig |
|
DALDORCH (Br) |
|
5,571 |
1930 |
W. A. Prod |
|
DIANELLA |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 10/05 - 13/05 |
DIXCOVE (Br) |
|
3,790 |
1927 |
W. A. Prod |
|
DRAGON |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 17/04 - 19/04 |
DUNNOTTAR CASTLE (Br) |
|
15,007 |
1936 |
|
AS AMC ESCORT, CLYDE REFIT TO 30.5 |
DUNNOTTAR CASTLE |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 20/04 - 11/05 |
EMPIRE ADVOCATE (Br) |
|
5,787 |
1913 |
|
SD AZORES 25.4 TO JOIN AT SEA |
EMPIRE LOTUS (Br) |
|
3,696 |
1920 |
Iron Ore |
|
FIJI |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 19/04 - 01/05 |
FLEETWOOD |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 10/05 - 13/05 |
GAELIC STAR (Br) |
|
5,596 |
1917 |
Frig |
|
GAROET (Du) |
|
7,118 |
1917 |
General, Sugar |
|
HAINAUT (Bel) |
|
4,312 |
1905 |
Iron Ore |
|
HAZELSIDE II (Br) |
|
5,297 |
1940 |
Grain |
|
INVERBANK (Br) |
|
5,149 |
1924 |
Graib |
|
JEYPORE (Br) |
|
5,318 |
1920 |
Tea, Linseed, Pig Iron |
|
KELBERGEN (Du) |
|
4,823 |
1914 |
Iron Ore |
|
KEPPEL |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 10/05 - 13/05 |
KINGCUP |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 10/05 - 13/05 |
LINCOLN |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 10/05 - 13/05 |
LLANBERIS (Br) |
|
5,055 |
1928 |
Iron Ore |
|
LORCA (Br) |
|
4,875 |
1931 |
Manganese |
|
MAN O WAR |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 10/05 - 13/05 |
MOANDA (Bel) |
|
4,621 |
1937 |
W. A. Prod |
|
MOKAMBO (Bel) |
|
4,996 |
1938 |
W. A. Prod |
|
MOUNT KITHERON (Gk) |
|
3,876 |
1912 |
Iron Ore |
|
MUNERIC (Br) |
|
5,229 |
1919 |
Iron Ore |
|
NORMAN STAR (Br) |
|
6,817 |
1919 |
Frig |
|
PENROSE (Br) |
|
4,393 |
1928 |
Wheat, Linseed |
|
PERTH (Br) |
|
2,259 |
1915 |
|
RESCUE SHIP |
PRINSES MARIA-PIA (Bel) |
|
2,588 |
1938 |
W. A. Prod |
|
SABRE |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 10/05 - 12/05 |
SAINT BERNARD (Br) |
|
5,183 |
1939 |
Iron Ore |
|
SCOTTISH STAR (Br) |
|
7,224 |
1917 |
Frig |
|
SOMERSET (Br) |
|
8,790 |
1918 |
Frig |
SUNK BY A/C |
ST HELENA (Br) |
|
4,313 |
1936 |
General |
|
ST LOMAN |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 10/05 - 13/05 |
TESTBANK (Br) |
|
5,083 |
1937 |
General |
|
TYNDAREUS (Br) |
|
11,361 |
1916 |
Food, Wheat, Flour |
|
ULYSSES(Br) (Br) |
|
14,647 |
1913 |
General |
|
VELMA (Nor) |
|
9,720 |
1930 |
Laden Tanker |
|
VIDETTE |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 17/04 - |
WELLARD |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 10/05 - 13/05 |
WINKFIELD (Br) |
|
5,279 |
1919 |
General |
|
WISHART |
|
|
|
|
ESCORT 17/04 - |
YORKWOOD (Br) |
|
5,401 |
1936 |
Iron Ore |
|
Additional notes by Arnold Hague and co-workers for convoy SL.72:
|
A/S ESCORT JOINED FROM OG 61 |
COMMODORE: R-Adm G H KNOWLES DSO IN ULYSSES |
VICE COMMODORE: Capt W H POOLE RD RNR IN YORKWOOD |
Data supplied by Don Kindell, extracted from the late Arnold Hague's papers with the kind permission of Mrs. Gill Hague.
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12th November 2021, 01:53 AM
#4
Re: SS Somerset
Thankyou for your post. Yes this is the ship Somerset that my father sailed on for the preceeding 6 voyages ( some pre-WWII). Have a photo of her in camoflage. She made 2 voyages across the Atlantic independently during 1940 - very challendging times for the crew.
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Thankyou for this post Graham. My father sailed on Somerset on the preceeding 6 voyages. (some pre-WWII). These were certainly very perilous days at sea. The Arnold Hague database is a wonderful resource.
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