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Thread: SS Somerset

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    Default 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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    Default 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.
    Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website

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    Default 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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  7. #4
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    Default 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.

    - - - Updated - - -

    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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