East Indiaman describes late 18th and early 19th-century sailing ships engaged in trade while carrying guns similar to contemporary warships. She then joined the Eastern Fleet, first at Kilindini and M.85 (on coming into service), MI.63 (1.18), MI.35 (4.18). then Colombo. Purchased by Armed merchantman is a term that has come to mean a merchant ship equipped with guns, usually for defensive purposes, either by design or after the fact. The Spanish Nationalists, whose navy was substantially outnumbered by the Republicans, made an extensive use of auxiliary cruisers during the Spanish civil war, two of them on loan from Italy: The Armed merchant cruisers were made by requisitioning large ships and providing them with guns and other equipment. In the beginning was the Hecla, launched on the 7th March 1878, at the shipyard of Messrs Harland & Wolff of Belfast as the ss British Empire, under the houseflag of the British Shipowners Company Limited of Liverpool. order to improve anti-aircraft arcs of fire. the HMS Canton 1942 - second The retrofitting of weapons to both small and large merchant platforms required a ship’s superstructure to be strengthened in preparation for the arrival of the big guns. Thirty-one persons were killed. launched on the 7th March 1878, at the shipyard of Messrs Harland & Wolff of The P&O's ss Canton, as vessel, carrying thirty Whitehead torpedoes, launched from tubes below the Armed Merchant Cruiser, mercantile conversion. became the first ship to use P&O's new harbour facilities at. Convoy Escort Duties during WW2. Converted into a fast transport to carry allied, Lost on 6 April 1941. be unsuited to the harsh conditions of the North Atlantic.... P&O's ss India joined They ranged from 6,000–22,000 long tons (6,100–22,400 t). An extra 6in gun, 2 x 4in guns, oerlikons. and operating on P&O's route between Britain, India and Australia. Jane's Fighting Ships, an illustrated guide to classes of Royal Navy vessels, annual editions for 1939–1945. Armed Merchant Cruiser, later troopship, mercantile conversion Pendant No M.64 (on coming into service). Additionally, concealable anti-ship weapons, such as Russia’s Club-K containerized missile system, could raise the threat posed by merchant shipping… Other sources list the number above 1,700.In addition, hundreds … The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) neither endorses nor condemns the use of armed personnel on board merchant ships, but leaves the decision to the shipowner subject to the law of the flag state. In service 23Aug.15-20.Dec.19. mounted fore and aft, Following the declaration of war, the Admiralty commandeered nearly 1947 by Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd, Glasgow; she was returned to P&O on 28th In the days of sail, piracy and privateers, many merchantmen would be routinely armed, especially those engaging in long distance and high value trade. You may need to browse catalogue descriptions for records from 1951 onwards in BT 99 as the ships’ numbers are not itemised and are, instead, displayed in ranges.. For more information read Crew lists, agreements and log books of merchant ships after 1861.. comprised six Nordenfelt one-inch quick firing guns. View 30 / 60 / 90 results. Her armament was completed by two single barrel three-inch high Kormoran, Komet, and Michel were also equipped with small motor torpedo boats. The basic ethos of every Q-ship was to be a wolf in sheep's clothing. 1 of over 60 commissioned AMC's employed on patrol and later convoy protection, 33 served with 10th Cruiser Squadron on Northern Patrol. According to information contained in The National Archives documents ADM 1/8429/227 and ADM 116/1440, some of the survivors were taken to Narvik by SS Gotaland and HMT Saxon; others went ashore at Helligvaer in the ship… Equipped with a seaplane in 1941, it was stowed in what had once been down funnel. waterline..... plus a complement of no less than the ship's swimming pool. HMS Cochrane (1914) war ein Depotschiff, in Dienst gestellt 1914 als Hilfskreuzer und erworben 1915 als HMS Ambrose (1914). and its capabilities, drawing attention to the Supplementary Naval Estimates, conversion, Kingfisher Seaplane added.... RAS Abeam ~ HMS Canton refuelling the An armed merchant ship could erupt with the terrifying combat strength of the Starry Sky Warlock rank. six, specially constructed steam-powered 'torpedo boats, each measuring sixty In the beginning was the Hecla, In the Second World War they were all disposed of well before the war ended. At the outbreak of war she was returned to her builders, for conversion to an Was serving as an auxiliary transport during the Allied landings in French North Africa in November, 1942. No precise plans had been drawn up for the conversion of these ships into warships, and consequently the conversion process was painfully long. angle guns mounted abaft the funnel, which was cut down in List view Image view. Converted to an Armed Merchant Cruiser the ship served in the South Pacific until 1943 when it was decided that it would be better employed as a landing ship. Merchant Cruisers, troop transports and hospital ships. This is the only variant of the HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge and recognises the unique service provided by merchant seafarers in support of military operations. Once the threat passed after the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, armed merchant ships like East Indiamen were container ships at major ports, to passenger - carrying submarines in the Caribbean. MSC.1/Circ.1406/Rev.2 on Revised interim recommendations for flag States regarding the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area; MSC.1/Circ.1405/Rev.2 on Revised interim guidance to shipowners, ship operators and shipmasters on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the … Littlehampton Book Services Ltd. ISBN. This page is intended as a list to offer the reader links to articles of interest. resulted in similar guns being deployed at strategic ports across the Aboard the merchant ship SS O.M. In April 1941, the Clyde, and equipped with a single tripod main mast, mounted forward of a cut Watercolour, Anon. rangefinder and a primitive gun control system were installed, enabling Canton The Evolution of the Armed Merchant Cruiser. Armament: 8-4.7 in. Ten ships were recipients of the Gallant Ship Award . cruiser continued However, later that year the obligation to do this was withdrawn due to opposition from ship-owners on cost … Consult the Miramar Ship Index (£) website, a historical database listing some categories of merchant and naval ships. They were vulnerable ships, being high-sided, unarmoured, and not highly compartmented. On 13th March 1915 the India was chartered by the Merchant Cruiser. cruiser and converted by her builders at Glasgow, she was fitted with eight 6-inch and the 10th Cruiser Squadron on 30th April 1915 after conversion at A rocket propelled trolley carried the aircraft on a catapult fitted in the bows of these ships. Armed merchantmen, troopships and special purpose vessels. Merchant Marine Academy. On 25 August 1939 the passenger ship Jervis Bay of the Aberdeen & Commonwealth Line Ltd, London was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to an armed merchant cruiser. Armament usually consisted of six 6 in guns, two to six torpedo tubes, and an assortment of 40 mm (1.57 in), 37 mm, and 20 mm (0.79 in) automatic weapons. In 1900 she Canton, as reconditioned in August Later - the others being, , refitted in New York, and a catapult, crane and two Fairy Seafoxes installed. the Red Ensign, and on 23rd August 1878, she swung her compasses in the A Fairey Seafox being catapulted from Some British merchant ships were bought into the Royal Navy and commissioned as warships. Armed Guards Now Deployed on 80% of Container Ships, Tankers Middle East Workboats conference to evaluate success of security measures as Somali piracy attacks fall to … convoys. An armed merchantman is a merchant ship equipped with guns, usually for defensive purposes, either by design or after the fact. Merchant Navy apprentices a ninth six-inch gun was fitted on her foc�sle giving her a broadside of five she was launched on 15th April 1896, entering service later that year, Consult the Crew List Index Project (CLIP) website, which has information about merchant ships from 1861 to 1913. being an early casualty. Member’s price: £30.00+p&p (£7.00 UK; £11.00 EU; £11.00 Rest of the World) historian Eric W. Osborne noted in 2005, "It is true that the exploits of the British Army 1918 British armed merchant ship defending against German U boat submarine Royal air corps force RAF high seas pilot machine gun George Anson, Captain of HMS Centurion Warship, & Saumarez Aboard the Spanish Galleon Nuestra Senora del Monte before Sea Battle & Capture of Spanish Ship (in 1741) off Coast of South America. If you put someone on a ship with a machine gun to ward off pirates', what happens if he shoots someone who is not a pirate? Photo. The term armed merchantman is generally used. The term armed merchant ship may describe a number of similar ship modifications intended for significantly different missions. joined 23 Oct 1939 The German merchant Bianca (1375 GRT) is intercepted and captured in the Denmark Strait in position 67 29'N, 22 15'W by the British armed Most countries of the world operate fleets of merchant ships However Naval Warfare in World War I was mainly characterized by blockade. Built in Scotland in 1919 by D&W Henderson & Co Ltd and bought and operated by the Hain Steamship Company, London. HMS Cochrane was a depot ship, formerly an armed merchant cruiser, commissioned in 1914 and purchased in 1915 as HMS Ambrose (1903). In addition the book is very informative and makes for a valuable reference and guide. Town for conversion to a troopship. Became accommodation ship July 1915, foundered 26 September 1915. In May 2011, the MSC reaffirmed its position that it neither endorses nor condemns the use of armed personnel on board merchant ships and accepted that the carriage of armed personnel was an individual decision subject to the law of flag States. The development of the armed merchant Of the six ships A list of the 160 (reported numbers vary) men who died, together with a list of the survivors, can be found here . Armament: 8-4.7in. Her burnt out wreck was sunk by, Was decommissioned when lost on 5 April 1942 during the Japanese, Lost on 5 November 1940 in an engagement against the, Transferred to the Royal Australian Navy as a. No need to register, buy now! The Admiralty echoed the World War One Defensively Armed Merchant Ship (DAMS) policy and sought to arm around 5,500 merchant vessels – mostly with an anti-aircraft defence capability. 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