MV Domala
{{short description|British merchant ship sunk in the Second World War}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country= United Kingdom |Ship flag= {{Shipboxflag|United Kingdom|civil}} |Ship name= *1920: Magvana
|Ship namesake= Domala, Punjab |Ship owner= *1921: British India SN Co
|Ship operator= *1941: Andrew Weir & Co |Ship registry= Glasgow |Ship route= London – Suez Canal – Calcutta |Ship ordered= |Ship builder= Barclay, Curle & Co, Whiteinch |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number= 579 |Ship laid down= |Ship launched= 23 December 1920 |Ship sponsor= |Ship completed= 14 December 1921 |Ship maiden voyage= |Ship acquired= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship identification= *UK official number 146266
|Ship fate= Sunk by torpedo, 1942 |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship type= *1921: cargo liner
|Ship tonnage= *1922: {{GRT|8551}}, {{NRT|5134}}, {{DWT|10400}}
|Ship displacement= |Ship length= *{{cvt|464.0|ft|abbr=on}} overall
|Ship beam= {{cvt|58.3|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship draught= *1922: {{cvt|27|ft|11|in|abbr=on|2}}
|Ship depth= {{cvt|32.9|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship decks= 2 |Ship power= *1922: 963 NHP
|Ship propulsion= *2 × 4-stroke diesel engines
|Ship speed= {{convert|13.6|kn|km/h}} |Ship capacity= *cargo: {{convert|516000|cuft|0}}
|Ship troops= |Ship crew= *1921: 140
|Ship complement= |Ship armament= |Ship sensors= *as built: submarine signalling
|Ship notes= sister ship: {{MV|Dumana | 2}}
}} |
MV Domala was a British cargo liner that was launched in 1920 as Magvana, but completed in 1921 as Domala. She was the first major ocean-going passenger ship to be built in the United Kingdom as a motor ship.
The British India Steam Navigation Company (BI) owned and operated her until 1940, when she was bombed by a German aircraft and burnt out. She was rebuilt for the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) as the cargo ship Empire Attendant. Andrew Weir & Company managed her for the MoS, and for its successor the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), until a U-boat sank her with all hands in 1942.
Context
In the First World War, BI lost four nearly new "M" class twin-screw cargo liners to enemy action.{{sfn|Haws|1987|pp=111–113}} After the war it ordered replacements: three to the same dimensions from Barclay, Curle & Company in Whiteinch, Glasgow,{{sfn|Haws|1987|pp=135, 137}} and one, {{convert|20|ft|0}} longer overall (about {{convert|16|ft|0}} longer registered) but otherwise similar, from Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson at Wallsend, Tyneside.{{sfn|Haws|1987|p=138}}
Barclay, Curle launched yard number 577 in July 1920 as Mashobra, and completed her that October with a pair of triple expansion engines like her predecessors.{{cite web |url= https://www.poheritage.com/Upload/Mimsy/Media/factsheet/93759MASHOBRA-1920pdf.pdf |title=Mashobra (1920) |work=Ship Fact Sheet |publisher=P&O Heritage |date=March 2009 |access-date=13 January 2024}} It launched yard number 580 in October 1920 as Manela, and completed her in May 1921 with two sets of three-stage Brown-Curtis steam turbines.{{cite web |url= https://www.poheritage.com/Upload/Mimsy/Media/factsheet/93725MANELA-1921pdf.pdf |title=Manela (1921) |work=Ship Fact Sheet |publisher=P&O Heritage |date=April 1921 |access-date=13 January 2024}} It launched yard number 579 in December 1920 as Megvana, and completed her on 14 December 1921.{{csr|register=MSI|id=1146266|access-date=19 January 2008}} Her engines were a pair of single-acting four-stroke diesels, built by the North British Diesel Engine Works.{{sfn|Lloyd's Register 1922|loc=DOL–DOM}} In order to distinguish her as a motor ship, BI renamed Megvana as Domala before she was completed; giving a name beginning with "D" to distinguish her as a diesel ship.{{sfn|Haws|1987|p=138}}
Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson launched Modasa on 24 December 1920: the same day as Barclay, Curle launched Megvana. Modasa was completed in December 1921 with Metrovick-Rateau steam turbines.{{cite web |url= https://www.poheritage.com/Upload/Mimsy/Media/factsheet/93802MODASA-1921pdf.pdf |title=Modasa (1921) |work=Ship Fact Sheet |publisher=P&O Heritage |date=April 2009 |access-date=13 January 2024}}
Domala{{'}}s diesel engines obviated the need for 40 stokers,{{cite web |url= https://www.poheritage.com/Upload/Mimsy/Media/factsheet/93057DOMALA-1921pdf.pdf |title=Domala |work=Ship Fact Sheet |publisher=P&O Heritage |date=April 2009 |access-date=13 January 2024}} but her diesel blast injector compressors gave continual trouble.{{sfn|Haws|1987|p=138}} She did not make her sea trials until 24 November 1921. She was delivered to BI that December. BI ordered only one diesel sister ship for Domala. Barclay, Curle built her as yard number 593. She was laid down as Melma, and launched in November 1921. BI renamed her {{MV|Dumana||2}} before she was completed, which was not until March 1923.{{cite web |url= https://www.poheritage.com/Upload/Mimsy/Media/factsheet/93074DUMANA-1923pdf.pdf |title=Dumana (1921) |work=Ship Fact Sheet |publisher=P&O Heritage |date=April 2009 |access-date=13 January 2024}} By contrast, BI ordered five more "M" class turbine steamships, all to the same increased length as Modasa, which were delivered in 1921 and 1922.{{sfn|Haws|1987|pp=136–138}}
Description
Domala{{'}}s lengths were {{cvt|464.0|ft|abbr=on}} overall and {{cvt|450.0|ft|abbr=on}} registered. Her beam was {{cvt|58.3|ft|abbr=on}}, and her depth was {{cvt|32.9|ft|abbr=on}}. She had a straight stem, counter stern, one funnel, and two masts. Her holds had capacity for {{convert|516000|cuft|0}} of cargo, and all her winches were electric. As built, her tonnages were {{GRT|8551}}, {{NRT|5134}}, and {{DWT|10400}}, and her draught was {{cvt|27|ft|11|in|abbr=on|2}}. She had berths 100 passengers in first class and 50 in second class, and carried a crew of 140.{{sfn|Haws|1987|p=138}}
As built, the combined power output of Domala{{'}}s twin diesel engines was rated at 963 NHP.{{sfn|Lloyd's Register 1922|loc=DOL–DOM}} She made {{convert|13.6|kn|km/h}} on her sea trials. By 1927 her engines had been re-rated to a combined total of 1,085 NHP.{{sfn|Lloyd's Register 1927|loc=DOL–DON}} Her cruising speed was {{convert|13|kn|km/h}}. Her bunkers had capacity for 702 tons of oil, and she consumed 20 tons per day.{{sfn|Haws|1987|p=138}}
As built, Domala{{'}}s navigation equipment included submarine signalling.{{sfn|Lloyd's Register 1922|loc=DOL–DOM}} By 1927 it also included wireless direction finding.{{sfn|Lloyd's Register 1927|loc=DOL–DON}}
BI registered Domala at Glasgow. Her United Kingdom official number was 146266 and her code letters were KLFG.{{sfn|Lloyd's Register 1922|loc=DOL–DOM}}{{sfn|Mercantile Navy List 1923|p=618}} By 1930 her wireless telegraph call sign was GDMV.{{sfn|Mercantile Navy List 1930|p=663}} By 1934 this had superseded her code letters.{{sfn|Lloyd's Register 1934|loc=DOG–DON}}
Peacetime career
Domala began her maiden voyage on 30 December 1921, reaching Bombay (now Mumbai), India on 27 January 1922. She returned via Karachi.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=8,000 ton Motor-Liner |date=17 February 1922 |page=6 |issue=42958 |column=C}} On 23 May 1922 she was going up the Scheldt to Antwerp when a ship called Pallas rammed her stern. Pallas had an icebreaker bow, which cut into Domala{{'}}s hull down to below the waterline. Domala reached her berth in Antwerp, but was out of service for repairs for the rest of the year.
Domala{{'}}s regular route was between London and Calcutta via the Suez Canal.{{sfn|Mitchell|Sawyer|1990|p=384}} BI's regular ports of call on this route were Gibraltar, Marseille, Port Said, Suez, Aden, Colombo, and Madras (now Chennai).{{cite web |url= https://timetableimages.com/maritime/images/bi.htm |title=British India Steam Navigation Co. - B.I. |work=marine timetable images |publisher=Björn Larsson |access-date=13 January 2024}}
On 6 October 1927 Domala collided with the British cargo steamship Sagama River in the Humber, severely damaging her.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Casualty reports |date=7 October 1927 |page=25 |issue=44706 |column=C-D}} By 1928 Domala{{'}}s passenger accommodation had been reconfigured. She was now a one-class ship, with berths for 111 passengers. By 1934 this had been increased to 140 passengers, but remaining a one-class ship. On 12 August 1934 she rammed the stern of a Thames sailing barge, Shannon, at Erith, Kent.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Casualty Reports |date=13 August 1934 |page=19 |issue=46831 |column=E}}
Air attack
On 17 February 1940 Domala was requisitioned for the Liner Division. She went to Antwerp, where she embarked a party of lascars whom Germany had released from internment, and left for Southampton.
On 2 March 1940 a Heinkel He 111H of Kampfgeschwader 26, flown by Martin Harlinghausen, attacked Domala off St Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight.{{sfn|Hooton|1994|pp=215, 223}} The bomber dropped two sticks of bombs, setting the ship on fire. As the crew and passengers abandoned ship, the bomber machine-gunned her. A total of 108 people were killed,{{sfn|Mitchell|Sawyer|1990|p=384}} including 81 lascars. This provoked public anger in India against Germany.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Indians and Domala Bombing |date=7 March 1940 |page=7 |issue=48558 |column=B}}
The Dutch steamship Jong Willem rescued 50 survivors, aided by the destroyer {{HMS|Viscount|D92|6}}, and Avro Anson aircraft of 48 Squadron.{{sfn|Thompson|1953|p=24}} On fire, Domala was towed to the Solent, where she was beached between Hurst Castle and The Needles on 6 March. She was refloated on 15 March, and on 19 March she was towed to Southampton.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
Surgeon Lieutenant MacDonald was mentioned in dispatches for his zeal and devotion to duty, and skill in attending the wounded.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Gallantry at Sea |date=25 April 1940 |page=8 |issue=48599 |column=F}} Domala{{'}}s Chief Officer, William Brawn, and a Cadet, Bernard John Duval, were awarded the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct.{{London Gazette |issue=34908 |date=26 July 1940 |page=4657 |supp=y |city=London |title=Commendations:—}}{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Awards to Merchant Navy |date=27 July 1940 |page=2 |issue=48679 |column=G}} Lloyd's of London awarded Duval Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea;{{cite news |title=` |newspaper=Lloyd's List and Shipping Gazette |date=18 March 1941}}{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/55/a8649255.shtml |last=de Neumann |first=Bernard |title=Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea (Part One) |work=WW2 People's War |publisher=BBC |date=19 January 2006 |access-date=13 January 2024}} The citation reads: "The ship was attacked during darkness by an enemy aircraft, which dropped a bomb, putting the main engines out of action and setting her on fire. She also carried a number of lascars captured from various vessels by an enemy raider, who were being taken home. Many were hurt and some killed. At great risk to himself, Cadet Duval, a lad of seventeen, gave a fine example of bravery, doing all he could to save his second officer's life".{{cite web |title=Lot 447 Date of Auction: 18th May 2011 |url= https://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/lot-archive/lot.php?department=Medals&lot_uid=199482 |work=Noonans Mayfair |publisher=Dix Noonan Webb |access-date=2 March 2020}}{{dead link |date=January 2024}}
On 6 March, Manny Shinwell MP asked in the House of Commons why Domala did not use her DEMS guns to defend herself. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, replied that the aircraft that attacked Domala had at first been misidentified as an Allied one, so the guns were not manned, and a Royal Navy destroyer also misidentified the aircraft. Shinwell then asked why the gunners were not always manning the guns. Churchill replied that he was not sure that this would be physically possible.{{cite book |url= https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1940/mar/06/steamship-domala-enemy-attack |chapter=Steamship "Domala" (Enemy Attack). |title=House of Commons |volume=358 |pages=367–368 |publisher=Hansard |date=6 March 1940 |access-date=13 January 2024}}
''Empire Attendant''
The Ministry of Shipping (MoS) requisitioned Domala, had her rebuilt as a cargo ship, and renamed her Empire Attendant.{{sfn|Mitchell|Sawyer|1990|p=384}} The rebuild reduced her tonnages to {{GRT|7524}} and {{NRT|4529}}, and her draught to {{cvt|27|ft|5+3/4|in|abbr=on|2}}. The MoS contracted Andrew Weir & Company to manage her.{{sfn|Lloyd's Register 1941|loc=EMP}}
In 1940 Empire Attendant sailed in Convoy HX 98, which left Halifax, Nova Scotia on 22 December and reached Sydney, Cape Breton on 29 December. Her cargo was steel.{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy HX.98 |work=HX Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, Convoyweb |access-date=13 January 2024}} In 1941 she sailed in Convoy HX 120, which left Halifax on 10 April and reached Liverpool on 29 April.{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy HX |work=HX Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, Convoyweb |access-date=13 January 2024}} Her cargo was steel, plus 350 tons of explosives. She was bound for the Firth of Clyde, and Middlesbrough.{{cite web |url= https://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hx120.html |title=Convoy HX 120 |work=Warsailors |access-date=19 January 2008}} In May 1941 the Ministry of War Transport succeeded the MoS.
{{location map
|Africa
|long=-21.85
|lat=23.8
|relief=yes
|caption=Position where U-582 sank Empire Attendant}}
In 1942 Empire Attendant left Liverpool for Karachi via Durban. Her Master was Captain Thomas Grundy. She carried a crew of 49, plus nine DEMS gunners. Her cargo was stores, vehicles, and explosives.{{cite web |url= https://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1934.html |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=Empire Attendant |work=Ships hit by U-boats |access-date=13 January 2024}}
She sailed in Convoy OS 33, which left Liverpool on 1 July, and was meant to take her as far as Freetown, Sierra Leone.{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/os/index.html |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy OS.33 |work=OS/ KMS Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, Convoyweb |access-date=13 January 2024}} However, she repeatedly broke down. At 1645 hrs on 10 July she broke down for the seventh time, and the sloop {{HMS|Pelican|L86|6}} signalled to the Admiralty that by sunset Domala was not within {{convert|20|nmi|km}} of the convoy.{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/os33/index.html?empire.htm~mainframe33 |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=SS Empire Attendant (sic) |work=Convoy OS.33 |publisher=Don Kindell, Convoyweb |access-date=19 January 2008}}
At 03:30 hrs CET on 15 July, Empire Attendant was off the coast of Río de Oro, Spanish Sahara, when {{GS|U-582||2}} sank her by torpedo at position {{coord|23|48|N|21|51|W|display=inline,title}}. There were no survivors.
Empire Attendant{{'}}s crew is commemorated on panel 38 of the Second World War monument at Tower Hill Memorial.{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/os33/index.html?mem_empire.htm~mainframe33 |last=McGee |first=Billy |title=Crew of the SS Empire Attendant |work=Convoy OS.33 |publisher=Don Kindell, Convoyweb |access-date=19 January 2008}}
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite journal |last=Griffiths |first=Denis |date=July 1997 |title=British Marine Industry and the Diesel Engine |journal=The Northern Mariner |volume=VII |issue=3 |publisher=Canadian Nautical Research Society |url= https://www.cnrs-scrn.org/northern_mariner/vol07/tnm_7_3_11-40.pdf}}
- {{cite book |last=Haws |first=Duncan |year=1987 |title=British India S.N. Co |series=Merchant Fleets |volume=11 |place=Burwash |publisher=Travel Creatours Ltd Publications |isbn=0-946378-07-X}}
- {{cite book |last=Hooton |first=Edward |year=1994 |title=Phoenix Triumphant: The Rise and Rise of the Luftwaffe |place=London |publisher=Arms & Armour |isbn=978-1-85409-181-9}}
- {{cite book |year=1922 |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |volume=II.–Steamers and Motor Vessels |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1923ST/page/n326/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |ref={{harvid|Lloyd's Register 1922}} }}
- {{cite book |year=1926 |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |volume=II.–Steamers and Motorships |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1927ST/page/n327/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |ref={{harvid|Lloyd's Register 1926}} }}
- {{cite book |year=1927 |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |volume=II.–Steamers and Motorships |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1928ST/page/n334/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |ref={{harvid|Lloyd's Register 1927}} }}
- {{cite book |year=1934 |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |volume=II.–Steamers and Motorships of 300 tons gross and over |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/34/34b0248.pdf |via=Southampton City Council |ref={{harvid|Lloyd's Register 1934}} }}
- {{cite book |year=1941 |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |volume=II.–Steamers and Motorships of 300 tons gross and over |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/41/41b0270.pdf |via=Southampton City Council |ref={{harvid|Lloyd's Register 1941}} }}
- {{cite book |year=1923 |title=Mercantile Navy List |place=London |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?name=Domala&year=1923&steamsail=Motor&submit=Enter |via=Crew List Index Project |ref={{harvid|Mercantile Navy List 1923}} }}
- {{cite book |year=1930 |title=Mercantile Navy List |place=London |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?name=Domala&year=1930&steamsail=Motor&submit=Enter |via=Crew List Index Project |ref={{harvid|Mercantile Navy List 1930}} }}
- {{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=WH |last2=Sawyer |first2=LA |year=1990 |title=The Empire Ships |place=London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong |publisher=Lloyd's of London Press |isbn=1-85044-275-4}}
- {{cite book |last=Thompson |first=HL |year=1953 |title=New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force. |volume=1: European Theatre, September 1939-December 1942 |place=Wellington |publisher=War History Branch |url= https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-1RAF-c2.html |via=Victoria University of Wellington}}
{{1922 shipwrecks}}
{{1927 shipwrecks}}
{{1934 shipwrecks}}
{{Empire ships}}
{{March 1940 shipwrecks}}
{{July 1942 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Domala}}
Category:Maritime incidents in 1922
Category:Maritime incidents in 1927
Category:Maritime incidents in 1934
Category:Maritime incidents in March 1940
Category:Maritime incidents in July 1942
Category:Ministry of War Transport ships
Category:Ocean liners of the United Kingdom
Category:Ships of the British India Steam Navigation Company
Category:Ships built on the River Clyde
Category:Ships sunk by German submarines in World War II
Category:World War II merchant ships of the United Kingdom