SS Drakensberg Castle
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country= |Ship flag= |Ship name=*Empire Allenby (1944-46)
|Ship ordered= |Ship builder= J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland |Ship original cost= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched= 18 October 1944 |Ship completed= June 1945 |Ship yard number= 633 |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= 5 August 1959 |Ship owner=*Ministry of War Transport (1944-46)
|Ship operator=*Owner operated except:-
|Ship registry=*{{Flagicon|UK|civil}} Sunderland (1945-47)
|Ship renamed= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship honours= |Ship captured= |Ship fate= Scrapped in Hong Kong September 1959 |Ship identification=*UK Official Number 180157 (1945-47)
|Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= |Ship tonnage= 9,904 GRT |Ship displacement= |Ship length= {{convert|475|ft|4|in|m|2|abbr=on}} |Ship beam= {{convert|64|ft|1|in|m|2|abbr=on}} |Ship depth={{convert|40|ft|m|2|abbr=on}} |Ship draft= |Ship hold depth= |Ship propulsion= 2 x steam turbines double reduction geared driving one screw |Ship sail plan= |Ship complement= |Ship armament= |Ship speed= {{convert|14.5|kn|km/h}} |Ship notes= |Ship capacity= }} |
The Empire Allenby was a 9,904 ton cargo liner which was built in 1944. She was renamed Drakensberg Castle in 1946, and scrapped in 1959.
History
Empire Allenby was built by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland{{cite web|url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/44/44b1208.pdf |title= LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |accessdate=2008-12-24}} as yard number 633. She was launched on 18 October 1944 and completed in June 1945.{{csr|register=MSI|id=1180157|accessdate=2008-12-24}} Empire Allenby was built for the Ministry of War Transport and operated under the management of Furness, Withy & Co Ltd, who traded as Prince Line Ltd.
In 1946, Empire Allenby was sold to the Union Castle Mail Steamship Co Ltd, who traded as the Union-Castle Line. She was renamed Drakensberg Castle.{{cite web|url=http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/EmpireA.html |title=Empire-A |publisher=Mariners-L |accessdate=2008-12-24}} On 22 July 1947, she was transferred to the South African registry. Although Drakensberg Castle was a fast ship compared to others in the Union-Castle Line fleet, she was expensive to operate and not suitable for use as a tramp. She was sold for scrap to the Hong Kong Salvage & Towage Co and arrived for scrapping in Hong Kong on 5 August 1959. Drakensberg Castle was scrapped in September 1959.{{cite web|url=http://ca.geocities.com/ventures0@rogers.com/sunderland32.html |title=INDUSTRIAL SUNDERLAND - PAGE 32, SHIPBUILDERS - PAGE 10 |publisher=Rogers |accessdate=2008-12-24|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204112759/http://ca.geocities.com/ventures0@rogers.com/sunderland32.html|url-status=dead |archivedate=2009-02-04}}
Official Number and code letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers.
Empire Allenby had the UK Official Number 180157 and used the Code Letters GJTM.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20Ships/Old%20Ships%20D/slides/Drakensburg%20Castle-01.html Photo] of Drakensberg Castle.
{{Empire ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Drakensberg Castle}}
Category:Ships built on the River Wear
Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom
Category:Ministry of War Transport ships
Category:Merchant ships of the United Kingdom
Category:Ships of the Union-Castle Line
Category:Steamships of South Africa