SS Iserlohn (1909)
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = | Ship caption = }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship name =*Iserlohn (1909-21)
| Ship owner =*Deutsche-Australische Dampfschiffs Gesellschaft (1909-19)
| Ship operator =*Deutsche-Australische Dampfschiffs Gesellschaft (1909-19)
| Ship registry =*{{flagicon|Germany|empire}} Hamburg, Germany (1909-19)
| Ship route = | Ship ordered = | Ship builder = Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte & Maschinenfabrik | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = 426 | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = 14 August 1909 | Ship completed = | Ship commissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship christened = | Ship acquired = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = 7 June 1944 | Ship identification =*United Kingdom Official Number 143916 (1919-24, 1940-44)
| Ship fate = Scuttled as blockship in 1944, salvaged and scrapped in 1951 | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type =*Cargo ship (1909-43)
| Ship tonnage =*{{GRT|4,667}}
| Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|121.61|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|16.37|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship depth = {{convert|7.55|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship range = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = Triple expansion steam engine | Ship speed = | Ship capacity = | Ship crew = | Ship notes = | Ship armament = }} |
{{location map|British Isles Oceans|width=304
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|caption=Location of the scuttling of Empire Defiance.
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Iserlohn was a {{GRT|4667|link=off}} cargo ship that was built in 1909 by Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte & Maschinenfabrik, Hamburg, Germany. She was ceded to the United Kingdom in 1919, passing to the Admiralty. In 1921, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Union City. She was sold to Finland in 1924 and renamed Wasaborg. In 1935, she was sold to Italy and renamed Erica. In 1940, she was seized by the United Kingdom and passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). Renamed Empire Defiance, she served until June 1944, when she was sunk as a blockship at Sword, Ouistreham, France in support of Operation Overlord. She was salvaged in 1951 and scrapped at Antwerp, Belgium.
Description
The ship was built in 1909 by Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte & Maschinenfabrik, Hamburg.{{cite book |last1= Mitchell |first1=W.H. |last2=Sawyer |first2=L.A. |year=1995 |title=The Empire Ships |page=not cited |publisher= Lloyd's of London Press Ltd |location= London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong |isbn=1-85044-275-4}} She was yard number 426.{{cite web |url=http://archeosousmarine.net/gooseberry5.html |title=LES EPAVES DES MULBERRY, Gooseberry 5 - Sword Beach |publisher=Archeo Sous Marine |language=fr |access-date=10 June 2011}}
The ship was {{convert|121.61|m|ftin}} long, with a beam of {{convert|16.37|m|ftin}}. She had a depth of {{convert|7.55|m|ftin}}.{{cite web|url=http://kauppalaiva.nba.fi/card.php?id=3957&lang=en |title=Ship Card #3957 |publisher=Finnish Mercantile Marine Database |access-date=10 June 2011}} She was assessed at {{GRT|4,667}}, {{NRT|2,760}}.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wakkanet.fi/~karij/laivat/uki/moottori/wasaborg1.htm |title=Höyrylaiva Wasaborg (1) |publisher=Wakkanet |language=fi |access-date=10 June 2011}} Her DWT was 7,669.
The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of {{convert|66|and|121|and|195|cm|in|frac=8|abbr=on}} diameter by {{convert|122|cm|in}} stroke. The engine was built by Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte & Maschinenfabrik, Hamburg.{{cite web|url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30b1285.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship data |access-date=15 July 2011}}
History
Iserlohn was built for Deutsche-Australische Dampfschiffs Gesellschaft, Hamburg.{{cite web |url=http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/german_australian.htm |title=German-Australian Line / Deutsche-Australische Dampfschiffs Gesellschaft, Hamburg |publisher=The Ships List |access-date=10 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629154825/http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/german_australian.htm |archive-date=29 June 2011 |df=dmy-all }} She was launched on 14 August 1909. Her port of registry was Hamburg. In 1914, Iserlohn was interned at Batavia, Dutch East Indies. She was ceded to the United Kingdom in 1919, passing to the British Shipping Controller. She was operated under the management of the British-India Steam Navigation Co Ltd.{{cite web |url=http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/EmpireD.html |title=EMPIRE - D - E |publisher=Mariners |access-date=10 June 2011}} Iserlohn was allocated the Official Number 143916.{{cite web |url=http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/ON130000.htm |title =ON130000 |publisher=Mariners |access-date=10 June 2011}}
In 1921, Iserlohn was advertised for sale "to British Nationals only". She was available for inspection at London.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Ex-Enemy Steamers |date=7 January 1921 |page=12 |issue=42612 |column=F }} She was sold to William Reardon Smith & Sons and renamed Union City.{{cite web |url=http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/wrss.htm |title=William Reardon Smith & Sons |publisher=The Ships List |access-date=10 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412092409/http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/wrss.htm |archive-date=12 April 2010 |df=dmy-all }} She was operated under the management of the St Just Steamship Co Ltd, Bideford, Devon. In 1924, Union City was sold to J A Zachariassen & Co, Uusikaupunki, Finland and was renamed Wasaborg. The Finnish Official Number 323 was allocated in 1927. Wasaborg used the Code Letters VBTP from 1927–33, and OHBR from 1934. On 26 December 1932, a ship named Wasaborg was involved in a collision with the London and North Eastern Railway ship {{SS|Hartlepool||2}} off Terneuzen, Netherlands. Both ships suffering only light damage.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Casualty Reports |date=28 December 1932 |page=17 |issue=46327 |column=D }} (Wasaborg reported as Swedish, but this may be an error)
In 1935, Wasaborg was sold to Achille Lauro & Co, Naples, Italy and was renamed Erica. The Italian Official Number 438 and Code Letters IBNN were allocated.{{cite web |url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/37/37b0284.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, STEAMERS & MOTORSHIPS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=15 July 2011}} On 10 June 1940, Erica was in port at Liverpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom. She was seized and passed to the MoWT as a prize of war.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Prize Courts |date=18 June 1940 |page=1 |issue=48645 |column=F }} Renamed Empire Defiance, she was placed under the management of T & J Brocklebank.{{cite web |url=http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/brock.html |title=Thos. & Jno. Brocklebank (Brocklebank Line) |publisher=The Ships List |access-date=10 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011232922/http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/brock.html |archive-date=11 October 2008 |df=dmy-all }} She was reallocated the Official Number 143916 and allocated the Code Letters GWLC.{{cite web |url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/40/40a1056.pdf |title=LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS |publisher=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=15 July 2011}}
Empire Defiance departed from Liverpool on 18 July as a member of Convoy OB 188, which dispersed at sea on 27 July.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ob2/index.html?ob.php?convoy=188!~obmain |title=Convoy OB.188 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=10 June 2011}} Her destination was Freetown, Sierra Leone, where she arrived on 3 September. She departed from Freetown on 20 September for Cape Town, South Africa, arriving on 2 November and departing six days later for Durban, where she arrived on 8 November. Five days later, Empire Defiance departed from Durban for Calcutta, India, arriving on 10 December.{{cite web |url=http://convoyweb.org.uk/ports/index.html?search.php?vessel=EMPIRE%20DEFIANCE~armain |title=EMPIRE DEFIANCE |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=10 June 2011}}
Empire Defiance departed from Calcutta on 29 April 1941 for Madras, arriving on 3 May and departing two days later for Colombo, Ceylon, where she arrived on 9 May. On 11 May, she departed for Durban, arriving on 30 May. She departed from Durban on 12 June for Cape Town, arriving on 17 June and departing four days later for St Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, where she arrived on 18 July. The next day, Empire Defiance departed from St Thomas for Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, arriving on 27 July. She departed from Halifax on 6 August for Sydney, Cape Breton, arriving the next day. She departed from Sydney on 10 August as a member of Convoy SC 40, which arrived at Liverpool on 29 August. Empire Defiance was carrying general cargo.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/sc/index.html?sc.php?convoy=40!~scmain |title=Convoy SC.40 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=10 June 2011}}
Empire Defiance was a member of Convoy OS 8, which departed from Liverpool on 3 October and arrived at Freetown on 26 October. She was carrying general cargo with a stated destination of Calcutta.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/os/index.html?os.php?convoy=8!~osmain |title=Convoy OS.8 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=10 June 2011}} She departed from Freetown on 30 October for Cape Town, arriving on 17 November. On 29 November, she departed for Durban, where she arrived on 4 December, departing four days later for Trincomalee, Ceylon, where she arrived on 30 December.
Empire Defiance departed from Trincomalee on 11 January 1942 for Calcutta, where she arrived on 17 January. She departed from Calcutta on 8 March for Cuddalore, arriving on 12 March and departing two days later for Colombo, where she arrived on 17 March. She departed on 30 March for Durban, arriving on 16 April and departing eight days later for Cape Town, where she arrived on 29 May. She departed from Cape Town on 4 May and arrived at Freetown on 19 May. Empire Defiance was a member of Convoy SL 112, which departed from Freetown on 4 June and arrived at Liverpool on 23 June. She was carrying a cargo of jute, pig iron and tea.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/sl/index.html?sl112.htm~slmain |title=Convoy SL.112 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=10 June 2011}} She left the convoy at Loch Ewe on 22 June, joining Convoy WN 300, which departed on 23 June and arrived at Methil, Fife two days later.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/wn/index.html?wn.php?convoy=300!~wnmain |title=Convoy WN.300 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=10 June 2011}} She left the convoy at Dundee, Forfarshire.
Empire Defiance the sailed to Methil, where she joined Convoy FS 847, which departed on 5 July and arrived at Southend, Essex two days later.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fs/index.html?fs.php?convoy=0847!~fsmain |title=Convoy FS.847 = Convoy FS.47 / Phase 9 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=10 June 2011}} She left the convoy at the Tyne on 6 July. She departed the Tyne on 13 July to join Convoy FN 758, which had departed from Southend on 12 July and arrived at Methil two days later.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fn/index.html?fn.php?convoy=0758!~fnmain |title=Convoy Convoy FN.758 = Convoy FN.58 / Phase 8 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=10 June 2011}} Empire Defiance was a member of Convoy EN 116, which departed from Methil on 27 July and arrived at Loch Ewe two days later.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/en/index.html?en.php?convoy=116!~enmain |title=Convoy EN.116 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=10 June 2011}} Her destination was Oban, Argyllshire, where she arrived on 30 July. She sailed from Oban on 1 August to join Convoy OS 36, which departed from Liverpool on 31 July and arrived at Freetown on 18 August. She was carrying a cargo described as "stores" destined for Calcutta.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/os/index.html?os.php?convoy=36!~osmain |title=Convoy OS.36 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=10 June 2011}} She sailed on to Durban, from where she departed on 15 September 1942 for Colombo, arriving on 1 October and departing three days later for Trincomalee, where she arrived on 6 October. Empire Defiance departed from Trincomalee on 17 October but arrived back there three days later. She departed again on 11 November for Calcutta, where she arrived on 18 November.
Empire Defiance departed from Calcutta on 20 January 1943 for Madras, arriving three days later. She departed from Madras three days after that, arriving at Colombo on 2 February. Empire Defiance departed from Colombo on 14 February for Cape Town, where she arrived on 7 March, departing four days later for Freetown, arriving on 26 March. Empire Defiance was a member of Convoy SL 127, which departed from Freetown on 31 March and arrived at Liverpool on 24 April. She was carrying a cargo of copra, mails and pig iron, as well as twelve passengers. She was bound for Loch Ewe,{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/sl/index.html?sl127.htm~slmain |title=Convoy SL.127 / SLG.127 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=10 June 2011}} where she arrived on 22 April. She then joined Convoy WN419 to Methil and Convoy FS 1099 to Southend, where she arrived on 27 April.
Empire Defiance departed from Southend on 2 June with for Loch Ewe, which was reached on 6 June via convoys FN 1037 and EN 234. She then sailed to Oban, from where she departed on 9 June to join Convoy ONS 10, which departed from Liverpool on 8 June and arrived at Halifax on 27 June. She was carrying general cargo destined for New York, United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ons/index.html?ons.php?convoy=10!~onsmain |title=Convoy ONS.10 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=10 June 2011}} The then joined Convoy XB 60, which departed from Halifax that day and arrived at the Cape Cod Canal, Massachusetts on 29 June.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/xb/index.html?xb.php?convoy=60!~xbmain |title=Convoy XB.60 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=10 June 2011}} Arrival at New York was on 30 June. Empire Defiance departed from New York on 4 July for the Hampton Roads, Virginia. A return trip was made to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before she returned to New York, from where she departed on 21 July for Boston, Massachusetts.Empire Defiance was a member of Convoy BX 75, which departed from Boston on 24 July and arrived at Halifax two days later. She then joined Convoy SC 143, which departed from Halifax on 28 September and arrived at Liverpool on 12 October. She was carrying a cargo of grain and general cargo. On arrival at Liverpool Empire Defiance was laid up, and used as a storage hulk.{{cite web |url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/sc/index.html?sc.php?convoy=143!~scmain |title=Convoy SC.143 |publisher=Convoyweb |access-date=10 June 2011}}
In 1944, management of Empire Defiance was transferred to J & J Denholm. She departed from Liverpool under escort on 7 April bound for Oban, from where she departed under escort on 30 May for Poole Dorset. Empire Defiance was a member of the Corncob 1 Convoy. On 7 June 1944,{{cite web |url=http://www.war-experience.org/803flotilla/chapter7.htm |title=NORMANDY, THE "CAP TOURANE" AND ARROMANCHES |publisher=War Experience |access-date=10 June 2011}} Empire Defiance was scuttled at Sword, Ouistreham, Calvados, France as part of Gooseberry 5. She was salvaged in 1951 and towed by the tugs Seaman and Superman to Belgium for scrapping. On 21 August, Empire Defiance had to be beached off The Mole, Zeebrugge after developing a leak. She was refloated and arrived on 15 September at Antwerp for scrapping.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.uusikaupunki.fi/~merihist/images/kortit/12.jpg Photo of Wasaborg]
{{Empire ships}}
{{June 1944 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iserlohn}}
Category:Ships built in Hamburg
Category:Steamships of Germany
Category:Merchant ships of Germany
Category:World War I merchant ships of Germany
Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom
Category:Merchant ships of the United Kingdom
Category:Steamships of Finland
Category:Merchant ships of Finland
Category:Merchant ships of Italy
Category:World War II merchant ships of Italy
Category:Ministry of War Transport ships
Category:Scuttled vessels of the United Kingdom