SS Umona
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country= United Kingdom |Ship flag= {{shipboxflag|UK|civil}} |Ship name= Umona |Ship namesake= |Ship owner= Bullard, King & Co (Natal Direct Line) |Ship operator= |Ship route= Middlesbrough – London – Cape Town – Durban – Indian Ocean |Ship ordered= |Ship builder= Sir John Laing & Sons, Sunderland |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number= 630{{cite web |url= http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?15104 |title=SS Umona (+1941) |last=Allen |first=Tony |date=12 October 2007 |work=The Wreck Site |access-date=24 December 2013}} |Ship laid down= |Ship launched= 7 September 1910 |Ship completed= October 1910 |Ship acquired= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship registry= {{flagicon|UK|civil}} London |Ship identification=*UK official number 129142
|Ship fate= Sunk by torpedo, 30 March 1941 |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= |Ship type= Cargo liner |Ship tonnage=*{{GRT|3753}}
|Ship displacement= |Ship length= {{convert|356.0|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship beam= {{convert|44.5|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship draught= {{convert|23|ft|9|in|abbr=on|2}} |Ship depth= {{convert|26.0|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship decks= |Ship power= 497 NHP |Ship propulsion=*3-cylinder triple-expansion engine;
|Ship speed= {{convert|13|kn|km/h}} |Ship capacity= |Ship crew= 86 crew and three DEMS gunners |Ship armament= DEMS |Ship sensors= |Ship notes= }} |
SS Umona was a British cargo liner. She was built at Sunderland on the River Wear in 1910, survived the First World War and was sunk by a German submarine off Sierra Leone, West Africa in 1941.
Umona spent her entire 31-year career with Bullard, King and Company. She was the second of the company's ships of that name. The first was a {{GRT|2031}} cargo liner that had been built at Sunderland in 1890 and wrecked off the Maldives in the Indian Ocean in 1903.{{cite web |url= http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?142270 |title=SS Umona (+1903) |last=Allen |first=Tony |date=29 April 2013 |work=The Wreck Site |access-date=24 December 2013}}
Bullard, King gave all its ships African names to highlight its Natal Direct line, which had linked Middlesbrough and London with Durban in Natal Province since 1879 and later with ports in Portuguese Mozambique{{cite web |url= http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/bullard.shtml |title=Bullard King & Company, Limited / Natal Direct Line |last1=Swiggum |first1=Sue |last2=Kohli |first2=Marj |work=The Ships List |publisher=Sue Swiggum |date=5 February 2005 |access-date=24 December 2013}} and elsewhere in the Indian Ocean.
Building
Sir James Laing and Son built Umona in 1910, completing her that October. She had nine corrugated furnaces with a combined grate area of {{convert|173|sqft|0}} that heated three single-ended boilers with a combined heating surface of {{convert|7180|sqft|0}}. These fed steam at 180 lbf/in2 to a three-cylinder triple expansion steam engine built by George Clark Ltd of Sunderland.
The engine was rated at 497 NHP and drove a single screw,{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/33/33b0911.pdf |year=1933 |title=Lloyd's Register, Steamers & Motorships |location=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |access-date=24 December 2013}}{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/34/34b0868.pdf |year=1934 |title=Lloyd's Register, Steamers & Motorships |location=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |access-date=24 December 2013}} giving the ship a speed of only {{convert|13|kn|km/h}}. Despite carrying passengers on a regular route, Umona was no faster than many cargo ships of her period. She was built for economy, not speed.
Second World War service
When the Second World War broke out, convoys protected only part of Umona{{'}}s long route between Britain and the Indian Ocean. There were many outbound convoys that gave merchant ships only a few days' escort out of home waters. Three weeks after the UK entered the war, Umona joined Convoy OA 8 off Southend-on-Sea, which left on 21 September. The convoy was escorted by the Royal Navy destroyers {{HMS|Jackal|F22|6}} and {{HMS|Janus|F53|2}} and Polish destroyer {{ORP|Grom|1936|6}}. It dispersed at sea on 24 September, and Umona continued to Mauritius{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/oa/index.html?oa.php?convoy=8!~oamain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy OA.8 |work=OA Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=25 December 2013}} unescorted.
Inbound ships could call at Freetown, Sierra Leone to join a convoy to Britain. Umona, returning with general cargo, was one of 16 merchant ships that formed Convoy SL 14 at Christmas 1939. The Convoy Commodore, Rear Admiral Sir Cecil Reyne KBE, travelled on Umona. SL 14 left Freetown on Boxing Day escorted only by two sloops, {{HMS|Bideford|L43|6}} and {{HMS|Leith|U36|2}}, but safely reached Liverpool on 15 January.{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/sl2/index.html?sl.php?convoy=14!~slmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy SL.14 |work=SL/ MKS Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=25 December 2013}}
In February 1940 Umona joined Convoy FS 100, which left the Tyne Estuary on 19 February and arrived off Southend two days later.{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fs/index.html?fs.php?convoy=0100!~fsmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy FS.100 |work=FS Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=25 December 2013}} The next month she joined Convoy OA 105G off Southend, which left on 7 March, formed Convoy OG 21 at sea on the 11th{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/oa/index.html?oa.php?convoy=105G!~oamain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy OA.105G |work=OA Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=25 December 2013}} and reached Gibraltar on the 17th. Umona continued to Cape Town, South Africa{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/og/index.html?og.php?convoy=21!~ogmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy OG.21 |work=OG Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=25 December 2013}} unescorted.
Umona returned with general cargo and in May 1940 joined Convoy SL 33 at Freetown. Initially SL 33's only escort was an armed merchant cruiser (AMC), the converted Australian passenger liner {{HMS|Bulolo}}. Again Umona carried the Convoy Commodore, this time Rear-Admiral John Casement, CB. On 6 June SL 33 was joined at sea by two additional escorts: the corvette {{HMS|Arabis|K73|6}} and sloop Leith. SL33 reached Liverpool on 9 June.{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/sl2/index.html?sl.php?convoy=33!~slmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy SL.33 |work=SL/ MKS Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=25 December 2013}}
On 22 June 1940 France surrendered to Germany, Germany occupied France's entire Atlantic and English Channel coasts and the French Navy was neutralised. The English Channel became more dangerous to Allied shipping, and convoy movements were modified. In July Umona, carrying general cargo, joined Convoy FN 214, which formed off Southend, left on 5 July and went north, arriving in the Firth of Forth off Methil, Fife two days later.{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fn/index.html?fn.php?convoy=0214!~fnmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy FN.214 |work=FN Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=25 December 2013}} There Umona and many other ships from FN 214 joined Convoy OA 179, which left on 8 July and dispersed at sea on 13 July. Once again Umona continued to Cape Town{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/oa/index.html?oa.php?convoy=179!~oamain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy OA.179 |work=OA Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=25 December 2013}} unescorted.
In autumn 1940 Umona returned with a cargo of sugar, calling at Freetown where she joined Convoy SL 50. This time she did not carry the Convoy Commodore but her Master was made Vice-Commodore. SL 50 left Freetown on 3 October escorted by two AMCs: the converted passenger liners {{HMS|Pretoria Castle|F61|6}} and {{RMS|Alcantara|1926|2}}. On 21 October the convoy was joined at sea by the destroyer HMS Clare and Flower-class corvettes {{HMS|Anemone|K48|2}} and {{HMS|Clematis|K36|2}}. In home waters the convoy was joined by the light cruiser {{HMS|Curacoa|D41|6}} on 25 October and reached Liverpool the next day.{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/sl2/index.html?sl.php?convoy=50!~slmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy SL.50 |work=SL/ MKS Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=25 December 2013}}
On 14 November 1940 Umona sailed in ballast from the Firth of Clyde with Convoy WN 38, which sailed north around Cape Wrath and on 17 November arrived off Methil.{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/wn/index.html?wn.php?convoy=38!~wnmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy WN.38 |work=WN Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=25 December 2013}} There several ships from WN 38 joined Convoy FS 338, which left on 18 November and arrived off Southend on 20 November.{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/fs/index.html?fs.php?convoy=0338!~fsmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy FS.338 |work=FS Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=25 December 2013}}
At the beginning of 1941 Umona loaded general cargo and joined Convoy EN 57, which left Methil on 15 January, rounded Cape Wrath and arrived off Oban two days later.{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/en/index.html?en.php?convoy=57/1!~enmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy EN.57 (Series 1) |work=EN Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=25 December 2013}} Umona continued south, joining Convoy OB 276 which left Liverpool on 20 January and dispersed at sea on the 25th.{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ob2/index.html?ob.php?convoy=276!~obmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy OB.276 |work=OB Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=25 December 2013}}
Final voyage and loss
File:HMS Foxhound 1942 IWM FL 13264.jpgs]]
{{location map
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|lat= 7.4167
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|caption= Approximate position of Umona{{'}}s wreck
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In March 1941 Umona sailed from Durban for London, laden with 1,549 tons of maize, 50 tons of pulses and 47 tons of jam. She called at Walvis Bay in South West Africa on 20 March and headed unescorted for Freetown to join an inbound convoy.{{cite web |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/844.html |title=Umona |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |date=1995–2013 |work=Ships hit by U-boats |publisher=Guðmundur Helgason |access-date=24 December 2013}} Umona{{'}}s complement was typical of many British merchant ships: her officers and stewards were British, her crew were Muslim Lascars and her carpenter was Chinese.{{cite web |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship844.html |title=Umona |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |date=1995–2013 |work=Crew lists from ships hit by U-boats |publisher=Guðmundur Helgason |access-date=24 December 2013}} By the time she left Walvis Bay she was carrying 14 passengers including seven distressed British seamen (DBS), i.e. British mariners who had survived the sinking of their ships and were going home.{{cite web |url=http://www.merchantnavyunsungheroes.co.uk/edwin-clarke.html |title=Edwin Clarke – His Story |work=Merchant Navy Unsung Heroes |publisher=Keystage Arts and Heritage Company |access-date=24 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226041351/http://www.merchantnavyunsungheroes.co.uk/edwin-clarke.html |archive-date=26 December 2013 }}
Late on the evening of 30 March Umona was about {{convert|90|nmi|km}} southwest of Freetown when the {{GS|U-124|1940|6}} attacked her, hitting her with one torpedo at 2301 hours and another two minutes later. She quickly sank, killing her Master Frederick Peckham, 81 crew, seven DEMS gunners and 13 passengers. The radio officer on duty (Umona had three radio officers sharing duties in a watch system) stayed at his post as long as possible, transmitting a distress message, then leapt into the sea.{{harvnb|Slader|1988|p=124}}
Umona had managed to launch only one of her six lifeboats before she sank. It was commanded by her fourth officer, 20-year-old Edwin Clarke, but U-124 surfaced, captured Clarke and submerged. After sinking Allied ships Kriegsmarine vessels often sought to obtain intelligence from survivors, and particularly from officers.
Three other survivors managed to board a small liferaft. One was the duty radio officer who had sent the distress message. The others were a badly wounded DEMS gunner, EG Elliot RN, and a passenger called Frank Brothers. After they had drifted for four days they sighted a submarine and used the reflective surface of a tobacco tin as a heliograph to attract her attention. The submarine, which may have been U-124, came and gave them fresh water. The next day the weather worsened, and in the afternoon the radio officer died.
On 7 April, while escorting Convoy WS 7, the destroyer {{HMS|Foxhound|H69|6}}, rescued three Lascar crewmen, apparently from the lifeboat from which Clarke had been captured. Foxhound did not see the raft, which continued to drift. On 12 April the British cargo ship {{SS|Lorca||2}} sighted the raft and rescued Brothers and Elliot. Foxhound and Lorca each landed their survivors at Freetown.
In all, 99 men and two women from Umona died, Edwin Clarke was unaccounted for after being captured and was presumed dead, and only five survivors were rescued.
Awards and monuments
Gunner Elliot was awarded the British Empire Medal and Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea.{{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=24 December 2013}}
Members of Umona{{'}}s crew who were killed are commemorated in the Second World War section of the Merchant Navy War Memorial at Tower Hill in London. Her Lascar seamen are commemorated in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission monuments at Chittagong and Mumbai.
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite book |last=Slader |first=John |year=1988 |title=The Red Duster at War |publisher=William Kimber & Co Ltd |location=London |isbn=0-7183-0679-1 |page=124 }}
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{{March 1941 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Umona, SS}}
Category:Maritime incidents in March 1941
Category:Ships sunk by German submarines in World War II
Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom
Category:Ships built on the River Wear
Category:World War I merchant ships of the United Kingdom