SSCity of Bedford
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | City of Bedford |
| Owner | Ellerman LinesLtd |
| Operator | Hall LineLtd |
| Port of registry | Liverpool |
| Builder | William Gray & Co,Sunderland |
| Yard number | 960 |
| Launched | 17 July 1924 |
| Completed | October 1924 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sunk by collision, 30 Dec 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cargo ship |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 430.0 ft (131.1 m) |
| Beam | 55.1 ft (16.8 m) |
| Draught | 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m) |
| Depth | 31.1 ft (9.5 m) |
| Decks | 2 |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 12.5 knots (23 km/h) |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Armament | By 1940:DEMS |
SSCity of Bedfordwas a Britishcargosteamship.She was launched in 1924 inSunderlandforHall LineLtd ofLiverpool,a member of theEllerman Linesgroup.
In December 1940City of Bradfordcollided in fog theNorth Atlanticwith another British cargo ship,Bodnant.Both ships sank, and 48 ofCity of Bedford's crew were killed.
She was the first of two Ellerman Lines ships to be calledCity of Bedford.The second was asteam turbine shipthatAlexander Stephen and Sonslaunched in 1950 and Ellerman Lines sold in 1972.[1]
Details
[edit]William Gray & CompanybuiltCity of Bradfordat the former Ellerman, Gray, Inchcape and Strick (EGIS) shipyard[2]in Sunderland on theRiver Wear.She was launched on 17 July 1924 and completed that October.[3]
She was 430.0 ft (131.1 m) long, had a beam of 55.1 ft (16.8 m) and draught of 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m). William Gray and Company's Central Marine Engine Works inWest Hartlepoolbuilt herquadruple-expansion engine,which was rated at 728NHP.[4]
In 1933 Hall Line had a Bauer-Wach exhauststeam turbineadded. Exhaust steam from the low-pressure cylinder of her piston engine drove the turbine. The turbine drove the same shaft as her piston engine bydouble-reduction gearing[5]and a Föttingerfluid coupling.
The exhaust turbine increasedCity of Bedford's fuel efficiency. It also increased her total installed power to 844 NHP,[5]which was a 16 per cent increase and gave her a speed of 12.5 knots (23 km/h).[6]
By 1935City of Bedfordhad been fitted with wirelessdirection findingand anecho soundingdevice.[5]
Second World War service
[edit]In the Second World WarCity of Bedfordtraded betweenIndia,Burma,Ceylon,and the east coast ofCanadaand theUnited States.She usually sailed unescorted.[7]
On her trips between theIndian OceanandNorth America,City of Bedfordusually went viaPort of Cape Town,except in February 1940 when she made an eastbound trip via theMediterraneanand theSuez Canal.In May, July and November 1940 she called inTrinidad.[7]
In November and December 1940City of Bedfordalso called atMontreal,New York,PhiladelphiaandBaltimore,before reachingHalifax, Nova Scotiaon 16 December.[7]
On 18 December 1940City of Bedfordleft Halifax inConvoy HX97, which was bound forLiverpool.[8]It was the first time she had sailed in a convoy.[7]According to one account her cargo included half a millionammunition cartridges.[9]
On 30 December in fog 280 miles south ofIcelandHX 97 ran into Convoy OB 265 coming in the opposite direction.[10]City of Bedfordcollided with theElder Dempster Linescargo shipBodnant,causing both ships to sink. All ofBodnant's crew survived, but 48 ofCity of Bedford's crew were killed.[6]
References
[edit]- ^"City of Bedford".Scottish Built Ships.Caledonian Maritime Research Trust.Retrieved28 October2020.
- ^"William Gray and Co".Grace's Guide to British Industrial History.Retrieved28 October2020.
- ^"City of Bedford".Wear Built Ships.Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust.Retrieved28 October2020.
- ^"Steamers & Motorships".Lloyd's Register(PDF).Vol. II. London:Lloyd's Register.1930.Retrieved28 October2020– via Plimsoll Ship Data.
- ^abc"Steamers & Motorships".Lloyd's Register(PDF).Vol. II. London:Lloyd's Register.1935.Retrieved28 October2020– via Plimsoll Ship Data.
- ^abLettens, Jan (18 September 2019)."SS City of Bedford (+1940)".Wrecksite.eu.Retrieved28 October2020.
- ^abcdHague, Arnold."Ship Movements".Port Arrivals / Departures.Don Kindell, Convoyweb.Retrieved10 March2021.
- ^Hague, Arnold."Convoy HX.97".HX Convoy Series.Don Kindell, Convoyweb.Retrieved28 October2020.
- ^Slader 1988,p. 102.
- ^Hague, Arnold."Convoy OB.265".OA OB OG Convoy Series.Don Kindell, Convoyweb.Retrieved28 October2020.
Bibliography
[edit]- Slader, John (1988).The Red Duster at War.London: William Kimber & Co Ltd. p. 102.ISBN0-7183-0679-1.
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in December 1940 | |
|---|---|
| Shipwrecks |
|
| Other incidents |
|
