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Coordinates:41°07′31″N16°52′0″E/ 41.12528°N 16.86667°E/41.12528; 16.86667
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History
United Kingdom
NameTestbank
NamesakeRiver Test
OwnerBank Line
OperatorAndrew Weir & Co
Port of registryGlasgow
BuilderJ Readhead & Sons,S Shields
Yard number510
Launched6 September 1937
Completed6 November 1937
Identification
FateSunk, 2 December 1943
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage5,083GRT,2,981NRT
Length423.7 ft (129.1 m)
Beam56.7 ft (17.3 m)
Draught25 ft0+1⁄4in (7.63 m)
Depth24.8 ft (7.6 m)
Decks1
Installed power524NHP
Propulsion
Speed12 knots (22 km/h)
Crew1943: 75, includingDEMSgunners
Sensors and
processing systems		Echo soundingdevice
NotesSister ships:Tielbank,Teviotbank

SSTestbankwas a Britishcargosteamshipthat was built inEnglandin 1937 and sunk with heavy loss of life in theair raid on Bariin December 1943. She was the first of twoBank Linecargo ships to be calledTestbank.The second was amotor shipthat was built in 1961, sold and renamed in 1978, and scrapped in 1987.[1]

Building

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In 1937 and 1938John Readhead & Sonsbuilt threesister shipsin their shipyard atSouth Shieldson theRiver TyneforBank Line.Tielbankwas yard number 509, launched in June 1937 and completed that August.[2]Testbankwas yard number 510, launched on 6 September 1937 and completed that November.[3]Teviotbankwas yard number 511, launched in December 1937 and completed in February 1938.[4]

Testbank's registered length was 423.7 ft (129.1 m), her beam was 56.7 ft (17.3 m) and her depth was 24.8 ft (7.6 m). Hertonnageswere 5,083GRTand 2,981NRT.She had a singlescrew,driven by a three-cylindertriple-expansion steam enginethat was rated at 524NHP[5]and gave her a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h).[3]

On 6 November 1937, John Readhead & Sons deliveredTestbankto Bank Line, whoregisteredher atGlasgow.Her UKofficial numberwas 165919 and herwireless telegraphcall signwas GDDZ.[6]

War service

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Testbanktrampedin theSecond World War.On 10 September 1939 she leftBrisbaneforSydney.She calledMelbourne,Newcastle, NSW,and again at Sydney, where she left for Britain on 22 October. She sailed viaColombo,theSuez CanalandGibraltar,where she joinedConvoy HG 10bound for home waters.[7]Testbankwas carrying a cargo ofair raid shelters.[8]She arrived inNewport,Wales,on 17 December.[7]

On 31 December 1939Testbankleft Newport forMilford Haven,where she arrived on New Year's Day 1940. The next day she left to join Convoy OB 64, which dispersed in theAtlanticon 5 December.Testbanksailed via thePanama CanalandEsquimalttoVancouver,where she was in port from 13 to 19 February. She called atChemainusandVictoria, BC,whence she sailed on 24 February to return home. She sailed via the Panama Canal toHalifax,Nova Scotia,where she joinedConvoy HX30 bound for home waters.[7]She was carrying a cargo of grain, lead and timber.[9]She reachedThe Downsoff theKentcoast on 9 April.[7]

Testbankbegan her next voyage by joining Convoy OA 139, which assembled offSouthend-on-Seaand sailed on 1 May 1940. OA 139 dispersed at sea, andTestbankcontinued toBarryin Wales. On 13 May she left Barry for Milford Haven, where she oeft on 14 May to join Convoy OB 148. This became Convoy OG 30F, which took her as far as Gibraltar. She continued independently toBôneinAlgeria,where she was in port from 26 May to 2 June, during theBattle of France.She returned via Gibraltar, where she joined Convoy HG 33F for home waters. She detached from HG 33F, and reached The Downs on 13 June. The next day she joined Convoy FN 195B off Southend, which was headed forMethilon theFirth of Forth.[7]

TheFederal SN Corefrigerated cargo shipSomerset,which was sunk in an air attack on Convoy SL 72

On 26 June 1940Testbankleft theRiver Tynewith Convoy FS 205 to waters off Southend, where she joined outward bound Convoy OA 176. This dispersed at sea, after whichTestbankcontinued unescorted toDurbanandCape Town,reaching the latter on 7 August 1940.[7]

Collision withCeramic

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TheShaw, Savill & AlbionlinerCeramic,with whichTestbankcollided offCape Townon 11 August 1940

The next dayTestbankleft Cape Town, but on 11 August she collided with theShaw, Savill & AlbionlinerCeramic.[10]Under wartime conditions, both ships were sailing without navigation lights.Testbank's lookout sawCeramicahead at a range of about1+1⁄2nautical miles (2.8 km), butCeramic's lookout failed to seeTestbankuntil the two ships were within about 350 yards (320 m) of each other. Both ships took avoiding action, but too late.

The combined impact speed was about 25 kn (46 km/h).TestbankstruckCeramic's starboard side in way of her Number 1 hold, crushingTestbank's bow by about 20 ft (6 m), and making a hole about 40 by 40 ft (12 by 12 m) inCeramic's hull. Unusually for a ship of her era,Testbankhad her crew accommodation in heraftercastleinstead of herforecastle.This saved the men's lives.Testbankreturned to Cape Town for repairs, and atughelpedCeramicto reachWalvis Bay.[11]

Return to service

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On 3 March 1941Testbankleft Cape Town for Durban. She called atLourenço MarquesandBeirainMozambique,and then returned via Cape Town andFreetowninSierra Leone,where she joinedConvoy SL72. On 11 May a German aircraft attacked SL 72, sinking therefrigerated cargo shipSomerset.[12]Testbankand the remainder of SL 72 reached Liverpool on 14 June.[7]

On 8 June 1941Testbankleft Liverpool with Convoy OB 331, which dispersed at sea on 19 June. She continued unescorted toTampa,where she was in port from 30 June to 14 July,[7]loadingphosphate.She returned unescorted as far as Halifax, NS, where she joined Convoy HX 140, with which she reached Liverpool on 6 August 1941.[13]

On 12 August 1941Testbankleft Liverpool with Convoy OS 6, which took her as far as waters off Freetown. She continued unescorted via Cape Town, Durban,Adenand the Suez Canal toAlexandriainEgypt,where she was in port from 2 to 22 December. Thence she went back through the Suez Canal toCalcutta,where she was in port from 15 to 30 January 1942. She returned home viaVizag,Durban, Cape Town and Freetown, where she joined Convoy SL 104. She reachedBelfast Loughon 12 April, where she joined Convoy BB 161 to Milford Haven. There she joined Convoy WP 142 toThe Solent,and arrived atSouthamptonon 18 April.[7]

On 25 April 1942TestbankleftCowesRoads with Convoy PW 146, which was headed for Milford Haven. She continued independently to Newport, where she was in port from 27 April to 18 May. She then returned to Milford Haven, whence she joined Convoy OS 29, which took her as far as Freetown.Testbankcontinued via Cape Town, Durban and Aden toSuez,and thence via Aden again toBasrainIraq,where she was in port from 12 September until 1 October. She then sailed toBandar AbbasinIran,where she joined Convoy PB 4. This was headed forBombay,butTestbankdetached forKarachi,and then continued via Colombo and Vizag to Calcutta, where she was in port from 22 October until 3 November.[7]

Rescue ofDona Aurorasurvivors

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From Calcutta,Testbanksailed via Vizag and Durban toTrinidad.While crossing theSouth Atlanticshe rescued 50 survivors of the US cargo shipDona Aurora,which an Italian submarine had sunk on Christmas Day. In Trinidad she joined Convoy TAG 35 toGuantánamoinCuba.Thence Convoy GN 35 took her toNew York,where she joined Convoy HX 224 to home waters. She detached from HX 224 to reachLoch Ewe,where she joined Convoy WN 392, which took her around the north ofScotlandto Methil. There she joined southbound Convoy FS 1034, from which she detached to reachHullon 10 February 1943.[7]

Final voyage

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On 2 March 1943TestbankleftImminghamto join northbound Convoy FN 958, which took her to Methil. There she joined Convoy EN 202, which took her to Loch Ewe. She continued to theFirth of Clyde,where she joined Convoy KMS 11G. This took her to Gibraltar, where she joined Convoy TE 20. She detached from TE 20 to reachAlgiers,where she seems to have been in port from 3 to 17 April. She briefly joined Convoy ET 18, then called atMelilla,and continued to Gibraltar, where she joined Convoy MKS 12. On 4 May MKS 12 merged with Convoy SL 128 bound for Liverpool.Testbankdetached in home waters, and reachedCardiffon 14 May.[7]

Testbanksems to have been in Barry from 21 to 31 May 1943, and then sailed to Milford Haven, where she joined Convoy OS 49KM: a large convoy of 76 merchant ships and 13 escorts. This divided at sea, whereTestbankbecame part of the even larger Convoy KMS 16, which comprised 121 merchant ships and 17 escorts. Ships in KMS 16 were bound for variousMediterraneanports.Testbankdetached forPhilippevillein Algeria, where she was in port from 19 to 26 June.[7]

On 26 June 1943Testbankleft Philippeville to join Convoy XTG 2, which took her to Gibraltar. There she joined Convoy OS 51 to Freetown, where she joined Convoy SL 134. She detached from SL 134 and crossed the Atlantic independently toVitória,Brazil,where she loaded iron ore. She left Vitória on 18 August 1943 and re-crossed the Atlantic toDakarinSenegal,where she was in port from 30 August until 6 September. She joined Convoy SL 136, which on 14 September merged with Convoy MKS 24. The combined convoy reached Liverpool on 25 September.[7]

On 27 October 1943Testbankleft Liverpool with Convoy OS 57, which was a large convoy of 78 ships and nine escorts. On 9 November it divided at sea, with one part forming Convoy KMS 31.Testbankcontinued with KMS 31 into the Mediterranean, where she detached to call atAugusta, Sicilyfrom 16 to 17 November. She continued toBari,where she arrived on 19 November with stores for theAllied campaign in Italy.[7]

Loss

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TheLiberty shipJohn Harveyon fire in theair raid on Bari

Testbankwas still in Bari on 2 December. Dozens of Allied cargo ships were in port, and at night the harbour was illuminated to discharge supplies around the clock to supply Allied forces fighting theBattle of Monte Cassino.On the evening of 2 December, 105 GermanJunkers Ju 88bomber aircraft attacked the port. Dozens of ships were hit. They included theLiberty shipsJohn L. Motley,which was carrying ammunition, andJohn Harvey,which was secretly carryingmustard gas,forbidden by the 1925Geneva Protocol.A bunk petrol pipeline on one of the quays was severed and set on fire.Testbankwas sunk, with the loss of 70 of her 75 crew andDEMSgunners.[3]

References

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  1. ^"Testbank".Wear Built Ships.Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust.Retrieved7 May2023.
  2. ^"Tielbank".Tyne Built Ships.Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust.Retrieved7 May2023.
  3. ^abc"Testbank".Tyne Built Ships.Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust.Retrieved7 May2023.
  4. ^"Teviotbank".Tyne Built Ships.Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust.Retrieved7 May2023.
  5. ^Lloyd's Register1938,TER–TEU.
  6. ^Mercantile Navy List1938,p. 415.
  7. ^abcdefghijklmno"Port Arrivals / Departures".Arnold Hague Ports Database.Don Kindell, Convoyweb.Retrieved7 May2023.
  8. ^"Convoy HG.10".HG Convoy Series.Don Kindell, Convoyweb.Retrieved7 May2023.
  9. ^"Convoy HX.30".HX Convoy Series.Don Kindell, Convoyweb.Retrieved7 May2023.
  10. ^"Viceroy of India (1929)"(PDF).P&O Heritage.Retrieved7 May2023.
  11. ^Marsh, John."British Freighter" Testbank "".South Africa and the War at Sea.Retrieved7 May2023.
  12. ^"Somerset".Shipping and Shipbuilding.Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust.Retrieved7 May2023.
  13. ^"Convoy HX.140".HX Convoy Series.Don Kindell, Convoyweb.Retrieved7 May2023.

Bibliography

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41°07′31″N16°52′0″E/ 41.12528°N 16.86667°E/41.12528; 16.86667

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