SS Ajax (1923) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
| Name |
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| Namesake | |
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
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| Port of registry |
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| Builder | Hamburger Elbe Schiffswerft AG |
| Yard number | 5 |
| Completed | April 1923 |
| Identification |
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| Fate | air attack, 8 August 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | cargo ship |
| Tonnage | 942 GRT, 510 NRT |
| Length | 221.1 ft (67.4 m) |
| Beam | 34.5 ft (10.5 m) |
| Depth | 13.4 ft (4.1 m) |
| Decks | 1 |
| Installed power | 126 NHP |
| Propulsion | triple-expansion steam engine |
| Speed | 10.5 knots (19 km/h) |
The SS Ajax was a cargo ship built in Germany in 1923. It was first named Elbe. Later, in 1927, its name changed twice. First it became Ceuta, then finally Ajax.
Several German shipping companies owned the ship until 1927. That year, a Dutch company bought it. In 1940, during World War II, a German Luftwaffe air raid sank the ship. This happened in the English Channel. Today, its sunken remains off the Isle of Wight are a popular spot for wreck diving.
Contents
Building the Elbe: A German Cargo Ship
The Elbe was built in Hamburg, Germany. The Hamburger Elbe Schiffswerft AG built the ship for Kirsten Adolf & Co. It was completed in April 1923.
The ship was about 221.1 ft (67.4 m) long. Its width was 34.5 ft (10.5 m). The depth of its hull was 13.4 ft (4.1 m). The ship could carry a lot of cargo.
How the Elbe Moved: Its Engine
The Elbe had a powerful triple-expansion steam engine. This engine was built by Gute Hoffnungshütte in Oberhausen. It produced 126 NHP. This allowed the ship to travel at a speed of about 10.5 knots (19 km/h).
The Ajax's Journey: From Germany to the Netherlands
The ship started its life as Elbe and was registered in Hamburg. In 1924, a company called Rochling, Menzell & Co bought it.
In 1927, the Oldenburg-Portugiesische Dampfschiffs-Rhederei (OPDR) bought the Elbe. They renamed it Ceuta. Later that same year, OPDR sold Ceuta to a Dutch company. This company was the Koninklijke Nederlandse Stoomboot-Maatschappij (KNSM). They renamed the ship Ajax and registered it in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Under KNSM ownership, Ajax used special code letters for communication. These were NBTJ until 1933−34. After that, its call sign became PCFQ.
The Ajax in World War II: A Ship at War
On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands. This event marked the start of a dangerous time for Dutch ships like the Ajax.
The Final Voyage of the Ajax
On July 31, 1940, the Ajax left Falmouth, Cornwall, England. It was part of a group of ships called Convoy CE 8. This convoy reached the Thames Estuary near Southend on August 5.
On August 7, Ajax left Southend with another group of ships. This was Convoy CW 9, also known as Peewit. It had 26 cargo ships and no naval escort to protect them. They were heading west down the English Channel.
The Attack and Sinking of the Ajax
German Freya radar detected Convoy CW 9 as it passed through the Strait of Dover. Four German E-boats attacked the convoy, sinking four ships.
As Convoy CW 9 passed south of St Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight, more attacks began. German Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers and Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft attacked the ships. The RAF Fighter Command tried to fight back.
At 9:10 AM, two Ju 87s and one Bf 109 hit the front part of the Ajax with three bombs. The ship sank very quickly, within five minutes. Sadly, four members of its crew lost their lives.
The Ajax Wreck: A Dive Site Today
The remains of the Ajax lie on its left side. It rests on white sand about 40 m (130 ft) deep. The back part of the ship is broken up. However, its front, boilers, engine, and steering wheel can still be seen. The Ajax wreck is now a popular recreational dive site for divers.
