SS Dundee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
| Name | Dundee |
| Namesake | Dundee |
| Owner | Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Co Ltd |
| Operator | 1915:  Royal Navy |
| Port of registry | 1911:  Dundee |
| Builder | Caledon, Dundee |
| Yard number | 221 |
| Launched | 24 August 1911 |
| Completed | November 1911 |
| Identification |
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| Fate | Sunk by torpedo, 3 September 1917 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | coastal liner |
| Tonnage | 2,187 GRT, 987 NRT |
| Length | 290.1 ft (88.4 m) |
| Beam | 41.2 ft (12.6 m) |
| Depth | 18.6 ft (5.7 m) |
| Decks | 2 |
| Installed power | 452 NHP |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h) |
| Armament |
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The SS Dundee was a British steamship built in Scotland in 1911. It was sunk by an enemy submarine in the Celtic Sea in 1917. This ship was first a passenger and cargo liner. It carried people and goods along the coast. In 1915, during World War I, the Royal Navy used it as an armed boarding ship. The Dundee was part of an important sea battle in March 1917. Six months later, a German U-boat sank it. Some crew members were lost in both events.
The company that owned the ship was called Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Co Ltd. It started in 1826. Over its long history, the company had eight ships named Dundee. These ships were named after the city of Dundee in Scotland. The ship built in 1911 was the fifth one with this name.
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Building the Dundee Ship
The Dundee was built by the Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company. It was their 221st ship. The ship was launched into the water on August 24, 1911. It was finished and ready to sail by November of that year.
The Dundee was about 290 feet (88.4 meters) long. It was 41 feet (12.5 meters) wide. Its depth was 18.6 feet (5.7 meters). The ship weighed 2,187 gross tons. It had a powerful steam engine. This engine gave the ship a speed of 15 knots (about 28 kilometers per hour).
Merchant Ship Service
The Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Co registered the Dundee in its home city. Its official number in the UK was 123338. Its special code letters were HTRJ.
The ship worked as a coastal cargo and passenger service. It traveled between Dundee and ports on the east coast of England. It helped transport goods and people along the coast.
In 1915, the Admiralty (the British Navy's command) took over the Dundee. They changed it into an armed boarding steamer. This meant it was used to stop and inspect other ships at sea. The ship was fitted with at least two 4-inch guns. It also had one 3-pounder gun. The Dundee became part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron.
Battle with SMS Leopard
By March 1917, Commander Selwyn Day was in charge of the Dundee. He was part of the Royal Naval Reserve. The Dundee was patrolling the Norwegian Sea. It was with another warship, the armored cruiser HMS Achilles.
On March 16, they saw a cargo ship. This ship had Norwegian flags painted on its sides. It also had "NORGE" (which means "Norway" in Norwegian) written on it. The ship was flying the Norwegian flag and was named Rena. The Achilles caught up to the merchant ship. It ordered the ship to stop so the Dundee could check it.
The Dundee lowered one of its small boats. A group of five sailors and a lieutenant went to inspect the ship. But the merchant ship, still flying the Norwegian flag, opened hidden gun ports. These ports showed its powerful guns. The ship was actually a German warship in disguise. It was the German commerce raider SMS Leopard.
The Dundee immediately started firing its guns. It was about 1,000 yards (914 meters) away. The Dundee's 4-inch guns quickly hit the Leopards gun deck and engine room. The 3-pounder gun aimed at the Leopards bridge. The Achilles, which was further away, also began firing. The Dundee fired 44 shells from its 4-inch guns. It also fired 25 shells from its 3-pounder gun. This happened before the Leopard fired its first shot.
The Leopard fired three times at the Dundee. But all its shots missed. After that, the Leopard's guns fired only one shot at a time. The German ship also fired three torpedoes. But Commander Day and his helmsman steered the Dundee away. All the torpedoes missed.
After 35 minutes of fighting, the Dundee ran out of ammunition. The Achilles kept firing at the Leopard. By then, the Leopard was on fire. It had only one gun left working. The Leopard sank with everyone on board. This was 55 minutes after it first opened fire on the Dundee.
The lieutenant and five sailors from the Dundee who went to board the Leopard were never found. Early in the battle, an empty boat was seen near the Leopard. Commander Day believed the Leopard had captured the boarding party. He thought all six men were lost when the German ship sank.
At the time of the battle, the Dundee did not have enough officers. So, the sailors who aimed the guns had to choose their own targets. Commander Day praised his gunners for their "skill" and "marksmanship". He said they helped cripple the Leopard and stopped it from hitting the Dundee.
Because of Commander Day's recommendation, two of the Dundee's gunners received the Distinguished Service Medal in June 1917. Two others were mentioned for their bravery. The lieutenant who led the boarding party was also mentioned for his actions. Commander Day was promoted to captain. He also received the Distinguished Service Order award.
Sunk by UC-49
On September 2, 1917, the Dundee was patrolling southwest of the Isles of Scilly. A German submarine, UC-49, hit the Dundee with a torpedo. Nine of the Dundee's crew members were lost. The Dundee sank the next day. Its location was 48°50′N 9°20′W.
See also
- HMS Perth, another ship like the Dundee from the same company. It also served as an armed boarding steamer.
