| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Namesake |
|
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry | |
| Builder | Russell & Co,Port Glasgow |
| Yard number | 646 |
| Launched | 14 March 1913 |
| Completed | April 1913 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | scuttled 4 August 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cargo ship |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 423.5 ft (129.1 m) |
| Beam | 56.0 ft (17.1 m) |
| Draught | 25 ft 4 in (7.72 m) |
| Depth | 28.7 ft (8.7 m) |
| Decks | 2 |
| Installed power | 537NHP |
| Propulsion | triple-expansion engine |
| Troops | 1,140 |
| Armament | DEMS |
| Notes | sister ships:Volumnia,Veturia,Vestalia,Valetta,Vimeira |
SSVerdala was acargo andpassengersteamship that was built inScotland in 1913. Several times she changed owners and was renamed: asMongolian Prince in 1917,Istok in 1928 and finallyMaycrest in 1940.
The ship served in the UKMerchant Navy in theFirst World War asVerdala andMongolian Prince, and in theSecond World War asMaycrest. She was inYugoslav ownership from 1928 and was registered inDubrovnik asIstok from 1928 until 1940.
In the Second World WarMaycrest served in theBattle of the Atlantic from 1940 until 1943, and in theMediterranean theatre in the first half of 1944. In August 1944 she wasscuttled off the coast ofNormandy to form part of a breakwater for amulberry harbour forOperation Overlord.
In the 1910sRussell & Co ofPort Glasgow built a series ofsister ships for Gow, Harrison & Co, atramp shipping company based inGlasgow.Volumnia andVeturia were launched in 1911,[1][2]Vestalia andValetta in 1912,[3][4]Verdala in 1913[5] andVimeira in 1914.[6]
Russell & Co builtVerdala as yard number 646 in its Kingston shipyard. She was launched on 14 March 1913 and completed that April.[5] Her registered length was 423.5 ft (129.1 m), herbeam was 56.0 ft (17.1 m) and her depth was 28.7 ft (8.7 m). Hertonnages were 5,880 GRT, 3,725 NRT.Rankin & Blackmore ofGreenock built her three-cylindertriple-expansion engine, which was rated at 537NHP.[7]
Gow, Harrison & Co created separate one-ship companies to own each of its ships. The Verdala Steam Ship Co Ltd ownedVerdala, but Gow, Harrison managed her. She wasregistered in Glasgow. Her United Kingdomofficial number was 133113 and hercode letters were JCBW.[7]
On 6 March 1916Verdala leftKingston, Jamaica carrying 25 officers and 1,115other ranks of the Third Jamaica Contingent to serve in Europe in theFirst World War. Because ofenemy submarine activity theAdmiralty orderedVerdala to proceed viaHalifax, Nova Scotia, where she could join an eastboundtransatlanticconvoy.[8]
On her way to Halifax,Verdala was caught in a blizzard. Her troop accommodation lacked adequate heating, and warm clothing for the voyage had not been issued to the troops. By the time she reached Halifax, about 600 men were suffering fromfrostbite and five had died.[8]
In 1917 Prince Line boughtVerdala, renamed herMongolian Prince and registered her inNewcastle. Prince Line was part of theFurness, Withy group. In September 1921Mongolian Prince sailed through thePanama Canal to inaugurate a new Prince Line route to ports on theWest Coast of the United States.[9]
In 1928 Atlantska Plovidba Ivo Racić boughtMongolian Prince, renamed herIstok and registered her in Dubrovnik. In 1929 she became part of the fleet of Jugoslavenski Lloyd. By 1930 she was equipped forwireless telegraphy. Her Yugoslav code letters were JIPX[10] until 1934, when thecall sign YTBN superseded them.[11]
In 1940 the Crest Shipping Co boughtIstok, renamed herMaycrest, registered her inLondon and appointed Ivanović & Co to manage her.[5] Her UK call sign was GNBV.[12]
From November 1940 until November 1943Maycrest took part in transatlanticconvoys. She made ten round trips between UK ports and theEast Coast of the United States. On different crossings she visitedBaltimore,New York,Philadelphia andBoston. She made each eastbound crossing with anSC convoy fromHalifax, Nova Scotia orSt John's, Newfoundland.[13] EastboundMaycrest usually carriedpig iron,[14][15] steel[16][17][18] or general cargo.[19][20] In June and July 1942 her eastbound cargo included grain.[21] In December 1942 and January 1943 her eastbound cargo included explosives.[22]
In January 1944Maycrest sailed from Scotland toGibraltar carrying coal and coke withConvy OS 65 km. She visitedLisbon,Oran andMelilla[13] before returning in April with a cargo ofiron ore via Gibraltar and Convoy XK15.[23]
Maycrest's final voyage was across theEnglish Channel from Britain toArromanches in Normandy. On 4 August 1944 she was scuttled[5] as acorncob ship to form part of a gooseberry breakwater forMulberry Harbour "B".[23]
