| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry |
|
| Builder | Howaldtswerke |
| Launched | 12 August 1922 |
| Completed | 10 January 1923 |
| Commissioned | 20 January 1940 |
| Decommissioned | 26 June 1945 |
| Maiden voyage | 22 January 1923 |
| Out of service | March 1949 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Scrapped |
| General characteristics | |
| Type |
|
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 150.90 m (495 ft 1 in) |
| Beam | 18.50 m (60 ft 8 in) |
| Depth | 8.50 m (27 ft 11 in) |
| Installed power | 5,300 shp (4.0 MW) |
| Propulsion | Steam turbine |
| Speed | 13.5 kn (25.0 km/h) |
| Range | 13,500 nmi (25,000 km) |
| Capacity | 158 Cabin class passengers and 380 3rd class passengers (Thuringia) |
| Complement | 164 |
Thuringia was an 11,251 GRTocean liner that was built in 1922 byHowaldtswerke,Kiel,Germany for theHamburg Amerikanische PaketfahrtAG,Hamburg. In 1930, she was renamedGeneral San Martin. In 1934, she waschartered byHamburg Süd and sold to them in 1936. She was requisitioned by theKriegsmarine in 1940 and served until 1945 as abarracks ship, and then as passenger ship during theevacuation of civilians from the Baltic.
She was seized in May 1945 by the British atCopenhagen,Denmark, passed to theMinistry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamedEmpire Deben. She served as atroopship until 1949, when she was scrapped.
The ship was built in 1922 byHowaldtswerke,Kiel.[1] She was yard number 610.[2]
The ship was 150.90 metres (495 ft 1 in) long, with a beam of 18.50 metres (60 ft 8 in). She had a draft of 8.50 metres (27 ft 11 in).[2] She was assessed at 11,251 GRT,[1] 6,579 NRT.[3]
The ship was propelled by asteam turbine, driving a single screw propeller . The turbine was made byBrown, Boveri & Compagnie,Mannheim. Rated at 5,300 shp (4.0 MW), it could propel her at 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h). Steam was supplied by fiveboilers. Her range was 11,500 nautical miles (21,300 km)[2]
Thuringia was built for theHamburg Amerikanische PaketfahrtAG,Hamburg (HAPAG).[1] The fourth HAPAG ship of that name,[4] she was launched on 12 August 1922 and completed on 10 January 1923. She had a crew of 164,[2] with accommodation for 158 cabin class and 680 third class passengers. Making her maiden voyage on 22 January 1923,[5] she was used on the Hamburg -New York route.[6]Thuringia made her last voyage for HAPAG starting on 9 January 1930 on the Hamburg –Cobh –Halifax – New York route.[5]
In 1930, she was refitted for service on theSouth American route, and renamedGeneral San Martin.[2] HerCode Letters were RDFC.[3] On 14 August 1931, she ran aground in theTagus atLisbon,Portugal.[7] On 26 December 1932,General San Martin ran aground atCuxhaven, Germany infog. She was refloated later that day with assistance from atug.[8] With the changes to Code Letters in 1934,General San Martin was allocated the letters DHIR.[9] On 18 March 1934, she waschartered byHamburg Süd.General San Martin was bought by Hamburg Süd on 30 June 1936.[5]
On 20 January 1940,General San Martin was requisitioned by theKriegsmarine for use as abarracks ship. She served7th U-boat Flotilla atKönigsberg. From 1 March 1941 she served3rd U-boat Flotilla at Kiel. From 1 October 1941 she served8th U-boat Flotilla at Königsberg and then32nd U-boat Flotilla from August 1944. From 15 January 1945, she served 7th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel.[2] She is also said to have seen use as atender during World War II.[1] From 25 January 1945,[2]General San Martin assisted in theevacuation of civilians from the Baltic.[1] She transported over 30,000 people in eleven voyages. From 4 April 1945, she served as ahospital ship.[2]
General San Martin was seized by the British in May 1945 atCopenhagen,Denmark. She was passed to the MoWT, which became theMinistry of Transport later that year.[1] On 8 October, she was declared to be aprize of war.[2] TheCode Letters GQXY were allocated. Her port of registry wasLondon.[10] She was operated under the management of theShaw, Savill & Albion Line.[1] In 1946, she was renamedEmpire Deben. She was used as a troopship, serving in this role until 1949.[2] Her departure fromSouthampton,Hampshire on 14 September 1948 forGibraltar,Malta andPort Said,Egypt was delayed due to engine defects.[11] One of the apprentices who served on boardEmpire Deben wasDennis Scott-Masson, who was the captain ofCanberra during theFalklands War.[12]Empire Deben was scrapped in March 1949 atNewport,Monmouthshire.[2]
