HMHS Gloucester Castle
Encyclopedia
HMHS Gloucester Castle (His Majesty's Hospital Ship) was a steam ship originally built for the Union-Castle Line
, but requisitioned for use as a British hospital ship
during the First World War. On 31 March 1917 she was torpedoed by German U-boat
UB-32
. She was, however, salvaged, and returned to civilian service after the war. She was sunk by the German commerce raider Michel
in 1942 off Ascension Island
in the South Atlantic.
She was torpedoed off the Isle of Wight
by German U-boat
UB-32
(Kapitänleutnant Max Viebeg) on 31 March 1917. Three died during the transfer of crew and wounded but she was able to be towed back to port after two weeks.
After the war she was returned to her owners on 9 September 1919 for service on the intermediate routes and later served on the round-Africa service, earning the nickname 'Go Slowster Castle' because of her inadequate speed.
During the Second World War
she remained in civilian service as a passenger and general cargo liner
. On 15 July 1942, off the coast of Angola, she was intercepted by the German
auxiliary cruiser Michel
. Michel's commander KzS Helmuth von Ruckteschell
chose to attack after dark without warning; The first shells from Michel destroyed the bridge and radio room and consequently no S.O.S.
was transmitted. The ship sank with 93 killed, including the Master, Herbert H. Rose, six woman passengers and two children. The remaining 61 survivors were picked up by the Michel and interned at Yokohama
, Japan
. After repatriation the survivors reported the conditions under which they were forced to work and live.
Union-Castle Line
The Union-Castle Line was a prominent British shipping line that operated a fleet of passenger liners and cargo ships between Europe and Africa from 1900 to 1977. It was formed from the merger of the Union Line and Castle Shipping Line...
, but requisitioned for use as a British hospital ship
Hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
during the First World War. On 31 March 1917 she was torpedoed by German U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
UB-32
SM UB-32
SM UB-32 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 4 December 1915...
. She was, however, salvaged, and returned to civilian service after the war. She was sunk by the German commerce raider Michel
German auxiliary cruiser Michel
Michel was an auxiliary cruiser of the German Navy that operated as a merchant raider during World War II. Built by Danziger Werft in Danzig 1938/39 as the freighter Bielsko for Polish Gdynia-America-Line , she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine at the outbreak of World War II and converted...
in 1942 off Ascension Island
Ascension Island
Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa...
in the South Atlantic.
History
During the First World War Gloucester Castle served as a hospital ship.She was torpedoed off the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
by German U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
UB-32
SM UB-32
SM UB-32 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 4 December 1915...
(Kapitänleutnant Max Viebeg) on 31 March 1917. Three died during the transfer of crew and wounded but she was able to be towed back to port after two weeks.
After the war she was returned to her owners on 9 September 1919 for service on the intermediate routes and later served on the round-Africa service, earning the nickname 'Go Slowster Castle' because of her inadequate speed.
During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she remained in civilian service as a passenger and general cargo liner
Cargo liner
A Cargo liner is a type of merchant ship which carried general cargo and often passengers. They became common just after the middle of the nineteenth century, and eventually gave way to container ships and other more specialized carriers in the latter half of the twentieth...
. On 15 July 1942, off the coast of Angola, she was intercepted by the German
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
auxiliary cruiser Michel
German auxiliary cruiser Michel
Michel was an auxiliary cruiser of the German Navy that operated as a merchant raider during World War II. Built by Danziger Werft in Danzig 1938/39 as the freighter Bielsko for Polish Gdynia-America-Line , she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine at the outbreak of World War II and converted...
. Michel's commander KzS Helmuth von Ruckteschell
Helmuth von Ruckteschell
Helmuth von Ruckteschell was an officer in the German navy, serving in both World War I and World War II.He was one of the most successful merchant raider commanders, serving as...
chose to attack after dark without warning; The first shells from Michel destroyed the bridge and radio room and consequently no S.O.S.
Distress signal
A distress signal is an internationally recognized means for obtaining help. Distress signals take the form of or are commonly made by using radio signals, displaying a visually detected item or illumination, or making an audible sound, from a distance....
was transmitted. The ship sank with 93 killed, including the Master, Herbert H. Rose, six woman passengers and two children. The remaining 61 survivors were picked up by the Michel and interned at Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. After repatriation the survivors reported the conditions under which they were forced to work and live.