MV Domala
Encyclopedia
{|Domala was a 8,441 ton cargo liner
which was built in 1920 and launched as Magnava. Following damage sustained in an air attack in 1940, she was rebuilt as a cargo ship
and renamed Empire Attendant. In 1942 she was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of all crew.
fleet powered by diesel engine
s. She was built by Barclay, Curle and Company
, Whiteinch
, Glasgow
and launched on 23 December 1920 as Magnava and completed as Domala on 14 December 1921. Her engines were built by the North British Diesel Engine Works
, Whiteinch
. Domala made her maiden voyage on 30 December 1921, arriving at Bombay, India on 27 January. A speed of 13.5 knots (26.5 km/h) was reported, consuming 17 tons of fuel oil per day. From Bombay, Domala sailed ot Karachi
, India before returning to London
. Domala had accommodation for 158 saloon-class passengers and 11,000 tons of cargo.
She was used on the service to and from Calcutta. On 12 August 1934, Domala ran into the stern of Thames Barge
Shannon at Erith
, Kent
. In 1940, Domala was sent to Antwerp to collect a number of India
n seamen who had been repatriated by Germany
. On 2 March 1940, she was attacked by a Heinkel He 111H
bomber of KG26
which dropped two sticks of bombs, setting Domala on fire. The order to abandon ship was given but the bomber machine-gunned survivors attempting to escape by lifeboat. A total of 108 of the 291 people on board the ship were killed. The Dutch
ship Jong Willem rescued 48 survivors, despite being attacked herself. assisted in the rescue. Surgeon Lieutenant MacDonald was Mentioned in Despatches for his zeal and devotion to duty, and skill in attending to the wounded survivors. Chief Officer Brawn and Cadet Duval, both crew on Domala were awarded Commendations for their actions. Avro Anson
aircraft of 48 Squadron
assisted in the rescue. On fire, Domala was towed to the Solent
where she was beached. On 19 March, she was towed to Southampton
where the decision was made to convert her to a cargo ship. Domala was requisitioned by the Ministry of War Transport and renamed Empire Attendant.
As a result of the attack, questions were asked in Parliament
by Manny Shinwell about the lack of use of the guns carried on Domala in her defence. Winston Churchill
replied that the aircraft that attacked Domala had been initially misidentified as a friendly one, which was why the guns were not manned. A British destroyer
also misidentified the aircraft. It was also asked why the gunners were not always manning the guns. In India, there was public anger towards Germany as a result of the attack. Eighty-one of those killed were Indian citizens.
HX 97
Empire Attendant was due to have been a member of Convoy HX 97, but did not sail with the convoy.
HX 120
Convoy HX 120 sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia
on 10 April 1941 and arrived at Liverpool
on 29 April. Empire Attendant was carrying a cargo of 350 tons of steel
and also explosives.
OS 33
Convoy OS 33 sailed from Liverpool
on 1 July 1942. On 10 July 1942 reported that Empire Attendant had broken down for the seventh time and was straggling, being at least 20 miles (32.2 km) behind the convoy. At 03:30 hrs CET
on 15 July, she was torpedo
ed and sunk by U-582 off the west coast of Africa
at 23°48′N 21°51′W with the loss of all 59 crew. The crew are commemorated on panel 38 of the Tower Hill Memorial
.
.
Domala and Empire Attendant had the UK Official Number 146266 and used the Code Letters
GDMV
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...
which was built in 1920 and launched as Magnava. Following damage sustained in an air attack in 1940, she was rebuilt as a cargo ship
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
and renamed Empire Attendant. In 1942 she was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of all crew.
Domala
Domala was the first ship in the British India Steam Navigation Company'sBritish-India Steam Navigation Company
British India Steam Navigation Company was formed in 1856 as the Calcutta and Burmah Steam Navigation Company. The company had been formed out of Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Co, a trading partnership of the Scots William Mackinnon and Robert Mackenzie, to carry mail between Calcutta and Rangoon. It...
fleet powered by diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
s. She was built by Barclay, Curle and Company
Barclay Curle
-History:The company was founded by Robert Barclay at Stobcross in Glasgow, Scotland during 1818. In 1862, the company built a large engineering works at Stobcross in Glasgow. In 1876, the company moved their yard down the river to Whiteinch. It was incorporated in 1884 as Barclay Curle...
, Whiteinch
Whiteinch
Whiteinch is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde between the Partick and Scotstoun areas of the city...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and launched on 23 December 1920 as Magnava and completed as Domala on 14 December 1921. Her engines were built by the North British Diesel Engine Works
North British Locomotive Company
The North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp Stewart and Company , Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company , creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe.Its main factories were...
, Whiteinch
Whiteinch
Whiteinch is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde between the Partick and Scotstoun areas of the city...
. Domala made her maiden voyage on 30 December 1921, arriving at Bombay, India on 27 January. A speed of 13.5 knots (26.5 km/h) was reported, consuming 17 tons of fuel oil per day. From Bombay, Domala sailed ot Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, India before returning to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Domala had accommodation for 158 saloon-class passengers and 11,000 tons of cargo.
She was used on the service to and from Calcutta. On 12 August 1934, Domala ran into the stern of Thames Barge
Thames sailing barge
A Thames sailing barge was a type of commercial sailing boat common on the River Thames in London in the 19th century. The flat-bottomed barges were perfectly adapted to the Thames Estuary, with its shallow waters and narrow rivers....
Shannon at Erith
Erith
Erith is a district of southeast London on the River Thames. Erith's town centre has undergone a series of modernisations since 1961.-Pre-medieval:...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. In 1940, Domala was sent to Antwerp to collect a number of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n seamen who had been repatriated by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. On 2 March 1940, she was attacked by a Heinkel He 111H
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a "Wolf in sheep's clothing", it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but its purpose was to provide the Luftwaffe with a fast medium...
bomber of KG26
Kampfgeschwader
Kampfgeschwader were specialized bomber units in the Luftstreitkräfte during World War I and the Luftwaffe during World War II.- In World War I :...
which dropped two sticks of bombs, setting Domala on fire. The order to abandon ship was given but the bomber machine-gunned survivors attempting to escape by lifeboat. A total of 108 of the 291 people on board the ship were killed. The Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
ship Jong Willem rescued 48 survivors, despite being attacked herself. assisted in the rescue. Surgeon Lieutenant MacDonald was Mentioned in Despatches for his zeal and devotion to duty, and skill in attending to the wounded survivors. Chief Officer Brawn and Cadet Duval, both crew on Domala were awarded Commendations for their actions. Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
aircraft of 48 Squadron
No. 48 Squadron RAF
No. 48 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron that saw service in both World War I and World War II.-First World War:No. 48 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Netheravon, Wiltshire, on 15 April 1916. The squadron was posted to France in March 1917 and became the first fighter...
assisted in the rescue. On fire, Domala was towed to the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
where she was beached. On 19 March, she was towed to Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
where the decision was made to convert her to a cargo ship. Domala was requisitioned by the Ministry of War Transport and renamed Empire Attendant.
As a result of the attack, questions were asked in Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
by Manny Shinwell about the lack of use of the guns carried on Domala in her defence. Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
replied that the aircraft that attacked Domala had been initially misidentified as a friendly one, which was why the guns were not manned. A British destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
also misidentified the aircraft. It was also asked why the gunners were not always manning the guns. In India, there was public anger towards Germany as a result of the attack. Eighty-one of those killed were Indian citizens.
Empire Attendant
Empire Attendant was entirely reconstructed. She was placed under the management of Andrew Weir & Co (Bank Line). Empire Attendant took part in a number of convoys during the war.HX 97
Empire Attendant was due to have been a member of Convoy HX 97, but did not sail with the convoy.
HX 120
Convoy HX 120 sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
on 10 April 1941 and arrived at Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on 29 April. Empire Attendant was carrying a cargo of 350 tons of steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
and also explosives.
OS 33
Convoy OS 33 sailed from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on 1 July 1942. On 10 July 1942 reported that Empire Attendant had broken down for the seventh time and was straggling, being at least 20 miles (32.2 km) behind the convoy. At 03:30 hrs CET
Central European Time
Central European Time , used in most parts of the European Union, is a standard time that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time . The time offset from UTC can be written as +01:00...
on 15 July, she was torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
ed and sunk by U-582 off the west coast of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
at 23°48′N 21°51′W with the loss of all 59 crew. The crew are commemorated on panel 38 of the Tower Hill Memorial
Tower Hill Memorial
The Tower Hill Memorial is a national war memorial on the south side of Trinity Square Gardens, just to the north of the Tower of London. It commemorates those from the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets who died during both world wars and have "no grave but the sea".The First World War memorial...
.
Engines
Domala was powered by two 8 cylinder diesel engines, type 4SSA. Cylinders were 873mm bore, 1194mm stroke. The engines were built by the North East Diesel Engine Company. Domala was capable of 12 knots (23.5 km/h).Official number and code letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO NumbersIMO ship identification number
The IMO ship identification number is made of the three letters "IMO" followed by the seven-digit number assigned to all ships by IHS Fairplay when constructed. This is a unique seven digit number that is assigned to propelled, sea-going merchant ships of 100 GT and above...
.
Domala and Empire Attendant had the UK Official Number 146266 and used the Code Letters
Code letters
Code letters were a method of identifying ships before the introduction of modern navigation aids. Later, with the introduction of radio, code letters were also used as radio callsigns.-History:...
GDMV