SMS Teodo
Encyclopedia
SMS Teodo was a 6,561 ton collier
built in 1915 for the Austro-Hungarian Navy
. She was ceded to Italy in 1921 as a war reparation. She was renamed Barbana in 1924 and Barbana G in 1926. In 1940, she was seized by the United Kingdom and renamed Empire Airman. On 21 September 1940, Empire Airman was torpedoed and sunk by .
, Trieste
as yard number 501 and launched on 8 January 1913, being completed on 17 February 1916. SMS Teodo was a Pola Class collier of the Austro-Hungarian Navy
. At the end of the First World War, under Article 137 of the Treaty of Saint-Germain, SMS Teodo was classed as a merchant ship and passed to the Italian Government Ministry of Transport. In 1924, she was passed to the Italian Ministry of Marine, and renamed Barbana. In 1926, she was sold to the Società Anonima di Navigazione Garibaldi, Genoa and renamed Barbana G. She was captured off Leith
and taken to Methil
on 10 June 1940 and passed to the Ministry of War Transport, being renamed Empire Airman under the management of Mark Whitwill & Sons Ltd, Bristol
.
Convoy HX 72
sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia
on 9 September 1940. Empire Airman was carrying a cargo of iron ore, she was bound for Cardiff
. At 00:22 on 22 September, Empire Airman was hit by a torpedo fired by U-100. The ship was taken in tow, but sank on 23 September at 55°11′N 15°07′W. Thirty three of the thirty seven crew were killed in the attack. Four survivors were rescued by HMS La Malouine
. Those lost on Empire Airman are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial
, London.
.
Barbana G had the Official Number 1496 on the Italian register. Empire Airman had the Official Number 165788 on Lloyds Register.
Barbana G used the Code Letters
NFVZ. Empire Airman used the Code Letters GLZT
Collier (ship type)
Collier is a historical term used to describe a bulk cargo ship designed to carry coal, especially for naval use by coal-fired warships. In the late 18th century a number of wooden-hulled sailing colliers gained fame after being adapted for use in voyages of exploration in the South Pacific, for...
built in 1915 for the Austro-Hungarian Navy
Austro-Hungarian Navy
The Austro-Hungarian Navy was the naval force of Austria-Hungary. Its official name in German was Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine , abbreviated as k.u.k. Kriegsmarine....
. She was ceded to Italy in 1921 as a war reparation. She was renamed Barbana in 1924 and Barbana G in 1926. In 1940, she was seized by the United Kingdom and renamed Empire Airman. On 21 September 1940, Empire Airman was torpedoed and sunk by .
History
SMS Teodo was built by Stabilimento Tecnico TriestinoStabilimento Tecnico Triestino
Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino was a private shipbuilding company based in Trieste from the mid-19th to early 20th century, and the most important naval shipbuilding firm of the Austro-Hungarian Empire....
, Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
as yard number 501 and launched on 8 January 1913, being completed on 17 February 1916. SMS Teodo was a Pola Class collier of the Austro-Hungarian Navy
Austro-Hungarian Navy
The Austro-Hungarian Navy was the naval force of Austria-Hungary. Its official name in German was Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine , abbreviated as k.u.k. Kriegsmarine....
. At the end of the First World War, under Article 137 of the Treaty of Saint-Germain, SMS Teodo was classed as a merchant ship and passed to the Italian Government Ministry of Transport. In 1924, she was passed to the Italian Ministry of Marine, and renamed Barbana. In 1926, she was sold to the Società Anonima di Navigazione Garibaldi, Genoa and renamed Barbana G. She was captured off Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
and taken to Methil
Methil
Methil is an eastern coastal town in Scotland. It was part of the former Burgh of Buckhaven and Methil. It lies within a continuous urban area described as Levenmouth.Methil lies geographically between Largo bay to the east and Wemyss Bay to the west....
on 10 June 1940 and passed to the Ministry of War Transport, being renamed Empire Airman under the management of Mark Whitwill & Sons Ltd, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
Convoys
HX 72Convoy HX 72
Convoy HX 72
HX 72 was a North Atlantic convoy of the HX series which ran during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II.-Background:HX 72 was an east-bound convoy of 43 ships which sailed from Halifax on 9 September 1940 bound for Liverpool and carrying war materials.The convoy, made up of contingents from...
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 9 September 1940. Empire Airman was carrying a cargo of iron ore, she was bound for Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. At 00:22 on 22 September, Empire Airman was hit by a torpedo fired by U-100. The ship was taken in tow, but sank on 23 September at 55°11′N 15°07′W. Thirty three of the thirty seven crew were killed in the attack. Four survivors were rescued by HMS La Malouine
HMS La Malouine (K46)
HMS La Malouine was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Navy, serving during the Second World War.-Origin:La Malouine was one of four Flower-class corvettes ordered by the French Navy . Only two of these were delivered to the Marine Nationale. One of these ships was La Malouine the other La...
. Those lost on Empire Airman are commemorated at 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...
, London.
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...
.
Barbana G had the Official Number 1496 on the Italian register. Empire Airman had the Official Number 165788 on Lloyds Register.
Barbana G 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:...
NFVZ. Empire Airman used the Code Letters GLZT