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SS Clan Forbes (1938)
Encyclopedia
The SS Clan Forbes was a steam merchant ship that saw service in the Second World War.
, Greenock
as one of the Cameron class
of steam merchant ships for the Clan Line
. She was launched on 8 September 1938, and had her engines supplied by the firm of J G Kincaid & Co, also of Greenock. She was homeported in Glasgow
. On the outbreak of the Second World War, she was put into service carrying vital supplies to Britain's allies and outposts. On 16 August 1940, before setting out on one of these convoys, she was damaged by bombs in an air raid whilst berthed at Tilbury dock
. She was used to support allied operations in the Mediterranean, and was one of the three merchant ships used in Operation Collar, a convoy to supply Malta
and Alexandria
. An attempt by the Italians to intercept the ships led to the Battle of Cape Spartivento
, after which Clan Forbes, and her sister SS Clan Fraser continued on to Malta. She spent some of her time disguised as the submarine depot ship , having been fitted with a dummy funnel.
Surviving the war, she continued in civilian service with the Clan Line, eventually serving until 1959, when she was sold for scrapping. She arrived at Hong Kong
on 6 August 1959 to be broken up.
Career
Clan Forbes was built at the Greenock Dockyard Co.Greenock Dockyard Company
The Greenock Dockyard Company was a Scottish shipbuilding and ship repair firm located at Greenock, on the River Clyde.-History:The company was established by J E Scott of Greenock, with the yard at Cartsdyke being taken over in 1879 by Russell and Company, of Greenock, which later became Lithgows...
, Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
as one of the Cameron class
Cameron class steamer
The Cameron class steamers were a ship class of steamships of the Clan Line.*Clan Macauley, launched 1936, bombed at Malta, scrapped 1963., launched 1937, sailed in convoy from Gibraltar and torpedoed and sunk by in October 1939....
of steam merchant ships for the Clan Line
Clan Line
The Clan Line was a passenger and cargo shipping company that operated in one incarnation or another from the late nineteenth century and into the twentieth century.-Foundation and early years:...
. She was launched on 8 September 1938, and had her engines supplied by the firm of J G Kincaid & Co, also of Greenock. She was homeported in 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...
. On the outbreak of the Second World War, she was put into service carrying vital supplies to Britain's allies and outposts. On 16 August 1940, before setting out on one of these convoys, she was damaged by bombs in an air raid whilst berthed at Tilbury dock
Port of Tilbury
The Port of Tilbury is located on the River Thames at Tilbury in Essex, England. It is the principal port for London; as well as being the main United Kingdom port for handling the importation of paper. There are extensive facilities for containers, grain, and other bulk cargoes. There are also...
. She was used to support allied operations in the Mediterranean, and was one of the three merchant ships used in Operation Collar, a convoy to supply Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
. An attempt by the Italians to intercept the ships led to the Battle of Cape Spartivento
Battle of Cape Spartivento
The Battle of Cape Spartivento, known as the Battle of Cape Teulada in Italy, was a naval battle during the Battle of the Mediterranean in the Second World War...
, after which Clan Forbes, and her sister SS Clan Fraser continued on to Malta. She spent some of her time disguised as the submarine depot ship , having been fitted with a dummy funnel.
Surviving the war, she continued in civilian service with the Clan Line, eventually serving until 1959, when she was sold for scrapping. She arrived at Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on 6 August 1959 to be broken up.