SS Lambridge
Encyclopedia
SS Lambridge
was a British
cargo ship
built in 1917 and scuttled
in 1945.
The Ayrshire Dockyard Company Ltd. built her to the UK Shipping Controller's standard "B" type cargo ship design. She was launched in 1917 as SS Glennevis for the Western Steam Ship Company of Glasgow. In 1922 she was sold to Furness Withy
who renamed her SS African Prince. In 1936 she was sold to the Dorset Steamship Company, which renamed her SS Pentridge Hill. Dorset SS Co was a London
-based company controlled by Counties Ship Management
.
In 1939 she was sold to Sir Wm. Reardon Smith & Sons, Ltd
, who renamed her SS Botlea. In September and October 1939 she became one of nine merchant ships that the Admiralty
acquired to convert into Q-ships. Botlea was commissioned into the Royal Navy
as HMS Lambridge (X15). The Q-ship
s were not successful and from February 1941 she served as the armed merchant cruiser SS Lambridge
.
scuttled
After the Second World War the Admiralty
used her to dispose of redundant chemical ammunition. She was loaded and taken out into the North Atlantic beyond the edge of the Europeal continental shelf
, and on 30th December 1945 she was scuttled northwest of Donegal
in the outer approaches to the North Channel
. The wreck lies in 8200 feet (2,499.4 m) of water.
Lambridge was one of four redundant cargo ships that the Admiralty used to dispose of chemical ammunition at the same site in the North Atlantic. The others were on 11 September, SS Empire Cormorant
on 1 October and on 30 October.
SS Lambridge
SS Lambridge was a British cargo ship built in 1917 and scuttled in 1945.The Ayrshire Dockyard Company Ltd. built her to the UK Shipping Controller's standard "B" type cargo ship design. She was launched in 1917 as SS Glennevis for the Western Steam Ship Company of Glasgow. In 1922 she was sold to...
was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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...
built in 1917 and scuttled
Scuttling
Scuttling is the act of deliberately sinking a ship by allowing water to flow into the hull.This can be achieved in several ways—valves or hatches can be opened to the sea, or holes may be ripped into the hull with brute force or with explosives...
in 1945.
The Ayrshire Dockyard Company Ltd. built her to the UK Shipping Controller's standard "B" type cargo ship design. She was launched in 1917 as SS Glennevis for the Western Steam Ship Company of Glasgow. In 1922 she was sold to Furness Withy
Furness Withy
Furness Withy was a major British transport business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange.-History:The Company was founded by Christopher Furness and Henry Withy in 1891 in Hartlepool. This was achieved by the amalgamation of the Furness Line of steamers with the business of Edward Withy and...
who renamed her SS African Prince. In 1936 she was sold to the Dorset Steamship Company, which renamed her SS Pentridge Hill. Dorset SS Co was a 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...
-based company controlled by Counties Ship Management
Counties Ship Management
Counties Ship Management Co. Ltd. was an ocean-going merchant shipping company based in the United Kingdom. During the Second World War CSM merchant ships made a substantial contribution to supplying the British war effort, at a cost of 13 ships lost and 163 officers and men killed.-Founding of...
.
In 1939 she was sold to Sir Wm. Reardon Smith & Sons, Ltd
William Reardon Smith
Sir William Reardon Smith, 1st Baronet was a British shipowner.Reardon Smith was born in Appledore, Devon, and educated at the Wesleyan School there. He went to sea and obtained his master mariner's ticket before going into the shipping business...
, who renamed her SS Botlea. In September and October 1939 she became one of nine merchant ships that the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
acquired to convert into Q-ships. Botlea was commissioned into the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as HMS Lambridge (X15). The Q-ship
Q-ship
Q-ships, also known as Q-boats, Decoy Vessels, Special Service Ships, or Mystery Ships, were heavily armed merchant ships with concealed weaponry, designed to lure submarines into making surface attacks. This gave Q-ships the chance to open fire and sink them...
s were not successful and from February 1941 she served as the armed merchant cruiser SS Lambridge
SS Lambridge
SS Lambridge was a British cargo ship built in 1917 and scuttled in 1945.The Ayrshire Dockyard Company Ltd. built her to the UK Shipping Controller's standard "B" type cargo ship design. She was launched in 1917 as SS Glennevis for the Western Steam Ship Company of Glasgow. In 1922 she was sold to...
.
scuttledScuttlingScuttling is the act of deliberately sinking a ship by allowing water to flow into the hull.This can be achieved in several ways—valves or hatches can be opened to the sea, or holes may be ripped into the hull with brute force or with explosives...
After the Second World War the AdmiraltyAdmiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
used her to dispose of redundant chemical ammunition. She was loaded and taken out into the North Atlantic beyond the edge of the Europeal continental shelf
Continental shelf
The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent and associated coastal plain. Much of the shelf was exposed during glacial periods, but is now submerged under relatively shallow seas and gulfs, and was similarly submerged during other interglacial periods. The continental margin,...
, and on 30th December 1945 she was scuttled northwest of Donegal
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
in the outer approaches to the North Channel
North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland)
The North Channel is the strait which separates eastern Northern Ireland from southwestern Scotland...
. The wreck lies in 8200 feet (2,499.4 m) of water.
Lambridge was one of four redundant cargo ships that the Admiralty used to dispose of chemical ammunition at the same site in the North Atlantic. The others were on 11 September, SS Empire Cormorant
SS Western Maid
Western Maid was a 5,760 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1918 by Northwest Steel Co, Portland, Oregon, United States. She was built for the United States Shipping Board , but was commissioned into the United States Navy on completion as USS Western Maid, with the pennant number ID-3703....
on 1 October and on 30 October.