SS Rhineland (1938)
Rhineland was a 1,312 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1938 by Howaldtswerke, Kiel, Germany for Argo Line, Bremen. She was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in 1939, serving as VP-101 Schwan, Sperrbrecher 31 and Sperrbrecher 131. She served post-war with the German Mine Sweeping Administration before being declared a prize and passing to British owners. She was renamed Weltonwold and then Rhineland in 1948. She was sold to South Africa in 1956 and renamed Herrisbrook. Renamed Inyoni the next year, she was scrapped in 1962.
![]() Sperrbrecher 131 | |
History | |
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Name |
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Owner |
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Port of registry |
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Launched | 1938 |
Commissioned | 12 September 1939 |
Identification |
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General characteristics | |
Tonnage | 1,311 GRT, 724 NRT |
Length | 74.7 m (245 ft 1 in) |
Beam | 11.7 m (38 ft 5 in) |
Depth | 3.76 m (12 ft 4 in) |
Installed power | Compound steam engine |
Propulsion | Single screw propeller |
Description
The ship was 74.7 metres (245 ft 1 in) long, with a beam of 11.7 metres (38 ft 5 in) and a depth of 3.76 metres (12 ft 4 in). She was assessed at 1,311 GRT, 724 NRT.[1][2]
The ship was powered by a compound steam engine which had two cylinders of 45.2 centimetres (17+13⁄16 in) and 90.0 centimetres (35+7⁄16 in) diameter by 90.0 centimetres (35+7⁄16 in) stroke. It drove a single screw propeller by double reduction gearing and a hydraulic coupling. The engine was built by Deschimag, Bremen, Germany.[2]
History
Schwan was built in 1938 by Howaldtswerke, KielGermany,[3] for Argo Line, Bremen.[4] On 12 September 1939, she was commissioned into the Kriegsmarine as the vorpostenboot VP-101 Schwan, serving with 1 Vorpostenbootflottille. On 1 October 1940, she was transferred to 3 Sperrbrecherflottille and renamed Sperrbrecher 31. She was renamed Sperrbrecher 131 on 15 July 1941. Post-war, she served with the German Mine Sweeping Administration.[3]
In 1947, Sperrbrecher 131 was declared a prize and passed to the British.[3] Laid up, She was sold to Atkinson & Pritchett, Hull, Yorkshire and renamed Weltonwold in December 1948, remaining laid up. Although reported as destroyed by a fire in 1949, she was repaired.[3] She was sold to Currie Line, Leith, Lothian in 1949 and renamed Rhineland.[4]
In 1956, Rhineland was sold to Smiths Coasters Pty Ltd, Durban, South Africa and was renamed Herrisbrook. She was renamed Inyoni in 1957.[4] The Code Letters ZTML were allocated.[5] She was scrapped at Durban in August 1962.[1]
References
- "Currie Line Ltd., Leith". Transport of Delight. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- "Lloyd's Register 96573-588". London: Lloyd's Register. 1949. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- "Sperrbrecher 131" (in German). Archivportal. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- "Argo Line, Bremen / Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft Argo AG 1896-1923 / Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft Argo mbH 1923-1925 / Argo Reederei AG 1933-1936 / Argo Reederei Richard Adler & Co. 1936-1952 / Argo Reederei Richard Adler & Söhne 1952-present". The Ships List. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- "Inveritchen Register of ships 1960". London: Lloyd's Register. 1960. Retrieved 24 April 2022.