Ships that have been requisitioned as auxiliaries

Requisitioned Auxiliary - Battenhall

  

 

 

 

Official Number:                        114771

Laid down:

Builder:                                   Blyth Shipbuilding & Drydock Co, Cowpen Quay, Blyth

Launched:                               15 August 1901

Into Service:                            August 1914

Out of service:                         December 1914

Fate:                                      Sunk 1942

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

 

Background Data:  One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA

 

Career Data:

 

15 August 1901  launched by Blyth Shipbuilding & Drydock Co, Cowpen Quay, Blyth as Yard Nr 107 named BATTENHALL for Lombard SS Co Ltd, Newcastle, NSW.

October 1901 completed

24 February 1903 berthed at Portland after a rough passage across the Atlantic. The ship lost one of her lifeboats, part of her deck cargo and the Chief Officer and Bosun were drowned. Reported in the ‘Times Despatch’, Virginia USA on 25 February 1903

11 March 1904 berthed at Sydney, NSW from Singapore and Pulan Samboa

18 March 1905 grounded off Dromand Pier, WA on a sand bar in thick fog - floated off on the next high tide

12 April 1905 berthed at Port Adelaide

20 April 1905 berthed at Sydney, NSW from Port Adelaide

6 May 1905 the ships owners were sued in the Vice Admirals Court at Sydney, NSW by the first mate, second mate, first, second and third engineers and the steward for non payment of wages totalling £540. The case arose from the officers and crew who had signed Imperial Articles in 1903 and while the crew later were placed on Interstate Articles at a higher rate of pay the above officers did not receive the increase nor did they sign the Interstate Articles. Result the officers lost their claim

18 November 1905 at Singapore a sailor from the ship - Edward Hansen - appeared before the Marine Court charged with leaving the ship without consent. He pleaded Guilty and was sentenced to 10 days rigorous imprisonment and to be put onboard just prior to the ship sailing

1909 purchased by South African Collieries Ltd, Cape Town name unchanged

4 August 1914  requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a Stores Carrier, name unchanged. Lieutenant Sydenham B Stubbs RNR appointed in Command

December 1914 returned to her owners

16 December 1914 at Kilindini stopped by HMS KINFAUNS CASTLE and boarded by the Officer of the Guard - allowed to proceed (source HMS KINFAUNS CASTLE's ships log)

9 April 1915 sailed Cape Town

20 November 1915 stopped by HMS ORBITA while on passage from Cape Town to Durban - allowed to proceed (source HMS ORBITA's ship log)

1916 purchased by A Capel, Cape Town name unchanged

31 March 1916 between Zanzibar and Durban sighted by HMS TRENT (source HMS TRENT's ship log)

1917 owners became Arthur Capel & Co (London) Ltd, London and renamed Capelhall

 

SS Capelhall after being renamed from Battenhall

1918 sold to the Town Line (London) Ltd, London name unchanged for about £63,000

1919 owners became Henry W Renny, Dundee name unchanged

3 September 1919 sailed Barry Docks to Dakar

23 May 1920 sailed Hull to New York

26 October 1920 sailed New York to Cartagena

1924 purchased by Tsutsui Kiyomatsu , Kobe and renamed KITAKATA MARU

1931 owners became Tsutsui Seimatsu, Kobe name unchanged

1933 purchased by Shibaura Unyu KK, Kobe name unchanged.

1937 purchased by Nikka Kyosin kosi KK, Tokyo name unchanged

1941 owners became Toa Kyoshin Kosi KK, Tokyo name unchanged.

16 March 1942 attacked by US forces and damaged at 29.09N 122.07E while in convoy TAMO-49

25 May 1942 torpedoed and sunk by USS DRUM (SS228) (Lt.Cdr. R.H. Rice USN) in position 34.58 N 140.04 E