SS Sarpedon (1923)

SS ''Sarpedon'' was a UK steam turbine passenger and refrigerated cargo liner launched in 1923. She was the fourth of six ships to bear the name.

Building

Cammell, Laird & Co built ''Sarpedon'' in Birkenhead, England. She was launched on 2 February 1923 and completing her that June.

''Sarpedon'' was the first of a set of four sister ships built for Alfred Holt and Company of Liverpool, who owned Blue Funnel Line and other shipping lines including the Ocean Steam Ship Company. Her sisters were launched in 1923, and and launched in 1924. All were named after characters in Homer's ''Iliad''.

''Sarpedon'' was long, beam and had a depth of . She had a counter stern, slightly raked stem, one funnel and two masts. She had accommodation for first class passengers only. At the request of the UK Government the four ships were built with berths for 155 first class passengers for services to the Far East. Blue Funnel Line did not expect carrying passengers to be profitable.

''Sarpedon''s tonnages were and . She had four steam turbines driving twin screws via single-reduction gearing, which gave her a service speed of . By 1934 ''Patroclus'' had been fitted with wireless direction finding equipment.

Service

In peacetime ''Sarpedon'' and her three sisters sailed a regular route between Liverpool and the Far East.

In the Second World War ''Patroclus'', ''Hector'' and ''Antenor'' were requisitioned and converted into armed merchant cruisers, but ''Sarpedon'' remained in civilian service. In March 1940 she sailed on her usual route to China, leaving Liverpool on 3 March with Convoy OB 103 which dispersed at sea.

But thereafter ''Sarpedon'' was taken off her usual route. She sailed partly in convoys and partly unescorted.

''Sarpedon'' sailed in two HX convoys from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool: HX 144 in August 1941 and HX 185 in April 1942. She was in Australia for Christmas 1941 and again in May 1943. She called at Port Moresby in Papua in January 1942, shortly before the Japanese invasion of New Guinea. She passed through the Panama Canal in October 1942 and January 1943.

After the Armistice with Italy in September 1943, the Mediterranean was less dangerous for Allied shipping. ''Sarpedon'' passed through the Suez Canal in May and July 1944. Her final convoy of the war was MKS 93G, which left Casablanca in Morocco on 5 April 1945 and reached Liverpool on 14 April, three weeks before VE Day.

''Sarpedon'' and ''Antenor'' were the only two of the four sisters to survive the war.

Fate

''Sarpedon'' arrived at Newport, Wales on 5 June 1953 to be scrapped by John Cashmore Ltd.

''Sarpedon''s bell is preserved in the yard of the parish church of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas, Liverpool, opposite the Pier Head.

References

Bibliography

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External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarpedon (1923)
1923 ships
Ocean liners of the United Kingdom
Ships built on the River Mersey
Steamships of the United Kingdom
World War II passenger ships of the United Kingdom