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SS Eskmere (1916)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
History
Name
  • Thirlmere
  • Eskmere
Owner
Port of registryUnited Kingdom Liverpool
BuilderNorth of Ireland Shipbuilding Co., Derry, Ireland
Launched10 April 1916
Completed11 July 1916
IdentificationOfficial number: 137514
FateSunk by submarine, 13 October 1917
General characteristics
TypeFreighter
Tonnage
Length287.2 ft (87.5 m)
Beam40.6 ft (12.4 m)
Draught22.8 ft (6.9 m)
Installed power
Propulsion1 screw propeller; 1 triple-expansion steam engine
Speed10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)

SS Eskmere was a small freighter built during the First World War. Completed in 1916, she was intended for the West African trade. The ship was sunk by the German submarine SM UC-75 in October 1917 with the loss of 20 crewmen.

Description

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Eskmere had an overall length of 287.2 feet (87.5 m), with a beam of 40.6 feet (12.4 m) and a draught of 22.8 feet (6.9 m). The ship was assessed at 2,293 gross register tons (GRT) and 1,216 net register tons (NRT). She had a vertical triple-expansion steam engine driving a single screw propeller. The engine was rated at a total of 158 nominal horsepower and produced 1,250 indicated horsepower (930 kW). This gave her a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[1]

Construction and career

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Eskmere was laid down as yard number 66 by North of Ireland Shipbuilding Co. at its shipyard in Derry, Ireland, for the Watson Steamship Co. The ship was Launched on 10 April 1916 as Thirlmere and completed on 11 July. Whilst fitting out, she was sold to the Lever Brothers' newly formed Bromport Steamship Co. on 11 May and renamed Eskmere. The ship was bound for Barry, Wales, in ballast when she was torpedoed by UC-75 on 13 October 1917, 15 miles (24 km) off South Stack Lighthouse with the loss of 20 crewmen.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ Fenton, p. S648
  2. ^ Fenton, pp. S642, S648
  3. ^ Admiralty, p. 69

Bibliography

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  • Admiralty (1988) [1919]. "Merchant Shipping (Losses): British Merchant Vessels Captured or Destroyed by the Enemy". British Vessels Lost at Sea, 1914-18 and 1939-45 (3rd ed.). Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stephens. pp. 1–99. ISBN 1-85260-134-5.
  • Fenton, Roy (December 2022). "Levers' Early Shipping Ventures: Bromport Steamship Co., Ltd. and its Predecessors". Marine News Supplement. 76 (12): S340–S352. ISSN 0966-6958.