SS Golconda (1887)

For other ships with the same name, see List of ships named Golconda.

Golconda
Golconda entering the Suez Canal from the Red Sea
History
United Kingdom
Name
  • Trans-Pacific (launched)
  • Golconda (1888-1916)
OwnerBritish India Steam Navigation Company
Port of registryGlasgow
BuilderWilliam Doxford & Sons, Sunderland, England
Yard number166
Launched8 February 1887
Completed13 October 1888
IdentificationBritish Official Number 95098
FateSunk by mine 3 June 1916
General characteristics
Tonnage5,874 GRT
Length422 ft (129 m)
Beam41.8 ft (12.7 m)
Installed power4,360 BHP
Sail planbarquentine

Construction and description

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In the mid-1880s the Sunderland shipbuilders William Doxford & Sons expanded their yard at Pallion on the River Wear but then, suffering a dearth of orders, decided to commence building on speculation their largest vessel ever to demonstrate their capabilities. They chose a two-funnelled, four-masted steel passenger-cargo liner of about 5,600 GRT, which was laid down in 1886 with the provisional name Nulli Secunda ("Second to none").[1] For about a year the builders tried to find a buyer until, believing that she would be bought by Canadian Pacific Steamships for their new route between Vancouver, British Columbia and the Far East, they named her Trans-Pacific; she was launched by the Mayoress of Sunderland with that name on 8 February 1887, even though by then negotiations with Canadian Pacific had not been concluded.[1][2] Some time after the launch, British India Steam Navigation Company (B.I.) became interested, to upgrade their London-Calcutta service. They required considerable alterations to meet their service, which were not finished until October 1888.[3] Golconda was registered at Glasgow on 25 September 1888 and allocated British Official Number 95098 and signal letters K.V.C.G.[1][4]

Completed as Golconda, she measured 6,037 GRT and 3,961 NRT, with registered length of 422.0 feet (128.6 m), a beam of 41.8 feet (12.7 m) and depth of 32.5 feet (9.9 m).[4] She was powered by a single 550nhp/4360ihp triple-expansion steam engine, also made by Doxfords, that drove a single screw propeller, giving her a trial speed of 13.9 knots (16.0 mph; 25.7 km/h).[1][4] The ship had cabin capacity for 80 1st-class and 28 2nd-class passengers, and could carry about 6000 tons of cargo.[1][4]

British India Line service

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After prelinary loading in the Tyne and at Antwerp, Golconda sailed from London on 19 October 1888 on her maiden voyage to Calcutta.[5][6] She had an inauspicious start, suffering engine damage after leaving London, putting in to Spithead to undertake repairs and not leaving there until 27 October.[7] Thereafter she traded successfully on the Calcutta route for 12 years; her low passenger capacity for her size was popular with travellers and the accommodation was more spacious than was usual.[1] She suffered only two minor casualties: a small fire in December 1890 and was rammed by the Liverpool iron barque Lathom two years later, both in the Hooghly River, but was only lightly damaged.[1]

In 1900 Golconda was chartered as a troopship during the Boer War, sailing from London to Malta on 3 January 1900 with nearly 1000 troops of the Royal West Kent Regiment.[8] Taken up again, in August 1902 she brought 500 Boer prisoners to Durban from Calcutta, and then carried 900 returning troops to Southampton.[9][10] This was followed by 1000 Boer prisoners from St Helena to Simonstown and troops from Durban to Ceylon.[11] [12] Returning to her regular London-Calcutta service, Golconda was gradually outclassed by more modern vessels in the B.I. fleet and was transferred to the company's East African service.[1]

Indian Expeditionary Force transport

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In October 1915 Golconda was again taken up as a transport, for the Indian Expeditionary Force.[1] In addition, six hundred German civilian internees from the camp in Ahmednagar were transported to London, from where they were repatriated via the Netherlands.[1][13] A further group of five hundred Germans were repatriated in a similar way in March 1916.[14]

Loss

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Golconda struck a mine laid by German submarine UC 3, and sank in the North Sea on 3 June 1916, 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) south east by east of Aldeburgh, Suffolk (52°08′30″N 1°44′45″E / 52.14167°N 1.74583°E / 52.14167; 1.74583) with the loss of nineteen lives.[15] She was lost while on a voyage from Tees and London to Calcutta with general cargo.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Laxon, W A; Perry, F W (1994). B.I. - The British India Steam Navigation Company Limited. Kendal: World Ship Society. pp. 67–68. ISBN 0-905617-65-7.
  2. ^ "Launch of a Large Steamer on the Wear". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. No. 4158. 9 February 1887. p. 4. Retrieved 21 December 2019 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "A Great Wear Steamer". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. No. 4666. 10 October 1888. p. 4. Retrieved 21 December 2019 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ a b c d Mercantile Navy List. London: Spottiswood. 1889. p. 99. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  5. ^ "The S.S. Golconda in the Tyne". Shields Daily News. No. 7477. 10 October 1888. p. 3. Retrieved 22 December 2019 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Shipping Intelligence". Morning Post. No. 36300. London. 20 October 1888. p. 6. Retrieved 22 December 2019 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Additional Reports". Lloyd's List. No. 15968. London. 29 October 1888. p. 6. Retrieved 22 December 2019 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "Reinforcements: More Chartering of Steamers". Liverpool Mercury. No. 16230. 3 January 1900. p. 7. Retrieved 22 December 2019 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Boers and their Leaders". Belfast Newsletter. No. 27127. 15 August 1902. p. 7. Retrieved 22 December 2019 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "Return of Troops". The Globe. No. 33471. London. 13 September 1902. p. 5. Retrieved 22 December 2019 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "Repatriation of Prisoners". Belfast News-Letter. No. 27912. 30 October 1902. p. 7. Retrieved 22 December 2019 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ "Naval & Military". Liverpool Echo. No. 27912. 15 November 1902. p. 5. Retrieved 22 December 2019 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ "Heimreise auf der Golconda". Gaebler Info und Genealogie (in German).
  14. ^ "Kriegsgefangen in Indien". Gaebler Info und Genealogie (in German).
  15. ^ "Golconda". Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
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