Espagne
History
Belgium
NameEspagne
NamesakeSpain
OwnerArmement Adolf Deppe
Port of registryBelgium Antwerp, Belgium
BuilderChantiers Navals Anversois S.A
Yard number40
Launched6 February 1909
CompletedMarch 1909
FateTorpedoed and sunk, 25 December 1917
General characteristics
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage1,463 GRT
Length71.78 m (235 ft 6 in)
Beam11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
Depth3.73 m (12 ft 3 in)
Installed powerTriple expansion steam engine
PropulsionScrew propeller
Crew24

The SS Espagne was a Belgian cargo ship that was torpedoed by the Imperial German Navy submarine SM UC-71 in the English Channel off St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom while she was travelling from Le Havre, France to Newport, Monmouthshire, United Kingdom.

Construction

Espagne was launched on 6 February 1909 with yard number 40 at the Chantiers Navals Anversois shipyard in Hoboken, Antwerp, Belgium. She was completed the following month, having been ordered by the Antwerp shipping company Armement Adolf Deppe.[1]

The ship was 71.78 metres (235 ft 6 in) long, with a beam of 11.00 metres (36 ft 1 in).[1] She had a depth of 3.73 metres (12 ft 3 in).[2][Note 1] The ship was assessed at 1,463 gross register tons (GRT). She had a triple expansion steam engine driving a single screw propeller.[1] Steam was supplied by two boilers;[3] the engine was rated at 150 nhp. It was made by the North East Marine Engine Co Ltd. Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom. Her crew numbered 24.[2]

Dongola around 1913

1915 Incident

Espagne was lying at anchor in the Bristol Channel on 5 March 1915, when at 17 minutes past midnight the British passenger liner (in use as a troop ship for the Royal Navy) HMT Dongola inbound from Avonmouth, collided with her. The Dongola was damaged below the waterline and taking on water on the starboard side at the bow.

She was subsequently beached in Porthkerry Bay, west of Barry, South Wales and was able to patch the damage and temporarily stop the leak. Her passengers were taken off by two Royal Navy patrol ships with the Barry lifeboat being in attendance in case of need.[4] At 4.48 am the rising tide refloated the ship and she was winched into Barry Docks by 8 am. Dongola was repaired and returned to service on 17 March.[5]

Sinking

On 25 December 1917, Espagne was in ballast on a voyage from Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, France to Newport, Monmouthshire, United Kingdom.[1] Espagne was struck by one torpedo from SM UC-71 off St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom (50°26′N 1°29′W / 50.433°N 1.483°W / 50.433; -1.483).[1][6] The ship sank to a depth of over 40 metres (130 ft),.[3]

The wreck

The wreck sits 40 to 50 metres (130 to 160 ft) deep at 50°26′30″N 1°29′31″W / 50.44167°N 1.49194°W / 50.44167; -1.49194 and is mostly broken. The engine lies on its side and the two boilers one of which stands on one end.[3][2]

Notes

  1. ^ Measurement given in imperial units in source, presented as metric converted to imperial for consistency.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Espagne (5607825)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Espagne" (in French). Archeosousmarine. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Wrecks". Wight Spirit Diving Charters. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  4. ^ "A Chronology of Bristol Channel shipwrecks" (PDF). swanseadocks. 1983. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  5. ^ "HMT Dongola". the-weatherings. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Espagne". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
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