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Archiver > Mariners > 2001-04 > 0986241725


From: Tim Latham <>
Subject: [Mar] Wreck of the AthelDuchess
Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 21:02:05 +0100
In-Reply-To: <3AC8A0B8.BC0A6AC3@mcmaster.ca>



There is information on the wreck of the AthelDuchess in "The Shipwreck
Index of the British Isles" Vol.5.

She was an 8940 ton tanker designed for carrying vegetable oil/wine, built
in 1929 at Port Glasgow. In ballast, she was bound for New York from
Swansea, but whilst waiting to form a convoy she went ashore near the
Smalls Lighthouse (Pembrokeshire) in Force 8 SW (20th Aug 1943). Distress
signals and a Mayday brought the launch of the St.David's and Angle
lifeboats, and two of the tanker's lifeboats were lowered with four and
five men, all of whom were rescued. Tugs arrived and attempted to pass a
tow-line, but failed. The tanker was abandoned, and none of the 62 crew
were lost. The vessel split into two pieces. The stern part of the vessel
(with engine room, accommodation) refloated and was beached at Dale, the
bow drifted out to sea and sank.

The sources cited in this book are Lloyds Casualty Returns and a book
called "Pembrokeshire Shipwrecks" by T.Goddard (1983).

Tim Latham
Hartlepool

At 11:54 02/04/01 -0400, John Cave wrote:
>Does anyone have information on wartime losses of Athel Line tankers My
>uncle was a Chief Engineer on Athel tankers during the war, as i
>remember his stories, he lost at least two ships, one off Halifax
>Canada, another off the Welsh coast, this ship i believe was salvaged
>and put back into service.
>
>Thanks John Cave
>
>
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