British Tanker Company
Encyclopedia
British Tanker Company Limited was the maritime transport arm of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
, the forerunner of BP
. The British Tanker Company was formed in 1915 with an initial fleet of seven oil tanker
s. The Company became the BP Tanker Company in 1955.
) in May 1908, the issue arose of how best to ship it back to Britain. The Anglo-Persian Oil Company
(APOC) initially employed independent contractors to carry the oil by sea. However, the directors of the APOC soon decided it would be better for the company to possess its own fleet of tankers
. It set up the British Tanker Company Limited (BTC) in April 1915, with an initial capital of £100,000. The BTC placed orders with two Tyne
based shipbuilders, Armstrong Whitworth
and Swan Hunter
, for a total of 7 steam-powered oil tanker
s.
The BTC's first tanker was the 3,663 gross tonnage British Emperor, launched in 1916. She was employed to take oil from Abadan
to the ports of Bombay
, Karachi
, Madras
and Calcutta
. Her career eventually ended in 1941, when she was sunk by the German auxiliary cruiser Pinguin
, after evading all the Pinguin's attempts to capture her intact.
The names of all the first 7 ships bore the prefix "British", and all future additions to the fleet followed the same naming convention.
The BTC's share capital was doubled to £200,000 in 1916, and further increased to £3,000,000 in November 1917.
Over the next decade, the demand for oil grew throughout the industrialised world, and the BTC expanded its fleet accordingly. By just 1924 the fleet numbered 60 vessels. The 60th ship was the new flagship, the 6,998 gross tonnage British Aviator. She was the BTC's first diesel engined oil tanker, and was at that time the most powerful single-screw motor ship in the world.
The cargoes carried by the BTC were crude oil and refined oil products
; the main refined products being fuel oil
, benzine and kerosine. During the 1920s the principal destination for the BTC was the United Kingdom
, which accounted for around half of all cargoes discharged. Twice as much crude oil was delivered to the United Kingdom than refined products, with most of the crude oil being taken to the refineries at Llandarcy
and Grangemouth
.
The next largest destination for the BTC was India
, receiving 14% of the total cargoes carried. Cargoes discharged in Europe
increased steadily, and by 1928 accounted for 13% of the total. In 1928 the BTC's fleet consisted of 80 sea-going tankers, 5 coastal vessels, and 4 government owned steamers, with a further 13 sea-going tankers being chartered by the BTC.
With the onset of the Great Depression in the early 1930s, the merchant navies around the world faced increasing unemployment. However, through a number of strategic mergers, as well as the continuing support of the Shah of Iran
, the APOC managed to strengthen its position within the industry, and the BTC's fleet continued to grow.
With the outbreak of the Second World War
in 1939, the British government chartered the BTC's whole fleet of 93 vessels, to transport fuel for its armed forces. The fleet lost 41 ships sunk during the war, many during the Battle of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean U-Boat campaign, with 2 others so badly damaged they could only be used as storage hulks.
refinery, but they remained light enough to sail through the shallow waters of the Suez Canal
.
In 1951 the situation changed dramatically, when Iran nationalised its oil industry. The APOC removed all its staff from the country, and for the time being it had no access to Iranian oil. The APOC set about forming new alliances with other oil producing countries, especially Kuwait
and Bahrain
.
In the early 1950s the BTC began increasing the size of its deep-sea ships by building 13 so called 'super-tankers', each with a gross tonnage of 18,000. These larger ships were particularly useful during the Suez crisis
of 1956, which closed the Suez Canal
and forced ships to sail around the Cape of South Africa
, adding 9000 nautical miles (16,668 km) to their journey.
In November 1954 the APOC renamed itself the British Petroleum Company, and in 1955 the BTC became the BP Tanker Company. By the end of the 1950s, the BP Tanker Company's fleet stood at 146 vessels, including super-tankers of 38,000 gross tonnage (67,000 deadweight tonnes), with plans to build tankers of 60,000 gross tonnage (100,000 deadweight tonnes), which would hold more than 25 million USgals (94,635.3 m³) of crude oil.
In 1926 the flag was changed to include the Persian colours. This new house flag consisted of the red Cross of Saint George on a white background, with a large green lozenge imposed over the centre of the cross, the lozenge containing a golden lion 'passant guardant'; the lion being a symbol of Persia.
This remained until 1954, when a red lion ‘rampant’ replaced the golden lion.
>
Anglo-Persian Oil Company
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company was founded in 1908 following the discovery of a large oil field in Masjed Soleiman, Iran. It was the first company to extract petroleum from the Middle East...
, the forerunner of BP
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
. The British Tanker Company was formed in 1915 with an initial fleet of seven oil tanker
Oil tanker
An oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanker, is a merchant ship designed for the bulk transport of oil. There are two basic types of oil tankers: the crude tanker and the product tanker. Crude tankers move large quantities of unrefined crude oil from its point of extraction to refineries...
s. The Company became the BP Tanker Company in 1955.
History 1915 to 1945
From the moment oil was discovered in Persia (now IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
) in May 1908, the issue arose of how best to ship it back to Britain. The Anglo-Persian Oil Company
Anglo-Persian Oil Company
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company was founded in 1908 following the discovery of a large oil field in Masjed Soleiman, Iran. It was the first company to extract petroleum from the Middle East...
(APOC) initially employed independent contractors to carry the oil by sea. However, the directors of the APOC soon decided it would be better for the company to possess its own fleet of tankers
Oil tanker
An oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanker, is a merchant ship designed for the bulk transport of oil. There are two basic types of oil tankers: the crude tanker and the product tanker. Crude tankers move large quantities of unrefined crude oil from its point of extraction to refineries...
. It set up the British Tanker Company Limited (BTC) in April 1915, with an initial capital of £100,000. The BTC placed orders with two Tyne
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
based shipbuilders, Armstrong Whitworth
Armstrong Whitworth
Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was a major British manufacturing company of the early years of the 20th century. Headquartered in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Armstrong Whitworth engaged in the construction of armaments, ships, locomotives, automobiles, and aircraft.-History:In 1847,...
and Swan Hunter
Swan Hunter
Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which...
, for a total of 7 steam-powered oil tanker
Oil tanker
An oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanker, is a merchant ship designed for the bulk transport of oil. There are two basic types of oil tankers: the crude tanker and the product tanker. Crude tankers move large quantities of unrefined crude oil from its point of extraction to refineries...
s.
The BTC's first tanker was the 3,663 gross tonnage British Emperor, launched in 1916. She was employed to take oil from Abadan
Abadan
Abadan is a city in and the capital of Abadan County, Khuzestan Province, Iran. It lies on Abadan Island , from the Persian Gulf, near the Iraqi-Iran border. The civilian population of the city dropped to near zero during the eight-years Iran–Iraq War. In 1992, only 84,774 had returned to live...
to the ports of Bombay
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, Karachi
Port of Karachi
The Port of Karachi is Pakistan's largest and busiest seaport, handling about 60% of the nation's cargo . It is located between the Karachi towns of Kiamari and Saddar, close to the main business district and several industrial areas. The geographic position of the port places it in close...
, Madras
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
and Calcutta
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
. Her career eventually ended in 1941, when she was sunk by the German auxiliary cruiser Pinguin
German auxiliary cruiser Pinguin
The Pinguin was a German auxiliary cruiser which served as a commerce raider in World War II. The Pinguin was known to the Kriegsmarine as Schiff 33, and designated HSK 5. The most successful commerce raider of the war, she was known to the British Royal Navy as Raider F...
, after evading all the Pinguin's attempts to capture her intact.
The names of all the first 7 ships bore the prefix "British", and all future additions to the fleet followed the same naming convention.
The BTC's share capital was doubled to £200,000 in 1916, and further increased to £3,000,000 in November 1917.
Over the next decade, the demand for oil grew throughout the industrialised world, and the BTC expanded its fleet accordingly. By just 1924 the fleet numbered 60 vessels. The 60th ship was the new flagship, the 6,998 gross tonnage British Aviator. She was the BTC's first diesel engined oil tanker, and was at that time the most powerful single-screw motor ship in the world.
The cargoes carried by the BTC were crude oil and refined oil products
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
; the main refined products being fuel oil
Fuel oil
Fuel oil is a fraction obtained from petroleum distillation, either as a distillate or a residue. Broadly speaking, fuel oil is any liquid petroleum product that is burned in a furnace or boiler for the generation of heat or used in an engine for the generation of power, except oils having a flash...
, benzine and kerosine. During the 1920s the principal destination for the BTC was the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, which accounted for around half of all cargoes discharged. Twice as much crude oil was delivered to the United Kingdom than refined products, with most of the crude oil being taken to the refineries at Llandarcy
Llandarcy
Llandarcy is a village near Neath in Neath Port Talbot county borough, southwest Wales, and formerly the site of the UK's first oil refinery. The village, which lies near the Junction 43 of the M4 Motorway, was originally designed as a garden village to house the workers for the refinery, built by...
and Grangemouth
Grangemouth Refinery
Grangemouth refinery is a mature complex oil refinery located on the Firth of Forth in Grangemouth, Scotland.Currently operated by Ineos, it is Scotland's only oil refinery , and is also the UK's second-oldest; it supplies refined products to customers in Scotland, northern England, Northern...
.
The next largest destination for the BTC was India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, receiving 14% of the total cargoes carried. Cargoes discharged in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
increased steadily, and by 1928 accounted for 13% of the total. In 1928 the BTC's fleet consisted of 80 sea-going tankers, 5 coastal vessels, and 4 government owned steamers, with a further 13 sea-going tankers being chartered by the BTC.
With the onset of the Great Depression in the early 1930s, the merchant navies around the world faced increasing unemployment. However, through a number of strategic mergers, as well as the continuing support of the Shah of Iran
Reza Shah
Rezā Shāh, also known as Rezā Shāh Pahlavi and Rezā Shāh Kabir , , was the Shah of the Imperial State of Iran from December 15, 1925, until he was forced to abdicate by the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran on September 16, 1941.In 1925, Reza Shah overthrew Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last Shah of the Qajar...
, the APOC managed to strengthen its position within the industry, and the BTC's fleet continued to grow.
With the outbreak of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939, the British government chartered the BTC's whole fleet of 93 vessels, to transport fuel for its armed forces. The fleet lost 41 ships sunk during the war, many during the Battle of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean U-Boat campaign, with 2 others so badly damaged they could only be used as storage hulks.
Fleet list 1930 to 1945
| Ship | Built | Gross Tonnage | Photo | Built by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Admiral | 1917 | 6,842 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Broken up in 1937 | |
| British Advocate | 1922 | 6,994 | Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | Captured 20 February 1941 by the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer Admiral Scheer was a Deutschland-class heavy cruiser which served with the Kriegsmarine of Nazi Germany during World War II. The vessel was named after Admiral Reinhard Scheer, German commander in the Battle of Jutland. She was laid down at the Reichsmarinewerft shipyard in Wilhelmshaven in June... |
|
| British Ambassador | 1924 | 6,940 | Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | ||
| British Architect | 1922 | 7,388 | Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Glasgow | ||
| British Ardour | 1928 | 7,124 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 5 April 1943 by torpedo from German submarine U-706 | |
| British Aviator | 1924 | 6,998 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
||
| British Beacon | 1918 | 6,891 | Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast | ||
| British Birch | 1916 | 5,882 | Short Brothers Ltd, Sunderland Short Brothers of Sunderland Short Brothers Limited was a British shipbuilding company formed in 1850 and based at Pallion, Sunderland since 1869. The company closed in 1964 when it failed to invest to build bigger ships.-19th century:... |
Built as Birchleaf. Renamed British Birch in 1920. Broken up in 1931 | |
| British Captain | 1923 | 6,968 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 2 December 1941 by mine | |
| British Chancellor | 1921 | 7,086 | Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | ||
| British Character | 1941 | 8,453 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
||
| British Chemist | 1925 | 6,997 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
||
| British Chivalry | 1929 | 7,118 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 22 February 1944 by torpedo from Japanese submarine I-37 | |
| British Colonel | 1921 | 6,999 | Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | ||
| British Colony | 1927 | 6,917 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Sunk 13 May 1942 by torpedo from German submarine U-162 | |
| British Commander | 1922 | 6,896 | Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company The Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Limited was a British shipbuilding company based in Dundee on the east coast of Scotland.-History:... |
Sunk 26 August 1940 by the German auxiliary cruiser Pinguin German auxiliary cruiser Pinguin The Pinguin was a German auxiliary cruiser which served as a commerce raider in World War II. The Pinguin was known to the Kriegsmarine as Schiff 33, and designated HSK 5. The most successful commerce raider of the war, she was known to the British Royal Navy as Raider F... |
|
| British Commerce | 1922 | 4,205 | William Beardmore & Co Ltd, Glasgow William Beardmore and Company William Beardmore and Company was a Scottish engineering and shipbuilding conglomerate based in Glasgow and the surrounding Clydeside area. It was active between about 1890 and 1930 and at its peak employed about 40,000 people... |
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| British Commodore | 1923 | 6,865 | Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company The Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Limited was a British shipbuilding company based in Dundee on the east coast of Scotland.-History:... |
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| British Confidence | 1936 | 8,494 | Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead Cammell Laird Cammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British shipbuilding during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, came about following the merger of Laird, Son & Co. of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co. of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century.- Founding of the business :The Company... |
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| British Consul SS British Consul The SS British Consul was a tanker built by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd., Sunderland in 1922 and operated by the British Tanker Company.-First Sinking:... |
1924 | 6,940 | Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | Sunk 19 August 1942 by torpedo from German submarine U-564 | |
| British Corporal | 1922 | 6,972 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 18 August 1942 by torpedo from | |
| British Councillor | 1922 | 7,045 | Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | Sunk 3 Feb 1940 by mine | |
| British Courage | 1928 | 6,952 | Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow Lithgows Lithgows Limited, was a British shipbuilding company based in Kingston, Port Glasgow, on the River Clyde in Scotland.-Founding:The Company was established by Joseph Russell and his partners Anderson Rodger and William Lithgow who leased the Bay Yard in Port Glasgow from Cunliffe & Dunlop and... |
||
| British Destiny | 1937 | 8,470 | Harland & Wolff Ltd, Glasgow Harland and Wolff Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.... |
||
| British Diligence | 1937 | 8,408 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
||
| 1926 | 6,484 | John Brown & Co Ltd, Clydebank John Brown & Company John Brown and Company of Clydebank was a pre-eminent Scottish marine engineering and shipbuilding firm, responsible for building many notable and world-famous ships, such as the , the , the , the , the , and the... |
Requisitioned by the Ministry of War Transport in 1940. Laid up in 1944 and scrapped in 1946. | ||
| British Dominion | 1928 | 6,983 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Sunk 10 January 1943 by torpedo from German submarine U-620 while sailing in Convoy TM 1 | |
| British Duchess | 1924 | 5,973 | J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | ||
| British Emperor | 1916 | 3,637 | Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle Armstrong Whitworth Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was a major British manufacturing company of the early years of the 20th century. Headquartered in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Armstrong Whitworth engaged in the construction of armaments, ships, locomotives, automobiles, and aircraft.-History:In 1847,... |
Sunk 7 May 1941 by the German auxiliary cruiser Pinguin German auxiliary cruiser Pinguin The Pinguin was a German auxiliary cruiser which served as a commerce raider in World War II. The Pinguin was known to the Kriegsmarine as Schiff 33, and designated HSK 5. The most successful commerce raider of the war, she was known to the British Royal Navy as Raider F... |
|
| British Empress | 1917 | 6,847 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
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| British Endeavour | 1927 | 4,580 | Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle Armstrong Whitworth Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was a major British manufacturing company of the early years of the 20th century. Headquartered in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Armstrong Whitworth engaged in the construction of armaments, ships, locomotives, automobiles, and aircraft.-History:In 1847,... |
Sunk 22 Feb 1940 by torpedo from German submarine U-50 | |
| British Endurance | 1936 | 8,406 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
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| British Energy | 1931 | 7,209 | Greenock Dockyard Co Ltd, Greenock Greenock Dockyard Company The Greenock Dockyard Company was a Scottish shipbuilding and ship repair firm located at Greenock, on the River Clyde.-History:The company was established by J E Scott of Greenock, with the yard at Cartsdyke being taken over in 1879 by Russell and Company, of Greenock, which later became Lithgows... |
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| British Engineer | 1922 | 6,993 | Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast | ||
| British Ensign | 1917 | 7,048 | Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle Armstrong Whitworth Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was a major British manufacturing company of the early years of the 20th century. Headquartered in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Armstrong Whitworth engaged in the construction of armaments, ships, locomotives, automobiles, and aircraft.-History:In 1847,... |
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| British Enterprise | 1921 | 4,204 | William Beardmore & Co Ltd, Glasgow William Beardmore and Company William Beardmore and Company was a Scottish engineering and shipbuilding conglomerate based in Glasgow and the surrounding Clydeside area. It was active between about 1890 and 1930 and at its peak employed about 40,000 people... |
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| British Faith | 1928 | 6,955 | Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company The Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Limited was a British shipbuilding company based in Dundee on the east coast of Scotland.-History:... |
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| British Fame | 1936 | 8,303 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Sunk 12 August 1940 by torpedo from Italian submarine Alessandro Malaspina | |
| British Fern | 1917 | 5,831 | Napier & Miller Ltd, Glasgow Napier and Miller Napier and Miller are Scottish shipbuilders at Old Kilpatrick, Glasgow, Scotland.The company built two large, double-ended steam passenger ferries for the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company Limited in Sydney, Australia, launched in 1927 and 1928. They were named "Dee Why" and "Curl Curl" and... |
Built as Fernleaf. Broken up in 1931 | |
| British Fidelity | 1938 | 8,465 | Harland & Wolff Ltd, Glasgow Harland and Wolff Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.... |
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| British Fortitude | 1937 | 8,482 | Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead Cammell Laird Cammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British shipbuilding during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, came about following the merger of Laird, Son & Co. of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co. of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century.- Founding of the business :The Company... |
Damaged 23 February 1943 by torpedo from German submarine U-202, but survived | |
| British Fortune | 1930 | 4,696 | Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow Lithgows Lithgows Limited, was a British shipbuilding company based in Kingston, Port Glasgow, on the River Clyde in Scotland.-Founding:The Company was established by Joseph Russell and his partners Anderson Rodger and William Lithgow who leased the Bay Yard in Port Glasgow from Cunliffe & Dunlop and... |
Sunk 31 October 1941 by German aircraft | |
| British Freedom | 1928 | 6,985 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 14 January 1945 by torpedo from German submarine U-1232 | |
| British Fusilier | 1923 | 6,943 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
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| British General | 1922 | 6,985 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 7 October 1940 by torpedo from German submarine U-37 | |
| British Genius | 1939 | 8,553 | William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland William Doxford & Sons William Doxford & Sons Ltd, often referred to simply as Doxford, was a British shipbuilding company.-History:The Company was established by William Doxford in 1840. From 1870 it was based in Pallion, Sunderland, on the River Wear in Northeast England. The Company was managed by William Doxford's... |
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| British Glory | 1928 | 6,993 | Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | Damaged 15 October 1940 by torpedo from German submarine U-138 German submarine U-138 (1940) German submarine U-138 was a Type IID U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine, best known for her two patrols in 1940 under the command of Wolfgang Lüth. During her six war patrols under Lüth's and Franz Gramitzky’s command she sank almost 55,557 tons of Allied shipping.-External links:*... , but survived |
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| British Governor | 1926 | 6,840 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
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| British Gratitude | 1942 | 8,463 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
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| British Grenadier | 1922 | 6,888 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastlee Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Sunk 22 May 1941 by torpedo from German submarine U-103 | |
| British Gunner | 1922 | 6,894 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Sunk 24 February 1941 by torpedo from German submarine U-97 | |
| British Harmony | 1941 | 8,453 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
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| British Holly | 1917 | 5,162 | William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow | Broken up in 1931 | |
| British Honour | 1928 | 6,991 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
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| British Hope | 1928 | 6,951 | Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company The Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Limited was a British shipbuilding company based in Dundee on the east coast of Scotland.-History:... |
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| British Hussar | 1923 | 6,944 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastlee Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
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| British Industry | 1927 | 4,297 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
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| British Influence | 1939 | 8,431 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Sunk 14 Sept 1939 by torpedo and gunfire from German submarine U-29 German submarine U-29 (1936) German submarine U-29 was a Type VIIA U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine during World War II.She was laid down on 2 January 1936 and commissioned on 10 November 1936. During her career U-29 was involved in seven war patrols under the command of Kapitänleutnant Otto Schuhart... |
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| British Integrity | 1937 | 8,412 | Harland & Wolff Ltd, Glasgow Harland and Wolff Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.... |
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| British Inventor | 1926 | 7,101 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 13 June 1940 by mine | |
| British Isles | 1917 | 7,108 | Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle Armstrong Whitworth Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was a major British manufacturing company of the early years of the 20th century. Headquartered in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Armstrong Whitworth engaged in the construction of armaments, ships, locomotives, automobiles, and aircraft.-History:In 1847,... |
Broken up in 1938 | |
| British Judge | 1921 | 6,735 | Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | ||
| British Justice | 1928 | 6,982 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
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| British Lady | 1923 | 6,098 | J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | ||
| British Lantern | 1918 | 6,897 | Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast | Broken up by 1936 | |
| British Liberty | 1939 | 8,435 | Furness Shipbuilding Co, Haverton Hill-on-Tees | Sunk 6 January 1940 by mine | |
| British Light | 1917 | 6,470 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
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| British Lord | 1922 | 6,098 | J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | ||
| British Loyalty | 1928 | 6,993 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 9 March 1944 by torpedo from German submarine U-183, but salvaged as a hulk | |
| British Mariner | 1922 | 6,996 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Severely damaged 20 October 1941 by torpedo from German submarine U-126, but salvaged and used as a hulk | |
| British Merchant | 1922 | 6,994 | William Beardmore & Co Ltd, Glasgow William Beardmore and Company William Beardmore and Company was a Scottish engineering and shipbuilding conglomerate based in Glasgow and the surrounding Clydeside area. It was active between about 1890 and 1930 and at its peak employed about 40,000 people... |
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| British Merit | 1942 | 8,093 | Harland & Wolff Ltd, Glasgow Harland and Wolff Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.... |
Damaged 25 July 1942 by torpedo from German submarine U-552, but survived | |
| British Might | 1945 | 8,200 | Harland & Wolff Ltd, Glasgow Harland and Wolff Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.... |
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| British Motorist | 1924 | 6,891 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Sunk 19 February 1942 by Japanese aircraft | |
| British Officer | 1922 | 6,990 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 1 December 1940 by mine | |
| British Patience | 1943 | 8,097 | Harland & Wolff Ltd, Glasgow Harland and Wolff Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.... |
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| British Petrol | 1925 | 6,906 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Sunk 14 June 1940 by the German auxiliary cruiser Widder German auxiliary cruiser Widder Widder was an auxiliary cruiser of the German Navy that was used as a merchant raider in the Second World War.Her Kriegsmarine designation was Schiff 21, to the Royal Navy she was Raider D.... |
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| British Pluck | 1928 | 1,025 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Renamed Shelbrit 1 in 1936 | |
| British Power | 1936 | 8,451 | Harland & Wolff Ltd, Glasgow Harland and Wolff Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.... |
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| British Premier SS British Premier The SS British Premier was a tanker built by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company in 1922, registered in London and operated by the British Tanker Company.... |
1922 | 5,872 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 24 December 1940 by torpedo from German submarine U-65 | |
| British Prestige | 1931 | 7,106 | Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow Lithgows Lithgows Limited, was a British shipbuilding company based in Kingston, Port Glasgow, on the River Clyde in Scotland.-Founding:The Company was established by Joseph Russell and his partners Anderson Rodger and William Lithgow who leased the Bay Yard in Port Glasgow from Cunliffe & Dunlop and... |
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| British Pride | 1931 | 7,106 | Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow Lithgows Lithgows Limited, was a British shipbuilding company based in Kingston, Port Glasgow, on the River Clyde in Scotland.-Founding:The Company was established by Joseph Russell and his partners Anderson Rodger and William Lithgow who leased the Bay Yard in Port Glasgow from Cunliffe & Dunlop and... |
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| British Princess | 1917 | 7,019 | Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle Armstrong Whitworth Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was a major British manufacturing company of the early years of the 20th century. Headquartered in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Armstrong Whitworth engaged in the construction of armaments, ships, locomotives, automobiles, and aircraft.-History:In 1847,... |
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| British Progress | 1927 | 4,581 | Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle Armstrong Whitworth Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was a major British manufacturing company of the early years of the 20th century. Headquartered in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Armstrong Whitworth engaged in the construction of armaments, ships, locomotives, automobiles, and aircraft.-History:In 1847,... |
Broken up 4 November 1943 after being severely damaged by torpedo from a German E-Boat | |
| British Promise | 1942 | 8,443 | Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead Cammell Laird Cammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British shipbuilding during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, came about following the merger of Laird, Son & Co. of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co. of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century.- Founding of the business :The Company... |
Damaged 21 November 1942 by torpedo from German submarine U-518, but survived | |
| British Prudence MV British Prudence The MV British Prudence was a tanker built by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd., Sunderland in 1939 and operated by the British Tanker Company.-Sinking:... |
1939 | 8,620 | Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | Sunk 23 March 1942 by torpedo from German submarine U-754 | |
| British Purpose | 1943 | 5,845 | Furness Shipbuilding Co, Haverton Hill-on-Tees | Damaged 20 October 1943 by torpedo from German submarine U-532, but survived | |
| British Reliance | 1928 | 7,000 | Greenock Dockyard Co Ltd, Greenock Greenock Dockyard Company The Greenock Dockyard Company was a Scottish shipbuilding and ship repair firm located at Greenock, on the River Clyde.-History:The company was established by J E Scott of Greenock, with the yard at Cartsdyke being taken over in 1879 by Russell and Company, of Greenock, which later became Lithgows... |
Sunk 2 April 1941 by torpedo from German submarine U-46 | |
| British Renown | 1928 | 6,997 | Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | Damaged 21 November 1942 by torpedo from German submarine U-518, but survived | |
| British Resolution | 1937 | 8,408 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
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| British Resource | 1931 | 7,209 | Greenock Dockyard Co Ltd, Greenock Greenock Dockyard Company The Greenock Dockyard Company was a Scottish shipbuilding and ship repair firm located at Greenock, on the River Clyde.-History:The company was established by J E Scott of Greenock, with the yard at Cartsdyke being taken over in 1879 by Russell and Company, of Greenock, which later became Lithgows... |
Sunk 15 March 1942 by torpedo from German submarine U-124 | |
| British Respect | 1943 | 8,479 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
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| British Restraint | 1943 | 8,448 | Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead Cammell Laird Cammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British shipbuilding during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, came about following the merger of Laird, Son & Co. of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co. of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century.- Founding of the business :The Company... |
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| British Sailor | 1918 | 5,576 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Originally built as War Rajah. Renamed British Sailor in 1920 | |
| British Science | 1931 | 7,138 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 18 April 1941 by torpedo from German aircraft | |
| British Scout | 1922 | 1,507 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
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| British Security | 1937 | 8,470 | Harland & Wolff Ltd, Glasgow Harland and Wolff Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.... |
Sunk 23 May 1941 by torpedo from German submarine U-556 | |
| British Sergeant | 1922 | 5,868 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 9 April 1942 by Japanese aircraft | |
| British Sincerity | 1939 | 8,533 | Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead Cammell Laird Cammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British shipbuilding during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, came about following the merger of Laird, Son & Co. of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co. of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century.- Founding of the business :The Company... |
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| British Soldier | 1918 | 5,564 | William Gray & Co Ltd, Hartlepool | Originally built as War Sikh. Renamed British Soldier in 1919 | |
| British Sovereign | 1917 | 3,657 | Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle Armstrong Whitworth Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was a major British manufacturing company of the early years of the 20th century. Headquartered in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Armstrong Whitworth engaged in the construction of armaments, ships, locomotives, automobiles, and aircraft.-History:In 1847,... |
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| British Splendour | 1931 | 7,138 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 7 April 1942 by torpedo from German submarine U-552 | |
| British Star | 1918 | 6,888 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Renamed Clynthus 1937 | |
| British Statesman | 1923 | 6,991 | Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | ||
| British Strength | 1931 | 7,139 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 15 March 1941 by German battleship, Scharnhorst German battleship Scharnhorst Scharnhorst was a German capital ship, alternatively described as a battleship and battlecruiser, of the German Kriegsmarine. She was the lead ship of her class, which included one other ship, Gneisenau. The ship was built at the Kriegsmarinewerft dockyard in Wilhelmshaven; she was laid down on 15... or Gneisenau German battleship Gneisenau Gneisenau was a German capital ship, alternatively described as a battleship and battlecruiser, of the German Kriegsmarine. She was the second vessel of her class, which included one other ship, Scharnhorst. The ship was built at the Deutsche Werke dockyard in Kiel; she was laid down on 6 May 1935... |
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| British Tenacity | 1939 | 8,439 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
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| British Thrift | 1928 | 707 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Renamed Thriftie in 1935, then Shelbrit 2 in 1936 | |
| British Tommy | 1921 | 1,411 | Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow Lithgows Lithgows Limited, was a British shipbuilding company based in Kingston, Port Glasgow, on the River Clyde in Scotland.-Founding:The Company was established by Joseph Russell and his partners Anderson Rodger and William Lithgow who leased the Bay Yard in Port Glasgow from Cunliffe & Dunlop and... |
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| British Trader | 1921 | 4,204 | William Beardmore & Co Ltd, Glasgow William Beardmore and Company William Beardmore and Company was a Scottish engineering and shipbuilding conglomerate based in Glasgow and the surrounding Clydeside area. It was active between about 1890 and 1930 and at its peak employed about 40,000 people... |
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| British Tradition | 1942 | 8,443 | Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead Cammell Laird Cammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British shipbuilding during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, came about following the merger of Laird, Son & Co. of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co. of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century.- Founding of the business :The Company... |
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| British Triumph | 1936 | 8,402 | Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow Lithgows Lithgows Limited, was a British shipbuilding company based in Kingston, Port Glasgow, on the River Clyde in Scotland.-Founding:The Company was established by Joseph Russell and his partners Anderson Rodger and William Lithgow who leased the Bay Yard in Port Glasgow from Cunliffe & Dunlop and... |
Sunk 13 Feb 1940 by mine | |
| British Trust | 1939 | 8,466 | Harland & Wolff Ltd, Glasgow Harland and Wolff Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.... |
Sunk 1 May 1943 by torpedo from German aircraft | |
| British Union | 1927 | 6,987 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Sunk 18 January 1941 by the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran The German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran was a Kriegsmarine merchant raider of World War II. Originally the merchant vessel Steiermark, the ship was acquired by the Kriegsmarine following the outbreak of war for conversion into a raider... |
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| British Unity | 1939 | 8,407 | Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow Lithgows Lithgows Limited, was a British shipbuilding company based in Kingston, Port Glasgow, on the River Clyde in Scotland.-Founding:The Company was established by Joseph Russell and his partners Anderson Rodger and William Lithgow who leased the Bay Yard in Port Glasgow from Cunliffe & Dunlop and... |
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| British Valour | 1927 | 6,952 | Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow Lithgows Lithgows Limited, was a British shipbuilding company based in Kingston, Port Glasgow, on the River Clyde in Scotland.-Founding:The Company was established by Joseph Russell and his partners Anderson Rodger and William Lithgow who leased the Bay Yard in Port Glasgow from Cunliffe & Dunlop and... |
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| British Venture | 1930 | 4,696 | Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow Lithgows Lithgows Limited, was a British shipbuilding company based in Kingston, Port Glasgow, on the River Clyde in Scotland.-Founding:The Company was established by Joseph Russell and his partners Anderson Rodger and William Lithgow who leased the Bay Yard in Port Glasgow from Cunliffe & Dunlop and... |
Sunk 24 June 1943 by torpedo, from Japanese submarine I-27 | |
| British Vigilance | 1942 | 8,093 | Harland & Wolff Ltd, Glasgow Harland and Wolff Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.... |
Sunk 24 January 1943 by torpedo from German submarine U-105 | |
| British Vigour | 1943 | 5,844 | Furness Shipbuilding Co, Haverton Hill-on-Tees | ||
| British Virtue | 1945 | 8,500 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
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| British Viscount | 1921 | 6,895 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Sunk 3 April 1941 by torpedo from German submarine U-73 | |
| British Wisdom | 1945 | 8,130 | Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Glasgow | ||
| British Workman | 1922 | 6,994 | Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast | Sunk 3 May 1942 by torpedo from German submarine U-455 | |
| British Yeoman | 1923 | 6,990 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
Sunk 15 July 1942 by torpedo from German submarine U-201 | |
| British Zeal | 1937 | 8,532 | Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow Lithgows Lithgows Limited, was a British shipbuilding company based in Kingston, Port Glasgow, on the River Clyde in Scotland.-Founding:The Company was established by Joseph Russell and his partners Anderson Rodger and William Lithgow who leased the Bay Yard in Port Glasgow from Cunliffe & Dunlop and... |
Damaged 31 December 1940 by torpedo from German submarine U-65, but survived | |
| Shelbrit 1 | 1928 | 1,025 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Originally built as the British Pluck. Renamed Shelbrit 1 in 1936 | |
| Shelbrit 2 | 1928 | 695 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Originally built as the British Thrift. Renamed Thriftie in 1935, then Shelbrit 2 in 1936 | |
| Thriftie | 1928 | 695 | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Newcastle Swan Hunter Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which... |
Originally built as the British Thrift. Renamed Thriftie in 1935, then Shelbrit 2 in 1936 | |
| War Nawab | 1919 | 5,586 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
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| War Nizam | 1918 | 5,605 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
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| War Sudra | 1920 | 5,599 | Palmers' Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Newcastle Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne.... |
History post 1945
Within a year of peace in 1945, the BTC had restored its fleet to its pre-war total of 93 ships. The recovery was further bolstered by the building of 57 new tankers, each of 8,600 gross tonnage. These new ships increased the tonnage of oil transported from the AbadanAbadan
Abadan is a city in and the capital of Abadan County, Khuzestan Province, Iran. It lies on Abadan Island , from the Persian Gulf, near the Iraqi-Iran border. The civilian population of the city dropped to near zero during the eight-years Iran–Iraq War. In 1992, only 84,774 had returned to live...
refinery, but they remained light enough to sail through the shallow waters of the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
.
In 1951 the situation changed dramatically, when Iran nationalised its oil industry. The APOC removed all its staff from the country, and for the time being it had no access to Iranian oil. The APOC set about forming new alliances with other oil producing countries, especially Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
and Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
.
In the early 1950s the BTC began increasing the size of its deep-sea ships by building 13 so called 'super-tankers', each with a gross tonnage of 18,000. These larger ships were particularly useful during the Suez crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
of 1956, which closed the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
and forced ships to sail around the Cape of South Africa
Cape Agulhas
Cape Agulhas is a rocky headland in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is the geographic southern tip of Africa and the official dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, adding 9000 nautical miles (16,668 km) to their journey.
In November 1954 the APOC renamed itself the British Petroleum Company, and in 1955 the BTC became the BP Tanker Company. By the end of the 1950s, the BP Tanker Company's fleet stood at 146 vessels, including super-tankers of 38,000 gross tonnage (67,000 deadweight tonnes), with plans to build tankers of 60,000 gross tonnage (100,000 deadweight tonnes), which would hold more than 25 million USgals (94,635.3 m³) of crude oil.
House flag
The first house flag consisted of the black letters BTC set in a white circle on a white horizontal band, the white bordered with black, all set against a red background.In 1926 the flag was changed to include the Persian colours. This new house flag consisted of the red Cross of Saint George on a white background, with a large green lozenge imposed over the centre of the cross, the lozenge containing a golden lion 'passant guardant'; the lion being a symbol of Persia.
This remained until 1954, when a red lion ‘rampant’ replaced the golden lion.
External links
- http://www.plimsollshipdata.org/index.php Plimsoll Ship Data website - Lloyd's shipping registers 1930 to 1945
- http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/search.php Allied ships hit by U-Boats during the Second World War
- http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/bt389.asp National Archives, Kew - Second World War Merchant shipping movement cards
- http://www.wrecksite.eu/ownerBuilderView.aspx?3697 The position of ship wrecks - vessels of the British Tanker Company