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SS Clan Campbell (1937)
Encyclopedia
The SS Clan Campbell was a cargo vessel built in the yards of the Greenock Dockyard Co.
, Greenock
, Scotland
and launched on 14 January 1937 for Clan Line Steamers Ltd
, of Glasgow
. She was registered at Glasgow.
During the Second World War she took part in a number of convoys. The Clan Campbell also operated in the Mediterranean as part of the convoys to supply Malta
. In February 1942 she had been damaged by bombs and forced to seek shelter at Tobruk
whilst en-route to Malta
. The next month, captained by J. F. Vooght, she formed part of the four ship convoy MW-10 which left Alexandria
for Malta on 20 March 1942. The merchantmen
were protected by a force of cruisers and destroyers under command of Rear Admiral
Sir Philip Vian
.
The weather was initially thick and stormy, which helped to conceal the ships from enemy reconnaissance, but it cleared while the ships were still off Cyrenaica
and they were sighted by enemy aircraft. Four Italian cruisers were despatched to intercept the convoy, but were driven off in a short engagement on 22 March. That afternoon the Italian battleship Littorio
arrived, escorted by two cruisers. The British again attacked with torpedoes despite heavy odds, forcing the Italians to break off and retire. On 23 March the convoy came under air attack. The Clan Campbell was hit by bombs and also torpedoed, and had to be abandoned. Six of the crew, including Capt. Vooght, were killed and one was wounded.
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...
, Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and launched on 14 January 1937 for Clan Line Steamers Ltd
Clan Line
The Clan Line was a passenger and cargo shipping company that operated in one incarnation or another from the late nineteenth century and into the twentieth century.-Foundation and early years:...
, of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. She was registered at Glasgow.
During the Second World War she took part in a number of convoys. The Clan Campbell also operated in the Mediterranean as part of the convoys to supply Malta
Malta Convoys
The Malta Convoys were a series of Allied supply convoys that sustained the besieged island of Malta during the Mediterranean Theatre of the Second World War...
. In February 1942 she had been damaged by bombs and forced to seek shelter at Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
whilst en-route to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. The next month, captained by J. F. Vooght, she formed part of the four ship convoy MW-10 which left Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
for Malta on 20 March 1942. The merchantmen
Merchant vessel
A merchant vessel is a ship that transports cargo or passengers. The closely related term commercial vessel is defined by the United States Coast Guard as any vessel engaged in commercial trade or that carries passengers for hire...
were protected by a force of cruisers and destroyers under command of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Sir Philip Vian
Philip Vian
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Philip Louis Vian, GCB, KBE, DSO & Two Bars was a British naval officer who served in both World Wars....
.
The weather was initially thick and stormy, which helped to conceal the ships from enemy reconnaissance, but it cleared while the ships were still off Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
and they were sighted by enemy aircraft. Four Italian cruisers were despatched to intercept the convoy, but were driven off in a short engagement on 22 March. That afternoon the Italian battleship Littorio
Italian battleship Littorio
|-External links:...
arrived, escorted by two cruisers. The British again attacked with torpedoes despite heavy odds, forcing the Italians to break off and retire. On 23 March the convoy came under air attack. The Clan Campbell was hit by bombs and also torpedoed, and had to be abandoned. Six of the crew, including Capt. Vooght, were killed and one was wounded.