|
Miscellaneous Ship Histories |
|
Conakrian
Conakrian was built in 1937 and served extensively during WW2 undertaking many independent voyages and taking part in a number of convoys. Surviving attacks by both aerial mine and torpedo, she lived on to continue her service life until 1968 when she was broken up.
There is a short account of her voyage to Newcastle for repair after being torpedoed in the Recollections section of the Benjidog website HERE. |
|
Service Pre-WW2
No information is currently available.
Participation in WW2
Konakrian took part in a many convoys and a very large number of independent voyages during the war years according to information shown in the table below which is provided courtesy of Convoyweb - see Ext. Ref. #5. The shaded boxes indicate in most cases that Konakrian continued independently after taking part in a convoy.
There is a brief account by Stan Mayes who spent a short time on her after she had been mined on this site HERE. |
|
Basic Data: Conakrian Type: Cargo ship Registered owners, managers and operators: Elmina Ltd. United Africa Co Ltd. Managers Builders: Furness Steam Boat Co. Ltd. Yard: Haverton Hill on Tees Country: UK Yard number: 272 Registry: Freetown, Sierra Leone Official number: 157536 Signal letters: N/K Call sign: VPTN Classification society: N/K Gross tonnage: 4,344 tons Net tonnage: 2,778 Deadweight: N/K Length: 422.5 Feet Overall Length: 438.3 Feet Breadth: 56.7 Feet Depth: 23.6 Feet Draught: N/K Engines: Triple expansion steam engine Cylinder diameter: 23”, 38”, 65” Cylinder stroke: 45” Engine builders: N.E Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. Works: Newcastle Country: UK Boilers: 2 single-ended and 1 auxiliary single ended boilers, 220 psi Power: 456 NHP Propulsion: Single screw Speed: 10 knots Crew: N/K |
|
Image 1 |
|
Image 1 Shows Conakrian. Date and location not known. |
|
Torpedo Damage 1940
On 20 October 1940 the destroyer H.M.S. Cleveland left Kirkwall with British steamer Ben My Chree and they arrived at Aberdeen at 14:00. The destroyer then escorted Submarine L 23 from Dundee to Scapa Flow and en route assisted damaged British steamer Conakrian and rescued survivors. Conakrian had been torpedoed in an air attack off Girdleness.
Rescue of Survivors of New Columbia
According to uboat.net Ext.Ref 4, on 31 October 1943, Conakrian was involved in the rescue of the survivors of New Columbia which had been torpedoed by U-68 which was under the command of Kapitänleutnant Albert Lauzemison :
At 21.14 hours on 31 Oct, 1943, the unescorted New Columbia (Master Frederick Bradley Kent) was hit in the foreship by one FAT torpedo from U-68 southwest of Bingerville, Ivory Coast. She sank by the bow after being hit in the engine room by a second FAT torpedo at 21.44 hours.
The master, 54 crew members, ten gunners and 19 Kroomen were picked up by the British merchant Conakrian and landed at Lagos. Lauzemis thought after he had questioned the crew that he had sunk the Troilus.
New Columbia was on a passage from Libreville to Lagos with a general cargo and copper when she was sunk. Remarkably, no lives were lost.
Mine Damage 1944
Conakrian struck a mine in the English Channel on 15 April 1944 whilst in convoy ATM 125 which departed Antwerp for London. She was heavily damaged when the mine exploded below #4 hold. Luckily there were no casualties and the ship survived to be towed to Tilbury Docks where her cargo was discharged.
Stan Mayes states that she was then laid up until 18th June 1945 when he joined her with a 'run crew' with the intension of her being towed to the Tyne for repair.
Stan continues:
However off Southend we received orders to anchor the ship which we did and a few days later we - the 'run crew' left the ship - only some officers and engineers remained. Conakrian remained at anchor off Southend until 23rd December 1945 and then left under tow for the Tyne, arriving Christmas Day.
Service Post WW2
In 1949 she was sold to Palm Line and renamed Dahomey Palm. Palm Line transported palm oil from West Africa for use by Lever Brothers, famous for soap production. The palm oil required for the soap making process was shipped from West African ports to the Liverpool area.
In 1959 she was sold again to Pan-Norse Steamship Co. and her name changed to Southern Mariner. This company was based in Panama but there is currently no information on how she was used,
After another change of ownership in 1963 her service continued until September 1968 when she was take to be broken up in Hong Kong.
Images
1. Image #1 courtesy of Stan Mayes 2. Image #2 from a photo in possession of the Webmaster - original photographer not known. |
|
Kroomen (alternatively Kroumen or Krumen) were African sailors who had been taken on as crew. |
|
Image 2 |
|
Image 2 Shows Conakrian. This photo is believed to have been taken in 1937. |
|
Supplementary Construction Information
Conakrian had one deck and a shelter deck with a platform deck in #2 hold. She had 7 partly-asphalted bulkheads and was fitted with direction finder and echo sounding equipment and a cellular double bottom.
She had eight corrugated furnaces; with a grate surface of 142 sq. ft. and a heating surface of 7,030 sq. ft. |
|
Career Highlights |
|
|
Date |
Event |
|
30 Jan 1937 |
Keel laid |
|
21 Sep 1937 |
Launched |
|
Nov 1937 |
Completed |
|
1949 |
Name changed to Dahomey Palm - Registered Owner Palm Line |
|
20 Oct 1940 |
Damaged in air attack of Girdleness |
|
15 Apr 1945 |
Damaged by mine |
|
1959 |
Sold to Pan-Norse Steamship Co. S.A. (Managed by Wallem & Co.Hong Kong and registered in Panama. Name changed to Southern Mariner. |
|
1963 |
Sold to Mariner Ocean Transport Co. S.A. (same managers) |
|
24 Sep 1968 |
Arrived at Hong Kong for breaking. |
|
Departure |
Convoy/Independent |
Arrival |
|
Departure |
Convoy/Independent |
Arrival |
|
Liverpool, Oct 2, 1939 |
OB.13 (Liverpool - Dispersed) |
|
|
Holyhead, Oct 31, 1942 |
HM.54 (Holyhead - M Haven) |
Swansea, Nov 1, 1942 |
|
|
Independent |
Dakar, Oct 14, 1939 |
|
Swansea, Nov 3, 1942 |
Independent |
Penarth, Nov 5, 1942 |
|
Dakar, Oct 18, 1939 |
Independent |
Freetown, Oct 21, 1939 |
|
Penarth, Nov 17, 1942 |
Independent |
Clyde, Nov 21, 1942 |
|
Freetown, Oct 23, 1939 |
Independent |
Port Harcourt, Oct 29, 1939 |
|
Clyde, Nov 26, 1942 |
KMS.4G (Clyde - Bone) |
Philippeville, Dec 12, 1942 |
|
Port Harcourt, Oct 31, 1939 |
Independent |
Calabar, Nov 1, 1939 |
|
Philippeville, Dec 23, 1942 |
ET.6A (Bone - Gibraltar) |
Algiers, Dec 24, 1942 |
|
|
Independent |
Calabar, Nov 1, 1939 |
|
Algiers, Dec 24, 1942 |
MKS.4 (Bone - Liverpool) |
Cardiff, Jan 5, 1943 |
|
|
Independent |
Victoria, Nigeria, Nov 3, 1939 |
|
Cardiff, Feb 1, 1943 |
Independent |
Clyde, Feb 5, 1943 |
|
Calabar, Nov 3, 1939 |
Independent |
|
|
Clyde, Feb 26, 1943 |
KMS.10G (Clyde - Bone) |
Algiers, Mar 10, 1943 |
|
Calabar, Nov 3, 1939 |
Independent |
Duala, Nov 5, 1939 |
|
Algiers, Mar 19, 1943 |
TE.19 (Gibraltar - Bone) |
Bone, Mar 20, 1943 |
|
Victoria, Nigeria, Nov 5, 1939 |
Independent |
|
|
Bone, Apr 4, 1943 |
ET.17 (Bone - Gibraltar) |
Algiers, Apr 6, 1943 |
|
Duala, Nov 7, 1939 |
Independent |
Abonnema, Nov 8, 1939 |
|
Algiers, Apr 12, 1943 |
MKS.11 (Bone - Liverpool) |
Gibraltar, Apr 14, 1943 |
|
Abonnema, Nov 9, 1939 |
Independent |
Forcados, Nov 11, 1939 |
|
Gibraltar, Apr 23, 1943 |
OS.46 (ex OS 46/KMS 13 - Freetown) |
Freetown, May 3, 1943 |
|
Forcados, Nov 14, 1939 |
Independent |
Opobo, Nov 16, 1939 |
|
Freetown, May 10, 1943 |
ST.65 (Freetown - Takoradi) |
|
|
Opobo, Nov 20, 1939 |
Independent |
Sapele, Nov 22, 1939 |
|
|
TL.10 (Takoradi - Lagos) |
Lagos, May 16, 1943 |
|
Forcados, Nov 28, 1939 |
Independent |
Port Harcourt, Nov 29, 1939 |
|
Lagos, May 16, 1943 |
Independent |
Forcados, May 17, 1943 |
|
Port Harcourt, Dec 1, 1939 |
Independent |
Lagos, Dec 3, 1939 |
|
Forcados, Jun 1, 1943 |
Independent |
Port Harcourt, Jun 2, 1943 |
|
Lagos, Dec 7, 1939 |
Independent |
Accra, Dec 8, 1939 |
|
Port Harcourt, Jun 6, 1943 |
Independent |
Lagos, Jun 8, 1943 |
|
Accra, Dec 8, 1939 |
Independent |
Winneba, Dec 9, 1939 |
|
Lagos, Jun 12, 1943 |
not reported |
Takoradi, Jun 14, 1943 |
|
Winneba, Dec 9, 1939 |
Independent |
Takoradi, Dec 11, 1939 |
|
Takoradi, Jun 19, 1943 |
TS.45 (Takoradi - Freetown) |
Freetown, Jun 25, 1943 |
|
Takoradi, Dec 11, 1939 |
Independent |
Freetown, Dec 17, 1939 |
|
Freetown, Jun 28, 1943 |
SL.132 (Freetown - r/v WITH MKS 16) |
|
|
Freetown, Dec 26, 1939 |
SL.14 (Freetown - Liverpool) |
Liverpool, Jan 17, 1940 |
|
|
SL.132S (Convoy Divided - Liverpool) |
Liverpool, Jul 22, 1943 |
|
Liverpool, Feb 8, 1940 |
OB.87 (Liverpool - Dispersed) |
|
|
Liverpool, Aug 17, 1943 |
KMS.24G (Liverpool - Gibraltar) |
Passed Gibraltar, Aug 30, 1943 |
|
|
Independent |
Dakar, Feb 19, 1940 |
|
Passed Gibraltar, Aug 30, 1943 |
KMS.24 (Gibraltar - Port Said) |
Malta, Sep 4, 1943 |
|
Dakar, Feb 20, 1940 |
Independent |
Bathurst, Feb 21, 1940 |
|
Malta, Sep 4, 1943 |
not reported |
Syracuse, Sep 5, 1943 |
|
Bathurst, Feb 22, 1940 |
Independent |
Freetown, Feb 24, 1940 |
|
Syracuse, Sep 11, 1943 |
not reported |
Malta, Sep 12, 1943 |
|
Freetown, Feb 28, 1940 |
Independent |
Monrovia, Feb 29, 1940 |
|
Malta, Sep 13, 1943 |
GUS.15 (Alexandria - Hampton Rds) |
Gibraltar, Sep 18, 1943 |
|
Monrovia, Feb 29, 1940 |
Independent |
Takoradi, Mar 3, 1940 |
|
Gibraltar, Sep 27, 1943 |
OS.55 (ex OS 55/KMS 27 - Freetown) |
|
|
Takoradi, Mar 4, 1940 |
Independent |
Cape Coast, Mar 5, 1940 |
|
|
not reported |
Takoradi, Oct 10, 1943 |
|
Cape Coast, Mar 5, 1940 |
Independent |
Winneba, Mar 6, 1940 |
|
Takoradi, Oct 11, 1943 |
TGE.3 (Takoradi - Dispersed) |
|
|
Winneba, Mar 6, 1940 |
Independent |
Accra, Mar 7, 1940 |
|
Lagos, Oct 13, 1943 |
Independent |
Forcados, Oct 14, 1943 |
|
Accra, Mar 9, 1940 |
Independent |
Lagos, Mar 12, 1940 |
|
Forcados, Oct 24, 1943 |
Independent |
Port Harcourt, Oct 25, 1943 |
|
Lagos, Mar 14, 1940 |
Independent |
Port Harcourt, Mar 16, 1940 |
|
Port Harcourt, Oct 31, 1943 |
Independent |
Lagos, Nov 2, 1943 |
|
Port Harcourt, Mar 18, 1940 |
Independent |
Calabar, Mar 19, 1940 |
|
Lagos, Nov 3, 1943 |
LTS.4 (Lagos - Freetown) |
Takoradi, Nov 5, 1943 |
|
|
Independent |
Calabar, Mar 19, 1940 |
|
Takoradi, Nov 10, 1943 |
LTS.5 (Lagos - Freetown) |
Freetown, Nov 14, 1943 |
|
Calabar, Mar 20, 1940 |
Independent |
|
|
Freetown, Nov 22, 1943 |
SL.141 (Freetown - r/v WITH MKS 32) |
|
|
Calabar, Mar 20, 1940 |
Independent |
|
|
|
SL.141MK (r/v SL 141/MKS 32 - Liverpool) |
Loch Ewe, Dec 16, 1943 |
|
Abonnema, Mar 23, 1940 |
Independent |
Forcados, Mar 24, 1940 |
|
|
WN.519 (Loch Ewe - Methil) |
Methil, Dec 18, 1943 |
|
Forcados, Mar 27, 1940 |
Independent |
Opobo, Mar 29, 1940 |
|
Methil, Dec 19, 1943 |
FS.1305 (Methil - Southend) |
Southend, Dec 21, 1943 |
|
Opobo, Mar 30, 1940 |
Independent |
|
|
Southend, Jan 18, 1944 |
FN.1240 (Southend - Methil) |
Methil, Jan 20, 1944 |
|
Forcados, Apr 5, 1940 |
Independent |
Abonnema, Apr 6, 1940 |
|
Methil, Jan 20, 1944 |
EN.335 (Methil - Loch Ewe) |
Oban, Jan 24, 1944 |
|
|
Independent |
Calabar, Apr 9, 1940 |
|
Oban, Jan 25, 1944 |
OS.66KM (Liverpool - Convoy Split) |
|
|
|
Independent |
Calabar, Apr 9, 1940 |
|
|
OS.66 (ex OS 66/KMS 40 - Freetown) |
Bathurst, Feb 13, 1944 |
|
Abonnema, Apr 9, 1940 |
Independent |
|
|
Bathurst, Feb 18, 1944 |
Independent |
Freetown, Feb 20, 1944 |
|
Calabar, Apr 12, 1940 |
Independent |
|
|
Freetown, Feb 22, 1944 |
STL.12 (Freetown - Lagos) |
Takoradi, Feb 27, 1944 |
|
Calabar, Apr 12, 1940 |
Independent |
Lagos, Apr 14, 1940 |
|
Takoradi, Feb 29, 1944 |
Independent |
Lagos, Mar 2, 1944 |
|
Lagos, Apr 16, 1940 |
Independent |
Freetown, Apr 23, 1940 |
|
Lagos, Mar 2, 1944 |
Independent |
Duala, Mar 4, 1944 |
|
Freetown, Apr 24, 1940 |
Independent |
Freetown, Apr 27, 1940 |
|
Duala, Mar 13, 1944 |
Independent |
Forcados, Mar 14, 1944 |
|
Freetown, May 1, 1940 |
SL.30 (Freetown - Liverpool) |
Liverpool, May 18, 1940 |
|
Forcados, Mar 25, 1944 |
Independent |
Calabar, Mar 27, 1944 |
|
Liverpool, Jun 11, 1940 |
OB.166 (Liverpool - to OG 33) |
|
|
|
Independent |
Calabar, Mar 27, 1944 |
|
|
OG.33 (to AT SEA - Gibraltar) |
Gibraltar, Jun 19, 1940 |
|
Calabar, Apr 1, 1944 |
Independent |
|
|
Gibraltar, Jul 28, 1940 |
Independent |
Freetown, Aug 7, 1940 |
|
Calabar, Apr 1, 1944 |
Independent |
Lagos, Apr 4, 1944 |
|
Freetown, Aug 10, 1940 |
Independent |
Lagos, Aug 14, 1940 |
|
Lagos, Apr 11, 1944 |
LTS.16 (Lagos - Freetown) |
Freetown, Apr 18, 1944 |
|
Lagos, Aug 15, 1940 |
Independent |
Opobo, Aug 17, 1940 |
|
Freetown, Apr 21, 1944 |
SL.156 (Freetown - r/v WITH MKS 47) |
|
|
Opobo, Aug 18, 1940 |
Independent |
Dagema, Aug 19, 1940 |
|
|
SL.156MK (r/v SL 156/MKS 47 - Liverpool) |
Liverpool, May 13, 1944 |
|
Calabar, Aug 27, 1940 |
Independent |
|
|
Liverpool, Jun 2, 1944 |
OS.79KM (Liverpool - Convoy Split) |
|
|
Calabar, Aug 27, 1940 |
Independent |
Accra, Sep 3, 1940 |
|
|
OS.79 (ex OS 79/KMS 53 - Freetown) |
Freetown, Jun 21, 1944 |
|
Accra, Sep 3, 1940 |
Independent |
Freetown, Sep 7, 1940 |
|
Freetown, Jun 25, 1944 |
STL.25 (Freetown - Lagos) |
Takoradi, Jun 30, 1944 |
|
Freetown, Sep 10, 1940 |
SL.47 (Freetown - Liverpool) |
Methil Roads, Oct 1, 1940 |
|
Takoradi, Jul 4, 1944 |
Independent |
Lagos, Jul 6, 1944 |
|
Methil, Oct 1, 1940 |
FS.297 (Methil - Southend) |
Hull, Oct 3, 1940 |
|
Lagos, Jul 14, 1944 |
Independent |
Calabar, Jul 16, 1944 |
|
Hull, Oct 15, 1940 |
FN.309 (Southend - Methil) |
Methil, Oct 18, 1940 |
|
|
Independent |
Calabar, Jul 16, 1944 |
|
Methil, Oct 20, 1940 |
OA.232 (Methil - Dispersed) |
Aberdeen, Oct 21, 1940 |
|
Calabar, Jul 19, 1944 |
Independent |
|
|
Aberdeen, Feb 19, 1941 |
not reported |
|
|
Calabar, Jul 19, 1944 |
Independent |
Forcados, Jul 21, 1944 |
|
Aberdeen, Oct 8, 1941 |
In tow |
Tyne, Oct 11, 1941 |
|
Forcados, Aug 3, 1944 |
Independent |
|
|
Tyne, Feb 8, 1942 |
FN.625 (Southend - Methil) |
Methil, Feb 9, 1942 |
|
Lagos, Aug 8, 1944 |
Independent |
Takoradi, Aug 9, 1944 |
|
Methil, Mar 10, 1942 |
EN.57 (Methil - Oban) |
Oban, Mar 13, 1942 |
|
|
Independent |
Accra, Aug 15, 1944 |
|
Oban, Mar 25, 1942 |
OS.23 (Liverpool - Freetown) |
Freetown, Apr 11, 1942 |
|
Takoradi, Aug 15, 1944 |
Independent |
|
|
Freetown, Apr 19, 1942 |
ST.20 (Freetown - Dispersed) |
|
|
Accra, Aug 19, 1944 |
Independent |
|
|
|
Independent |
Takoradi, Apr 24, 1942 |
|
Takoradi, Aug 21, 1944 |
TS.62 (Takoradi - Freetown) |
Freetown, Aug 26, 1944 |
|
Takoradi, Apr 27, 1942 |
Independent |
Lagos, Apr 28, 1942 |
|
Freetown, Aug 29, 1944 |
SL.169 (Freetown - r/v WITH MKS 60) |
|
|
Lagos, May 1, 1942 |
Independent |
Forcados, May 2, 1942 |
|
|
SL.169MK (r/v SL 169/MKS 60 - Liverpool) |
Liverpool, Sep 18, 1944 |
|
Forcados, May 16, 1942 |
Independent |
Lagos, May 17, 1942 |
|
Liverpool, Oct 15, 1944 |
OS.92KM (Liverpool - Convoy Split) |
|
|
Lagos, May 23, 1942 |
LS.6 (Takoradi - Freetown) |
Freetown, Jun 1, 1942 |
|
|
OS.92 (ex OS 92/KMS 66 - Freetown) |
Freetown, Nov 4, 1944 |
|
Freetown, Jun 4, 1942 |
SL.112 (Freetown - Liverpool) |
Liverpool, Jun 23, 1942 |
|
Freetown, Nov 5, 1944 |
Independent |
Takoradi, Nov 9, 1944 |
|
Liverpool, Jul 11, 1942 |
OS.34 (Liverpool - Freetown) |
|
|
Takoradi, Nov 12, 1944 |
Independent |
Lagos, Nov 14, 1944 |
|
|
OSS.34 (ex OS 34 - Takoradi) |
Takoradi, Aug 4, 1942 |
|
Lagos, Nov 23, 1944 |
Independent |
Congo River, Nov 29, 1944 |
|
Takoradi, Aug 8, 1942 |
Independent |
Accra, Aug 9, 1942 |
|
Congo River, Dec 7, 1944 |
Independent |
Lagos, Dec 11, 1944 |
|
Accra, Aug 13, 1942 |
Independent |
Lagos, Aug 14, 1942 |
|
Lagos, Dec 19, 1944 |
Independent |
Takoradi, Dec 21, 1944 |
|
Lagos, Aug 23, 1942 |
Independent |
Port Harcourt, Aug 25, 1942 |
|
Takoradi, Dec 24, 1944 |
Independent |
Freetown, Dec 28, 1944 |
|
Port Harcourt, Aug 29, 1942 |
Independent |
Port Harcourt, Sep 3, 1942 |
|
Freetown, Dec 29, 1944 |
Independent |
Casablanca, Jan 7, 1945 |
|
Port Harcourt, Sep 7, 1942 |
Independent |
Lagos, Sep 9, 1942 |
|
Casablanca, Jan 10, 1945 |
MKS.76G (Gibraltar - Liverpool) |
Liverpool, Jan 21, 1945 |
|
Lagos, Sep 14, 1942 |
not reported |
Takoradi, Sep 16, 1942 |
|
Liverpool, Feb 11, 1945 |
ON.284 (Southend - NYC) |
Halifax, Feb 26, 1945 |
|
Takoradi, Sep 16, 1942 |
TS.18 (Takoradi - Freetown) |
Freetown, Sep 21, 1942 |
|
Halifax, Mar 16, 1945 |
HX.344 (NYC - Liverpool) |
Downs, Mar 30, 1945 |
|
Freetown, Sep 23, 1942 |
SL.123 (Freetown - Liverpool) |
Liverpool, Oct 14, 1942 |
|
Downs, Mar 31, 1945 |
TAM.124 (Southend - Antwerp) |
Antwerp, Apr 1, 1945 |
|
|
Independent |
Holyhead, Oct 30, 1942 |
|
Antwerp, Apr 15, 1945 |
ATM.125 (Antwerp - Southend) |
Southend, Apr 17, 1945 |
|
Liverpool, Oct 30, 1942 |
Independent |
|
|
Southend, Dec 23, 1945 |
In tow |
Tyne, Dec 25, 1945 |