Miscellaneous Ship Histories

Cape Howe

 

Cape Howe was launched during the war in 1942, and took part in a large number of convoys. She survived the war and was scrapped in 1967 so had a service life of 25 years. There is further information about this ship on the Recollections section of the Benjidog website HERE.

Notes on Career Highlights and Basic Data

 

The ship is described by Miramar Ext. Ref #2 as being built for Cape of Good Hope Motorship Glasgow and elsewhere as being owned or managed by the Lyle Shipping Co. of Glasgow. The relationship between these companies is not currently clear. It is possible that Cape Howe changed hands at an early stage or this may just be a business arrangement between the two companies. If anyone can provide clarification could they please contact the Webmaster - see Home Page.

 

Maiden Voyage

 

Stan Mayes was aboard Cape Howe for her maiden voyage and provided the following comments:

 

She was a standard cargo ship of Y-4 type, and was equipped with A.N.D.gear - torpedo protection nets. Her Master was Captain P.Wallace and Chief Officer D.Allan. Many of her crew were from the Western Isles and were a good crew to sail with. Following engine trials and checking the A.N.D. gear we went up to Glasgow and loaded 600 tons of ballast which was brick rubble from bomb damaged buildings.

Participation in WW2 Convoys

 

Cape Howe took part in 63 convoys before being scuttled according to information shown in the table below which is provided courtesy of Convoyweb   - see  Ext. Ref. #5.

 

Convoy ON 166

 

Stan reports that Cape Howe took part in this convoy which sailed from Liverpool at 13:30 on 11 February 1943 and arrived at New York on March 3 1943. Arnold Hague’s database (part of Convoyweb quoted above) does not include her in the list. Warsailors Website Ext. Ref. 15, says “The A 1 form appears to show only the ships that made it to New York; stragglers and ships sunk are not included in the document.” which explains the discrepancy.

 

Stan’s experiences in convoy ON 166 are recounted in the Recollections website on the Benjidog website HERE.  

Image 1

Basic Data: Cape Howe

Type: Cargo Ship

Registered owners, managers and operators:

Cape of Good Hope Motorship Co Ltd, Glasgow

Builders: Lithgows

Yard: Port Glasgow

Country: UK

Yard number: 976

Registry: N/K

Official number: 168749

Signal letters: N/K

Call sign: N/K

Classification society: N/K

Gross tonnage: 6,999 tons

Net tonnage: N/K

Deadweight: N/K

Length: N/K

Breadth: N/K

Depth: N/K

Draught: N/K

Engines: Triple expansion steam engine with cylinders of 24.5”, 39” and 70” - stroke 48”

Engine builders: D Rowan & Co. Ltd.

Works: Glasgow

Country: UK

Power: N/K

Propulsion: N/K

Speed: N/K

Cargo capacity: N/K

Crew: N/K

Images

 

1. All images on this page were provided by Stan Mayes and digitally enhanced by Brian Watson

Image 3 shows Cape Howe after the war - by then she had been fitted with a new funnel.

Image 4 shows Cape Howe at Vancouver on 19 Mar 1951.

Service Post WW2

 

No information is currently available about Cape Howe’s service after the war apart from the information recorded in Career Highlights above.

Image 4

Image 1 shows Cape Howe in 1943.

Image 2 is a log document provided to Stan Mayes by Arthur Austin of York. He says “Arthur was a Radio Officer in City of Canberra the Commodore ship of ON 166. He researched the convoy and in sending the form he described it as a movement card used at convoy headquarters in Liverpool.” Its purpose is not entirely clear but it dates from 1942/3.

Image 2

Image 3