Part of the Acorn Archive

Hearts of Oak

 

 

 

Athel Line Ships

 

Athelfoam

3 ships of this name

 

1  ATHELFOAM

Built as WAR GHURKA 

WW1-Standard Z type Tanker: engines and all superstructure amidships.

5,571 grt  3,397 nt

400ft x 52ft 4ins.

1918 December  Completed by Irvines S.B. & D.D. Co., West Hartlepool

For Shipping Controller, managed by Hunting & Son

1919 Purchased by Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co, London

1921 CAPRELLA, same owner

1924 Sold to British Molasses Co, London

1925 renamed ATHELFOAM

1926 United Molasses Co;  Athel Line formed.

1931 Owners  G.O.Aarvold, Oslo renamed HIRD, on charter to Athel Line.

1935 renamed ATHELSTANE, United Molasses Co

1939 Athel Line Ltd, London

1941 Tankers Ltd, London

1942  9th April   Bombed and sunk by Japanese aircraft at 07.30N  81.56E, whilst serving as Royal Fleet Auxiliary on passage from Trincomalee for Colombo.

 

Athelfoam(1)

 

2 ATHELFOAM

ON 162327  

Built 1931  Cammell Laird & Co.

Order of build   975

Vessel number V0972

For United Molasses Co. – Athel Line

6,554 Gross Registered Tons; 10,148 Deadweight Tons

426ft lins x 55ft 9ins x 32ft 2ins

476 nhp; Oil engines. Max. Speed 11 knots

15th March 1941 shelled by SCHARNHORST position 42N  43 25W

The tanker Athelfoam, was on a voyage from Liverpool to Pastelillo, in ballast. Operation Berlin : She was intercepted by the German raider Scharnhorst and sunk 500 miles SE of Cape Race. The surviving crew of 45 were taken prisoner and taken to Milag Nord as Prisoners Of War.

 

Athelfoam(2)

 

Men of the MV Athelfoam who died

 

HUGHES, Boatswain, DAVID, 15th March 1941. Age 52.

Son of William and Francis Hughes

Husband of Annie Hughes, of Rhydyclafdy, Caernarvonshire.

 

BREEN, Able Seaman, PATRICK. 13th May 1943. Age 58.

Son of Moses and Annie Breen, of Wexford, Irish Republic.

 

BYRNE, Able Seaman, JAMES, 22nd October 1944. Age 39.

Son of Charles and Ann Byrne (nee Penstion), of Arklow.

Buried Arklow Cemetery.

 

 

3  ATHELFOAM 

Built 1951  Smiths Dock Co, Middlesbrough

7,486 grt

440ft 7ins x 61ft 3ins

1963 scrapped Japan.


Athelfoam(3)

 

Photograph by Joe McMillan

 

 

Raymond Forward