MADRAS hospital ship

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aukepalmhof
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Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

MADRAS hospital ship

Post by aukepalmhof » Sun Oct 24, 2010 7:07 pm

Do not known much about this stamp or label, but the following site gives more info.
http://stampomania.blogspot.com/2009/03 ... abels.html

MADRAS

Built as a passenger-cargo vessel under yard No 458 by Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd., Govan, Scotland for the British India Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., Glasgow
Early 1913 ordered.
26 March 1914 launched as the TANDA, named after the town near the Gogra River near Faizabad in the former United Provinces, one sister the TAKADA.
Tonnage 6,956 gross, 4,223 net, 8,650 dwt., dim. 430.1 x 58.2 x 31ft. (draught).
Powered by two 3-cyl. triple expansion steam engines, manufactured by shipbuilder, 5,200 ihp, speed 12 knots.
Passenger accommodation for 50 first class, 52 second and 2,197 deck passengers.
17 March 1914 completed, building cost £150,100.

After completing put in the Apcar service (from Calcutta to Chinese and Japanese ports.)
After one round voyage in the Apcar service was she taken up by the Indian authorities, converted in a hospital ship with 450 beds and 102 medical staff.
Most of her conversion was paid by the Madras War Fund, the funds were raised from voluntary contribution in Madras.
In recognition was she renamed MADRAS.
Used first in East Africa then Basra.
September 1918 converted into an ambulance transport.
She made a voyage as an ambulance transport to Vladivostok.
1919 Used as an Expeditionary Force transport, as so she made a voyage to Australia with returning troops.
After her return to the B. I. again in the Apcar service.
May 1920 renamed again in TANDA.
1924 Sold for £100,000 to Eastern & Australia SS Co. Ltd., Glasgow not renamed.
Used in the service between Australian ports via Rabaul and Manila to China and Japan. Her deck passenger capacity was reduced to 300.
March 1940 was she required for the Liner Division, and after the outbreak of war in the Pacific she was used in the service from Australia to India.
15 July 1944 on a voyage from Melbourne via Colombo to Bombay with on board 5,600 tons general cargo was she torpedoed off Mangalore by the U-181 in position 13 22N 74 09E.
She was hit amidships and water started to flow inside through a large hole.
Off the 177 crew, 12 gunners and 27 passengers on board, 18 crew and one passenger were lost; the others were mostly rescued by H.M.I.S. BIHAR and landed at Colombo.

India, Madras War Fund ½ anna.

Source: B.I. The British India Steam Navigation Company Limited by Laxon and Perry. Some web-sites.
Register of Merchant ships completed in 1914.
Attachments
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