SONTAY

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aukepalmhof
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SONTAY

Post by aukepalmhof » Sun Aug 02, 2015 9:50 pm

New Caledonia issued in June 2015 three stamps to celebrate the centenary of the Caledonians involvement in the First World War.
Two stamps depict passenger’s ships which transported the troops from Caledonia to and from France.
The stamp on the left depict the SONTAY embarking 713 troops at Noumea for Marseille, on 23 April 1915.
The most right stamp depict the EL KANTARA, http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewt ... ara#p14235
which returned the survivors home on 10 May 1919.
SONTAY built as a passenger-cargo vessel under yard No 133 by Messageries Maritimes, La Ciotat, France for account of Cie des Messageries Maritimes in Marseille.
01 December 1907 launched as the SONTAY.
Tonnage 7,236 gross, 8,000 dwt, dim. 141.35 x 16m, length bpp. 136.3m.
Powered by two triple expansion alternative coal fired steam engines, 3,300 hp, twin shafts, speed 13 knots.
Accommodation for 45 first, 194 second class passengers and 718 tween-deck passengers.
April 2008 completed.
After completing in the service between Dunkirk, Marseille, Saigon and Haiphong the maiden voyage was in June 1908.
1914 to 1916 used also as a mail-boat.
1915 She made a voyage to New Caledonia to bring troops from Noumea to France, sailed Noumea on 23 April 1915.
Requisitioned as a troopship fitted out with a 90mm gun at the stern, transported troops to Salonika, Greece.
March 1916 transported 2,250 Russian troops from the Dalny region from Saigon to Marseille.
Thereafter used as a troop transport in the Mediterranean.
24 December 1916 with on board troops from Salonika she avoided a torpedo attack by most probably the German submarine UB-47, when sailing in convoy in the Ionian Sea.
16 April 1917 when under command of Captain Lt. Mages and 325 troops and a crew of 100, from Milo to Marseille, torpedoed by the German submarine U-33 under command of Capt. Gustav Siess between Malta and Tunisia in position 35 02N 16 28E. After the impact she sank very quickly
Survivors were picked up by the gunboats MOQUEUSE and CAPRICIEUSE, 317 troops and 69 crew were rescued, Captain Mages and 39 troops/crew were missing, presumably drowned.

New Caledonia 2015 35f sg?, scott?
http://www.boutiqueopt.nc/boutique/inde ... res&id=889 http://www.frenchlines.com/ship_fr_1343.php http://www.messageries-maritimes.org/sontay.htm
http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz
Attachments
sontayA19.jpg
Image (28).jpg
Image (29).jpg

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