British merchant ship and Second World War depot ship
History
United Kingdom
Name
1921: Melma
1921: Dumana
Owner
British India SN Co
Port of registry
Glasgow
Route
1923: London – Suez Canal – Bombay
1933: London – Suez Canal – Calcutta
Builder
Barclay, Curle & Co, Whiteinch
Yard number
593
Launched
21 November 1921
Completed
16 March 1923
Refit
1939
Identification
UK official number 146327
until 1933: code letters KNQW
by 1930: call sign GDNF
Fate
sunk by torpedo, 1943
General characteristics
Type
1923: cargo liner
1939: depot ship
1942: flying boat tender
Tonnage
8,427 GRT, 5,122 NRT, 10,400 DWT
Length
464.0 ft (141.4 m) overall
450.0 ft (137.2 m) registered
Beam
58.3 ft (17.8 m)
Draught
27 ft 11 in (8.51 m)
Depth
32.9 ft (10.0 m)
Decks
2
Installed power
1923: 963 NHP
1927: 1,110 NHP
Propulsion
2 × 4-stroke diesel engines
2 × screws
Speed
13.6 knots (25.2 km/h)
Capacity
1923: 1st & 2nd class passengers
1928: 111 in one class
1934: 140 in one class
Troops
in the Second World War: 500
Complement
in the Second World War: 139 crew + 21 RAF personnel + 9 DEMS gunners
Sensors and processing systems
by 1927: wireless direction finding
Armament
in the Second World War:
1 × 4-inch gun
1 × 12-pounder gun
4 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
4 × machine guns
Notes
sister ship: Domala
MV Dumana was a British cargo liner that was laid down as Melma, but launched in 1921 as Dumana. The British India Steam Navigation Company (BI) owned her, and ran her on routes between London and India.
In 1939 she was chartered and refitted as a depot ship. She served the Fleet Air Arm until 1940, and then the Royal Air Force. From 1942 she was a flying boat tender. A U-boat sank her in 1943 with the loss of 39 lives.
MVDumana was a British cargo liner that was laid down as Melma, but launched in 1921 as Dumana. The British India Steam Navigation Company (BI) owned...
Length Displacement Cruising speed Top speed Range Built Builder Notes MVDumana Seaplane depot ship 464 ft (141 m) 8,428 GRT 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15...
RFA Darkdale MV Derrycunihy (1943) MV Domala (also listed as SS Empire Attendant) MVDumanaMV Dunedin Star MS Dunnottar Castle SS Eaglescliffe Hall MV El Argentino...
She was laid down as Melma, and launched in November 1921. BI renamed her Dumana before she was completed, which was not until March 1923. By contrast, BI...
951 GRT blockade runner MV Osorno through the Bay of Biscay. Another blockade runner, the 2,729 GRT refrigerated cargo ship MV Alsterufer, trailed Osorno...
951 GRT blockade runner MV Osorno through the Bay of Biscay. Another blockade runner, the 2,729 GRT refrigerated cargo ship MV Alsterufer, trailed Osorno...
951 GRT blockade runner MV Osorno through the Bay of Biscay. Another blockade runner, the 2,729 GRT refrigerated cargo ship MV Alsterufer, trailed Osorno...
ISBN 9781561641635. Retrieved 25 May 2020. alaskashipwreck.com Alaska Shipwrecks (A) "Dumana". Uboat. Retrieved 1 April 2012. Jordan, Roger (1999). The World's Merchant...
Global Information
United Kingdom
