Olsztyn was a Hansa A Type cargo ship which was built as Imkenturm in 1944 by Werf de Noord, Alblasserdam, Netherlands for DDG Hansa, Bremen, Germany. She was seized as a prize of war in 1945, passing to the Ministry of War Transport and renamed Empire Gantry. She was allocated to the Soviet Union in 1946 and was renamed Feodosia (Russian: Феодосия). Sold to Poland in 1947, she was renamed Olsztyn. She served until 1972, when she was scrapped.

History
Name
  • Imkenturm (1944–45)
  • Empire Gantry (1945–46)
  • Feodosia (1946–47)
  • Olsztyn (1947–72)
Owner
  • DDG Hansa (1944–45)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1945–46)
  • Soviet Government (1946–47)
  • Gdynia America Lines (1947–51)
  • Polska Żegluga Morska (1951–72)
Operator
  • DDG Hansa (1945)
  • Moss Hutchinson Line (1945–46)
  • Soviet Government (1946–47)
  • Gdynia America Lines (1947–51)
  • Polska Żegluga Morska (1951–72)
Port of registry
BuilderWerf de Noord / Flensberger
Yard number604
Laid down29 March 1943
Launched2 March 1944
Completed27 February 1945
Out of service1972
Identification
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Class and typeHansa A type cargo ship
Tonnage1,925 GRT, 936 NRT, 3,196 DWT
Length87.68 m (287 ft 8 in)
Beam13.51 m (44 ft 4 in)
Draught5.59 m (18 ft 4 in)
Depth4.80 m (15 ft 9 in)
Installed powerCompound steam engine, 1,200IHP
PropulsionSingle screw propeller
Speed10.5 knots (19.4 km/h)
Crew25, plus 8–10 gunners (in wartime)

Description

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The ship was 87.68 m (287 ft 8 in) long, with a beam of 13.51 m (44 ft 4 in). She had a depth of 4.80 m (15 ft 9 in), and a draught of 5.59 m (18 ft 4 in).[1] She was assessed as 1,925 GRT,[2] 936 NRT, 3,196 DWT.[3]

The ship was propelled by a compound steam engine, which had two cylinders of 42 cm (16+916 in) and two cylinders of 90 cm (35+716 in) diameter by 90 cm (35+716 in) inches stroke. The engine was built by Rheinmetall-Börsig AG, Tegel, Germany.[1] Rated at 1,200IHP, it drove a single screw propeller and could propel the ship at 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h).[3]

The ship had a complement of 25, plus 8-10 gunners during wartime. She was equipped with 1×30-tonne, 1×10-tonne and 10×5-tonne cranes.[4]

History

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Imkenturm was a Hansa A Type cargo ship built in 1944 as yard number 604 by Werf de Noord, Alblasserdam, Netherlands for Deutsche Dampfschifffarts-Gesellschaft Hansa, Bremen, Germany.[3][2] Her keel was laid on 29 March 1943.[4] She was launched on 2 March 1944 and completed by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg, Germany on 27 February 1945.[3] Her port of registry was Bremen,[2] and the Code Letters DOIJ were allocated. She participated in the Evacuation of East Prussia and was damaged in an Allied air raid on Flensburg on 1 May 1945.[4]

On 8 May 1945,[4] Imkenturm was seized as a prize of war at Flensburg. She was passed to the Ministry of War Transport and was renamed Empire Gantry.[2] Her UK official number was 180638 and her call sign was GJLQ. She was registered in London and Moss Hutchinson Line Ltd managed her.[5]

In 1946 Empire Gantry was allocated to the Soviet Union and renamed Feodosia.[2]

In 1947, Feodosia was sold to Gdynia America Lines, Poland and was renamed Olsztyn.[2] The Code Letters SPAH were allocated.[4] In 1951, she was sold to Polska Żegluga Morska, Szczecin.[2] With their introduction in the 1960s, Olsztyn was allocated the IMO Number 5662782.[3] She served until 1972,[2] arriving at Bruges, Belgium on 31 January for scrapping by Gebroeders Van Heygen.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b Lloyd's Register of Shipping (PDF). Vol. I, Steamers and Motorships of 300 Tons Gross and Over. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1945. Retrieved 15 June 2020 – via Southampton City Council.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Mitchell, WH; Sawyer, LA (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Imkenturm (Ty.)" (in Danish). J Marcussen. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "D/S Imkenturm (2) (DOIJ) 1945" (in German). DDG Hansa. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  5. ^ Lloyd's Register of Shipping (PDF). Vol. I Steamers and Motorships of 300 Tons Gross and Over. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1945. Retrieved 15 June 2020 – via Southampton City Council.
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