SS Lossiebank
From Our Contribution
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | SS Lossiebank |
| Owner | Bank Line (Andrew Weir & C0) |
| Builder | Harland * Wolff, Beklfast |
| In service | 1930 |
| Fate | broken up in Japan 1962 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | cargo |
| Tonnage | 5,626 tons |
| Propulsion | Twin screw |
Remarks
The "Lossiebank" survived breaking down during the evacuation from Crete. She suffered from engine room defects after leaving Suda Bay with 2,000 troops on board and broke down when in convoy. Signaling to the convoy escort that she would be ready to resume in 15 minutes, the Commodore replied that if she wasn't under way in ten minutes, the troops would be disembarked and "Lossiebank" sunk by gunfire! As if by magic, the main engines were re-activated within the allotted time, and although the convoy was heavily bombed by five Italian bombers from Rhodes and the ship straddled by bomb bursts, "Lossiebank" emerged comparatively unscathed and sailed on.
She also made at least one other voyage from Suda in Crete to Port Said in Egypt between 14 and 16 May 1941. She was later a participant in Convoy HX 229A from Halifax, Canada to Liverpool 12 - 26 March 1943, one of the mamoth convoys used to defeat the U Boats.