SS Coptic
From Our Contribution
 Tyne Built Ships | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | SS Coptic |
| Owner | Shaw, Savill & Albion Ltd |
| Builder | Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend |
| Yard number | 1319 |
| Launched | July 1928 |
| Completed | 1928 |
| In service | 1928 |
| Out of service | 1965 |
| Fate | scrapped |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 18,192 tons |
| Length | 500 ft |
| Beam | 64 ft |
| Depth | draught 28 ft 9 in |
| Propulsion | twin screw |
| Speed | 14.5 knots |
Remarks
When World War II was declared the Coptic was sailing southwards along the east coast of Australia. It survived six years of hostilities seeing many ports of call on its journeys between Australia - United Kingdom, the USA/Canada - United Kingdom and South America/Carribean - United Kingdom.
On September 3rd 1940 the Coptic was sailing from Brisbane to Newcastle NSW whilst travelling in the other direction en-route from Sydney to New Caledonia via Brisbane was the HMAS Adelaide. Wartime conditions dictated that both ships were operating without lights which possibly contributed in some way to events that led to their collision. Damage to the ships was minimal but the Coptic would require a visit to Sydney for several weeks of repairs. Repairs were completed by 15 Oct 1940.
The spring and summer of 1944 brought a change of routine for the Coptic, making two round trips between Liverpool and New York as part of convoys ON230 (westbound), HX290 (eastbound), then ON244 (westbound) & HX303 (eastbound), arriving back in Liverpool on August 26th 1944. The final wartime voyage for the Coptic departed Liverpool on June 25th 1945, via the Panama Canal and reaching Auckland on August 3rd 1945. Almost two months were spent locally prior to departing Lyttelton on September 27th 1945, the Cape Verde Islands on October 27th 1945 and reaching London on November 6th 1945.
At the conclusion of the war the SS Coptic was returned to her owners and resumed service on the UK - Australia/New Zealand route before being scrapped in Belgium.