Clan Campbell - WW2 Service

The SS Clan Campbell was a cargo vessel built in the yards of the Greenock Dockyard Co., Greenock, Scotland and launched on 14 January 1937 for Clan Line Steamers Ltd, of Glasgow. She was registered at Glasgow.

During the Second World War she took part in a number of convoys. The Clan Campbell also operated in the Mediterranean as part of the convoys to supply Malta.

In February 1942 she had been damaged by bombs and forced to seek shelter at Tobruk whilst en route to Malta. The next month, captained by J. F. Vooght, she formed part of the four ship convoy MW-10 which left Alexandria for Malta on 20 March 1942. The merchantmen were protected by a force of cruisers and destroyers under command of Rear Admiral Sir Philip Vian.

The weather was initially thick and stormy, which helped to conceal the ships from enemy reconnaissance, but it cleared while the ships were still off Cyrenaica and they were sighted by enemy aircraft.

Four Italian cruisers were despatched to intercept the convoy, but were driven off in a short engagement on 22 March. That afternoon the Italian battleship Littorio arrived, escorted by two cruisers. The British again attacked with torpedoes despite heavy odds, forcing the Italians to break off and retire. On 23 March the convoy came under air attack.

The Clan Campbell was hit by bombs and also torpedoed, and had to be abandoned. Six of the crew, including Capt J F Vooght, were killed and one was wounded.

Bombed and Sunk in The Mediterranean - 1942

Master

From

To

J F Vooght


3/1942

Bombed & sunk

   Crew List

Career Summary

Clan Campbell was launched on 14 January 1937.

She was one of a sub-class of 11 Cameron-class ships of identical dimensions, built in 1937–41 by the Greenock Dockyard Company on the River Clyde at Greenock in Renfrewshire: Clan Buchanan, Clan Cameron, Clan Chattan, Clan Campbell, Clan Cumming, Clan Ferguson, Clan Fraser, Clan Forbes, Clan Lamont, Clan Menzies and HMS Engadine.

Clan Campbell's boilers had a combined heating surface of 17,780 square feet (1,652 m2) and supplied steam at 220 lbf/in2 to a pair of three-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines.

Steam exhausted from the low-pressure cylinders then drove a pair of low-pressure steam turbines with double reduction gearing and hydraulic couplings to twin propeller shafts.

J G Kincaid and Company of Greenock built the four engines, whose combined power was rated at 1,362 NHP.

1942 Bombed and sunk off Malta

Vessel

Built

Tonnage

Official No

Ship Builder

Engine Builder

Engine Type

HP

Screws

Clan Campbell (4)

1937

7255

164112

Greenock Dockyard

Greenock

NE Marine Engineering

Wallsend

2 x Triple Expansion Steam

9500 IHP

2

Launched - 1937

Clan Campbell (4)

GZLT

Clan Line Home Page
Previous Page Next Page
Clan Line Home Page Home Page