Clan Matheson was ordered by Australian Steamship Ltd, Sydney in 1917 as the 4,360 GRT Bogong. It was later decided to rename her You Yangs.
The contract was sold to Clan Line Steamers Ltd on the orders of the British Shipping Controller. Her design was modified and she was lengthened.
Clan Matheson was placed under the management of Cayzer, Irvine & Co Ltd. Her port of registry was Glasgow.
20 Sep 2013
A collection of stamps featuring historic trading ships has gone on sale to commemorate the Merchant Navy.
The Royal Mail has created the series of Mint stamps to pay tribute to the contribution of Merchant Navy sailors to the country over the last two centuries.
The collection was launched today aboard one of its featured vessels, the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, with a handful of Merchant Navy veterans there to see their efforts recognized.
Master
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From
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To
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L F Redford
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1919
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H Evans
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5/1944
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William Hamilton & Co Ltd built her as yard number 311. She was a sister ship to SS Chronos and SS Macedon. She was laid down in 1917 and launched on 18 February 1919 as Clan Morgan and completed in April that year.
She was 397.1 ft (121.04 m) long, with a beam of 51.4 ft (15.67 m) and a depth of 34.0 ft (10.36 m).[2] She had a NRT of 3,458 and tonnage under deck of 6,348.
She had nine corrugated furnaces with a combined grate area of 190 square feet (18 m2) heating three single-ended boilers with a combined heating surface of 7,668 square feet (712 m2). These produced steam at 180 lbf/in2 for a single three-cylinder triple expansion steam engine that drove a single screw propeller.
David Rowan & Co Ltd of Glasgow built the engine, which had cylinders of 27 inches (69 cm), 44 inches (110 cm) and 73 inches (190 cm) diameter by 48 inches (120 cm) stroke and was rated at 517 NHP.
The United Kingdom Official Number 141086 was allocated. The Code Letters JWPR were allocated. In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to GQMW.
Clan Matheson served as a cargo ship, but she was also used as a cadet training ship.
1943 Bombed and damaged at Calcutta by Japanese aircraft
1948 Transferred to Houston Line, renamed Harmodius (3),
Commemorative Stamp - 2013
Career Summary
During the Second World War, Clan Matheson was a member of a number of convoys.
OG 3
Convoy OG 3 formed at sea on 17 October 1939 bound for Gibraltar. Clan Matheson was carrying general cargo bound for East Africa.
OG 22
Convoy OG 22 formed at sea on 18 March 1940 bound for Gibraltar. Clan Matheson was a member of this convoy.
HX 228
Convoy HX 228 departed New York on 28 February 1943 and arrived at Liverpool on 15 March. Clan Matheson was carrying a cargo of sugar and general cargo. She was to have been a member of this convoy but returned to port.
HX 229
Convoy HX 229 departed New York on 8 March 1943 and arrived at Liverpool on 23 March. Clan Matheson was carrying general cargo, mail and a passenger, bound for Loch Ewe. She was also carrying the convoy's Vice Commodore. Clan Matheson was unable to maintain speed and put into Halifax, Nova Scotia.
WW2 Service
In 1924, the Coconut Moth (Levuana irridescens) was a serious pest in Fiji and a biological solution was sought.
A similar moth, Artona catoxantha was known to be parisitized by Ptychomyia and Apanteles. It was decided to use these parasites to eradicate the Coconut Moth.
The parasites had to be imported from Singapore to Fiji.
Most ships at that time did not sail direct, but via Australia, which would have meant putting the parasites into quarantine in Australia. Clan Line ships operated in the area.
In July 1924, Clan Mackay was sailing from Singapore to Fiji via other ports. Clan Matheson was also due to sail from Java to Fiji. The parasites were transported on Clan Mackay to Surabaya, Java, where they were transferred to Clan Matheson for onward shipment to Fiji.
Although no Apanteles survived, the introduction of the Ptychomia was a success and the Coconut Moth had been eradicated within two years.
Coconut Moth Infestation - 1924
Vessel |
Built
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Tonnage
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Official No
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Ship Builder
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Engine Builder
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Engine Type
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HP
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Screws
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Clan Matheson (4)
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1919
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5613
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141086
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Wm Hamilton
Port Glasgow
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David Rowan
Glasgow
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Triple Expansion Steam
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517 NHP
3000 IHP
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1
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Clan Matheson (4)
JWPR / GQMW