SS Ajax (1923)

For other ships with the same name, see SS Ajax.

SS Ajax was a Dutch steamship owned by the Koninklijke Nederlandse Stoomboot-Maatschappij. She was built in 1923 and sunk on 8 August 1940 at 09.10 hrs [1][2][3][4] nearby Catharina Point, Isle of Wight at position 50°30’ N.B. en 01°40’ W.L., after being attacked by as many as 50 German bombers. She was hit by three bombs and sank within 5 minutes with the loss of four crew, Chief Engineer J.B. Smit (54),[5] stoker D.J. Baaij (34)[6] and sailors A. Toet (25)[7] and P. Spaans (39).[8]

Ajax was one of seven ships sunk from convoy CW9-Peewit on 8 August 1940 with a loss of twenty ships crew in total (http://ww2db.com/event/timeline/1940/).

Diving on the wreck of the ship on 14 June 2015 shows that the vessel rests in an area of white sand dunes, in about 40m of water.[9] She is fairly broken up with the bow being the most substantial part remaining. Lying on its port side the two anchors are still secured. There are portions of mast visible & the engine is largely upright. Currently only one boiler is exposed. The stern steering position is still visible.

Ship information

Name  : SS AJAX

Home port: Amsterdam

Flag  : Netherlands

Imo  : 5605955

Call sign: NBTJ - 1933 PCFQ

Owner  : NV Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij- Amsterdam

Tonnage  : 942 GT (BRT 942, NRT 510, DWT 1.505)

Length  : 71,20 m - Beam: 10,52 - Draft: 4,09 m

Build  : 1923

Yard  : Hamburg Elbe Schiffswerft - Hamburg/Duitsland

Engine  : Triple expansie stoommachine, 3 cyl / Power: 750 PS / Speed: 9 kn

Type  : Cargo ship

HISTORY:

1923-1924: s.s. ELBE, Kirsten Adolf & Co. Hamburg-London Linie - Hamburg Pacific;

1924-1927: s.s. ELBE, Rochling, Menzell & Co., Hamburg-Duitsland;

1927-1927: s.s. CEUTA, Oldenburg Portugiesische Dampfschiffs Rhederei - Schultze & Burmester;

1927-1940: s.s. AJAX, Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij N.V., Amsterdam;

References

  1. ↑ "Name ship: AJAX" (in Dutch language). Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank. Retrieved 2016-09-08. Op reis van Southampton naar Falmouth is de AJAX op 8 augustus 1940 om 9.10 uur des morgens op 15 mijl ten westen van st. Catherine’s point (Isle of Wight) door een Duitse luchtaanval getroffen en tot zinken gebracht in positie 50°30’NB en 01°40’WL. Vier van de opvarenden van de AJAX verloren hierbij het leven.
  2. ↑ "Maritiem Digitaal NL". www.maritiemdigitaal.nl. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  3. ↑ "WRECKSITE - AJAX CARGO SHIP 1923-1940". www.wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  4. ↑ Saunders, Andy (2010-01-01). Convoy Peewit: August 8, 1940 : the First Day of the Battle of Britain?. Grub Street. ISBN 9781906502676.
  5. ↑ "Jacob Bruining Smit". Oorlogsgravenstichting. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  6. ↑ "Dirk Jacobus Baaij". Oorlogsgravenstichting. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  7. ↑ "Arie Toet". Oorlogsgravenstichting. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  8. ↑ "Pieter Spaans". Oorlogsgravenstichting. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  9. ↑ "Dive on the wreck of SS Ajax". Vimeo. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
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