1911 Vandyck - 1st World War loss
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The 6,200-ton passenger and cargo ship Vandyke (WC&C Yard No. 301) was launched today by Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd. for the Liverpool, Brazil & River Plate Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., Liverpool (Lamport & Holt Ltd.).
The vessel was the first of three identical sisterships (Vauban WC&C Yard No. 302, Vestris WC&C Yard No. 303) built by the yard for the Company’s new British and South America service. (See also: 16 May 1912)
The liner was one of the largest and best appointed vessels in the Lamport & Holt fleet and on the morning of 26 October 1914 was on passage from Buenos Aires to New York. On board were over 200 passengers, mostly US citizens; in her holds a large and valuable cargo including 1,000 tons of frozen beef for the British market.
She was sighted by the Imperal German light cruiser Karlsruhe which chased her and finally captured the liner shortly before noon. The passengers were transferred to the syeamer Asuncion, captured before, along with a large number of prisoners and sent on to Para, which they reached on 1 November.
Karlsruhe sank Vandyke the following day off Maranhao, Brazil after taking off a large amount of stores including a quantity of the beef.
1950 British Prospector
The 8,655-ton oil tanker British Prospector (Yard No. 1401) was launched today for the British Tanker Co. Ltd., London.