Taara SS (Convoy FS- 559)

SS TAARA (FORMERLY SS FLEETWING PICTURED ABOVE)
CONVOY FS-559

Position ... 52 54 000 N / 001 43 333 E

Cargo ... Coal, Blyth to the Thames

Builder ... S. P. Austin & Son Ltd (Sunderland)

Yard no ... 241

Engine builder ... North Eastern Marine Engineers

Built ... 1907

Lost ... 6 / 8 / 41

Cause of loss ... Ran aground on Haisborough Sands

Engine ... x1 three cylinder triple expansion

Boiler ... x1, four furnaces (plain)

Construction ... Steel

Dimensions ... 73.1 x 11 x 4.7mtrs

Power ... 170 nhp

Speed ... 9.5 knots

Owner at time of loss ... British Government, London

Type .... Cargo. Long raised quarter deck, engines and bridge midships, plumb bow, counter stern.

Ownership history of the SS Taara

Below is a plotted history of the Taara's ownership up until the time of her loss.

1907 ... Built for the Witherington & Everett Steamship Company

1915 - 1919 ... Interned by Germany during WW1

1919 ... Returned to Witherington & Everett Steamship Company

1920 ... Sold to Broomhill Steamships Ltd, Newcastle - Upon - Tyne

1936 ... Sold to J. Adamson of Parnu Estonia, (name changed to Taara)

!940 ... Requisitioned by the British government London WW11

1941 ... Lost on Haisborough Sands

Circumstances of loss

On August 6th 1941, and in bad weather, the steamship Taara was attached to the south bound convoy FS - 559, on route from Methil on the Firth of Forth to Dagenham. At the time of the Taara's loss there was a great deal of dispute as to the cause. Some sources claimed a wrong course change was to blame, other sources claimed other ships forced them out of the swept channel and onto the sands through not holding position in the convoy. In addition to this, several Masters and Officers claim that channel bouy no 8 was never sighted and believed the lamp not to be lit. There are reports of an E Boat attack, this in turn causing the vessels to change course and ground on the sands. A report submitted by the commanding officer of the escort ship Vimiera makes no mention of any such action involving E Boats. For what ever the reasons for this traggic incident, the events of the 6th August paid a heavy toll on both lives lost and the loss of ships.

Vessels lost on the sands from convoy FS - 559

SS Aberhill, SS Afon Towy, HMT Agate, SS Betty Hindley, SS Deerwood, SS Gallois, SS Oxshott, SS Tarra

S. P. Austin & Son Ltd (Builders of the SS Taara) Founded in 1826 by Peter Austin as the Nova Scotia Shipyard, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland. In 1869, with Iron ship building now leading the way, Austin's built their last wooden vessel. For the next couple of years the company focused on repairs to iron built vessels, and to aquiring the surrounding land to further expand their business. In 1874 the company built their first iron ship, and by 1881 were employing in excess of 400 men. During WW1 Austin's built 13 colliers and 5 small naval craft.By 1914 Austin's were employing some 800 men. In 1954 Austin's merged with W. Pickersgill and Son to become Austin and Pickersgill. In 1956 the yard closed.

North Eastern Marine Engineering (Builders of the SS Taara's engine) Formed in 1867 by John Frederick Spencer, the North Eastern Marine Engineering Company were Marine engine builders of Sunderland. In 1882, the Northumberland engine works and forge were established by the company at Wallsend. In 1889, the combined efforts of both the Sunderland works and the Wallsend works had supplied in the region of 100 triple expansion engines to various ship builders. In 1909 the company were the first to install an electrically operated cantilever crane in the North East. In 1938, N.E.M was, along with George Clark, another engineering company aquired by Richardson Westgarth and Co and became George Clark & NEM Ltd, this in turn becoming part of the Richardson Westgarth Group.

The Taara today

Awaiting divers report

SS TAARA (FORMERLY SS FLEETWING PICTURED ABOVE)CONVOY FS-559

SS TAARA (FORMERLY SS FLEETWING PICTURED ABOVE)
CONVOY FS-559