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Anna Salen
Built: 1940 by Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co, Chester
Tonnage: 11,672 gross
Dimensions: 494×69 ft ( 150,5×21,1m )
Service speed: 17 knots
Propulsions: Busch-Sulzer diesel/single screw
This vessel laid down as a standard C3 type cargo ship for Moore-Mc Cormack Line, and launched on 14 December 1939 as Mormacland. Fitting out was almost complete when the US Government requisitioned the vessel for conversion into an auxiliary aircraft carrier for the US Navy.
Before the conversion work was finished, the lend-lease agreement had been finalized, and the vessel was handed over to the Royal Navy at Norfolk, Virginia, on 17 November 1941. Named HMS Archer it was the second auxiliary aircraft carrier transferred to Britain.
During trials, Archer suffered numerous engine problems, and on the night of 12 January 1942, collided with and sank the Peruvian steamer Brazos some 200 miles off the South Carolina coast. Archer had a huge hole in the bow and serious flooding, so headed for safety stern first, its single propeller half out of the water. The stricken vessel arrived in Charleston on 21 January to be repaired.
On 18 March 1942, HMS Archer departed for active service, being based at Freetown in Sierra Leone, but was plagued by machinery defects for some time, and also had other misfortunes. In June 1942 a bomb stored on the flight deck exploded, so the vessel went to Cape Town to collect a fortune in gold ingots, which was carried to New York, arriving on 15 July. Here the machinery was finally fixed, and Archer gave good service for the rest of the war.
In 1945 HMS Archer was transferred to the Ministry of War Transport, rebuilt as a cargo ship and renamed Empire Lagan, under Blue Funnel Line management. On 8 January 1946, it was handed back to the Americans, and laid up pending disposal.
During 1948 the vessel was purchased by Sven Salen, a noted Swedish shipowner, and renamed Anna Salen. It was sent to the Bethlehem Shipyard at Baltimore for reconstruction as a bulk carrier, but when the job was almost finished, Salen obtained a contract from the International Refugee Organization (IRO) to transport displaced persons.
Anna Salen loaded coal in America and carried it to Italy, where it was converted to a passenger carrier, with rather basic quarters for over 1,500 persons built into the holds, as well as numerous toilet and washing block, and a few public rooms.
On 22 May 1949, Anna Salen departed Naples on its first IRO voyage, carrying 1,503 displaced persons, going to Melbourne and Sydney, where it arrived on 21 June. The second voyage was only to Fremantle arriving on 24 August carrying 1,566 passengers, while the third voyage went to Melbourne, arriving on 30 October.
On 1 December 1949, Anna Salen left Naples on its fourth voyage, but in the Indian Ocean was afflicted by engine trouble, and had to return to Aden. The 1,570 passengers were transferred to Skaugum, which had been crossing the Indian Ocean empty on its way back to Europe. Skaugum arrived in Fremantle on 5 January 1950 and all the passengers disembarked. Meanwhile, Anna Salen limped back to Europe for Repairs, which lasted six months. On 20 June 1950, Anna Salen returned to service, departing Bremerhaven with 1,561 passengers on a voyage to Melbourne, arriving on 29 July. From there the vessel went to Tientsin in China to collect refugees and carry them to Europe. On its next voyage to Australia, Anna Salen arrived in Fremantle on 31 December 1950, with 1,522 passengers. During 1951, Anna Salen made several trips to Canada with reffugges, so it was 21 February 1952 before it again left Bremerhaven bound for Australia, by way of Cape Town. When the Olympic Games were held in Helsinki during the summer of 1952, Anna Salen operated a ferry service from Stockholm, the capacity being increased to 2,500 passengers. Over the next two years, Anna Salen made further voyages to Australia and Canada, and also made several summer voyages across the North Atlantic, carrying students. During 1955, the vessel called at Saigon and also ports in mainland China during some of the return voyages from Australia.
In the middle of 1955, Anna Salen was sold to Hellenic Mediterranean Lines being renamed Tasmania, Apart from repainting, the ship was not altered, and returned to the Australian trade, this time carrying Greek migrants.
Tasmania departed Piraeus on 23 August 1955 on its first voyage, arriving in Melbourne on 23 September. On the return trip, the vessel was again sent to Saigon, where French troops were boarded and returned home.
Over the next years Tasmania made several more voyages to Australia, disembarking its passengers in Melbourne. Entering Port Phillip Bay on 3 April 1956, Tasmania ran aground and suffered some bottom damage, which delayed its departure by eleven days.
On 15 October 1956, Tasmania left Melbourne for the last time, as on returning to Greece the passenger accommodation was removed, and it reverted to being a cargo ship. Early in 1961 Tasmania was sold to China Union Lines, of Taipei, and renamed Union Reliance. Placed on a regular cargo service to American ports, the vessel was passing down the Houston Ship Canal on 7 November 1961, when it collided with the Norwegian tanker Berean. An explosion was followed by a fireball that rapidly engulfed both vessels with Union Reliance having to be beached and left to burn out.
Totally gutted, the vessel was deflated four days. Later, and towed to Galveston, where the wreck was bought by a New Orleans shipbreaking firm arriving at their yard on 28 January 1962. While in the early stages of demolition, on 19 February 1962, the vessel was swept by a second fire and totally destroyed. References:
1. Peter Plowmans (Australian Migrant Ships 1946-1977). 2006. P.58-59. -144p
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