TS Ostmark
ex Cote D’Argent (I)
Nigel Thornton Collection
Steel twin screw turbine ship, built for Societe Anonyme de Gérance et d’Armement. by Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, Le Havre in 1932 for the Calais-Dover service
Technical Data
- Length on deck: 99.3m (325.9 ft)
- Breadth of hull: 13.72m (45 ft)
- Depth: 7.92m (25 ft)
- Tonnage: 3,047 gross/2,485 net/1,050 deadweight
- Engines: 4 Parsons triple expansion steam turbines in two independent sets, each set working one screw
- Power: 14,000shp
- Speed: 23 knots
- Capacity: 900 first class, + 500 second class passengers
- Wireless Signal: FNXU
- Register Number (1941 -42): 22076
- Registry: Havre/France
- Sister Ship: Cote D’Azur (I)
History
November 6th 1931:Keel laid.
April 1932: Launched to Societe Anonyme de Gérance et d’Armement
May 2nd 1933: Maiden voyage to Dover then operated Calais – Dover service.
Nigel Thornton Collection
June 9th 1933: She was in collision with the Swedish cargo steamer CLIVE in thick fog in mid-Channel. Some damage was sustained to both ships.
Photoship
October 6th 1939 – November 13th 1939: Boulogne – Folkestone.
December 1st 1939: She then operated between Calais and Dover/Folkestone.
December 16th 1939: Suffered steering gear break-down, but able to continue.
May 9th 1940: Service closed.
May 11th 1940: To Flushing to embark French troops.
May 18th 1940: Brought troops from Ostend to Folkestone and then placed under British control for the evacuation of Dunkirk.
June 4th 1940: Involved in a minor collision with PRINCESS MAUD
Nigel Thornton Collection
June 5th 1940: Arrived in Cherbourg.
July 26th 1940: Caught by the German advance whilst assisting in the evacuation at La Pallice, she was severely damaged and was towed to St Nazaire for repair.
July 30th 1940: Captured in a disabled condition at the same time undergoing conversion to a minelayer.
October 15th 1941: Commissioned as the Mine-layer flagship and accommodation ship. Renamed OSTMARK.
Courtesy of Joe Jacobs
1942: At Kiel, converted to a Torpedo Target Vessel being based at Grossenbrode in the Baltic.
April 19th 1945: Sunk by British bombers off Anholt, Denmark.
All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
