For other ships with the same name, see Mona's Queen.
SS (RMS)Mona's Queen (II)No. 76308, was an iron-built paddle steamer which served with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. She was the second vessel in the company's history to be so named. Mona's Queen served from 1885 until 1929. In 1917, during the Great War, she collided with a German submarine.
Length 320'1"; beam 30'3"; depth 14'5" and a service speed of 19 knots. Mona's Queen was constructed from Siemens-Martin mild steel[2] and had a registered tonnage of 1,559 GRT. Mona's Queen carried four lifeboats as well as eight William's double-lined raft seats.[2]
Mona's Queen was launched by the Mayoress of Barrow, Mrs. Fell, on Saturday 18 April 1885.[1] For the occasion, the Directors of the company were taken to Barrow on board the Ellan Vannin, which departed Douglas at 07:30hrs, arriving in Ramsden Dock, Barrow at 11:30hrs.
Her engine design attracted considerable attention when she was first built, for she had a set of compound surface condensing cylinder engines, which produced 5,000 i.h.p. Her boiler steam pressure was 87 pounds per square inch (600 kPa).
Painting of Mona's Queen.
Mona's Queen was the last ship built for the company to be fitted with oscillating engines. The diameter of the high pressure cylinders was 50 inches, the diameter of the low pressure cylinders was 88 inches, both producing a stroke length of 72 inches.[2]
Her saloons were described as "very commodious,"[2] being panelled in satin wood and walnut, and decorated in gold.[2] The main saloon, together with the Captain's Room were upholstered in 'peacock blue velvet', with the Ladies Saloon decorated with bronze green velvet and furnished with sycamore and walnut, with gold mountings. The design of the Ladies Saloon enabled easy conversion into sleeping accommodation.[2] Her Smoke Room was paneled with ash with oak framing and teak mouldings. The upholstery was carried out by Townson, Ward & Barrow, who also provided the upholstery in the Peveril.
Service lifeEdit
The second of the large paddle steamers which dominated the Steam Packet's fleet until the Company turned solely to screw (propeller) driven vessels from 1905, Mona's Queen started service on the Douglas-Fleetwood schedule, but was transferred to the main home run to help meet and beat the competition from the Isle of Man, Liverpool and Manchester Company.
Mona's Queen was considered a fast vessel, and in her first season often steamed from Douglas to the Wyre Light at Fleetwood in under three hours.
In 1888, she was overhauled at Barrow and fitted with new paddles.
War serviceEdit
Together with other Steam Packet vessels, Mona's Queen had a most distinguished record during the First World War.
She was chartered in 1915 and was used as a troop carrier. The necessary work to fit her out was undertaken by the Steam Packet's own workshops in Douglas, and once completed her initial task was to ferry troops mainly between Southampton and the main port serving the British Expeditionary Force at Le Havre.
On 16 February 1917, under the command of CaptainWilliam Cain, she left Southampton on a fine night with a full moon, with over 1,000 troops embarked. Less than an hour's steaming from Le Havre the German U-boatSM UC-26 surfaced almost dead ahead, and not more than 200 yards away. Cain kept his course, and when within about ten yards of the submarine a torpedo was observed travelling underneath the ship, and then to track away to starboard. The U-boat was almost instantaneously hit by the port paddlebox of the Mona's Queen, her steel paddle floats rammed home into the submarine's bow and it was severely damaged.
The collision damaged the vessel, which managed to steam slowly to Le Havre. The troops were disembarked, and the Mona's Queen set off under tow for major repair work in Southampton. The weather was bad, and the captain decided to complete the journey without aid while a tug stood by. She eventually reached Southampton in more than twice her normal time.
After her repairs she returned to her trooping duties in March 1917.
Post-war serviceEdit
Mona's Queen berthed at the Victoria Pier, Douglas with the Queen of the North pictured ahead.
Mona's Queen rejoined the Steam Packet fleet in time for the 1920 tourist season, and continued with her normal duties. She was the last paddle steamer in service with the company, until it was decided to dispose of her in 1929.
In some quarters it was hoped to retain the Mona's Queen along with the Fenella so as they could form part of the forthcoming Centenary Celebrations scheduled for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in 1930.[3] However the two vessels were offered for sale at the end of August, being subsequently inspected by representatives of a Dutch firm of shipbrokers, and also by shipbrokers from Ardrossan.[3]
Both Mona's Queen and the Fenella were offered at auction by Messers C. W. Kellock at the Cunard Building, Liverpool, on Thursday 27 September 1929, and it was reported that the auction was well attended.[4] Bidding for the Mona's Queen commenced at £4,500 and the vessel was withdrawn at £5,920.
She was sold for breaking to Smith & Co. of Port Glasgow for £5,920.
Chappell, Connery (1980). Island Lifeline T.Stephenson & Sons Ltd ISBN0-901314-20-X
External linksEdit
October 15, 2023
mona, queen, 1885, other, ships, with, same, name, mona, queen, mona, queen, 76308, iron, built, paddle, steamer, which, served, with, isle, steam, packet, company, second, vessel, company, history, named, mona, queen, served, from, 1885, until, 1929, 1917, du. For other ships with the same name see Mona s Queen SS RMS Mona s Queen II No 76308 was an iron built paddle steamer which served with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company She was the second vessel in the company s history to be so named Mona s Queen served from 1885 until 1929 In 1917 during the Great War she collided with a German submarine Mona s Queen at the Office Berth DouglasHistoryNameMona s QueenOwner1885 1929 IOMSPCoOperator1885 1929 IOMSPCoPort of registryDouglas Isle of ManBuilderBarrow Shipbuilding Co Cost 55 000Launched18 April 1885Completed1885In service1885Out of service1929IdentificationOfficial Number 76308 Code Letters K F L S 1 FateSold for breaking to Smith amp Co Port Glasgow 1929 General characteristicsTonnage1 559 gross register tons GRT Length320 ft 1 in 97 6 m Beam38 ft 3 in 11 7 m Depth14 ft 5 in 4 39 m Installed power500 shp 370 kW PropulsionCompound surface condensing cylinder engines working at 220 pounds per square inch 1 500 kPa developing 500 shp 370 kW Speed19 knots 35 km h 22 mph Capacity1465 passengersCrew51 Contents 1 Construction and dimensions 2 Service life 3 War service 4 Post war service 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksConstruction and dimensions EditMona s Queen was built in 1885 by the Barrow Shipbuilding Company of Barrow in Furness at a cost of 55 000 Length 320 1 beam 30 3 depth 14 5 and a service speed of 19 knots Mona s Queen was constructed from Siemens Martin mild steel 2 and had a registered tonnage of 1 559 GRT Mona s Queen carried four lifeboats as well as eight William s double lined raft seats 2 Mona s Queen was launched by the Mayoress of Barrow Mrs Fell on Saturday 18 April 1885 1 For the occasion the Directors of the company were taken to Barrow on board the Ellan Vannin which departed Douglas at 07 30hrs arriving in Ramsden Dock Barrow at 11 30hrs Her engine design attracted considerable attention when she was first built for she had a set of compound surface condensing cylinder engines which produced 5 000 i h p Her boiler steam pressure was 87 pounds per square inch 600 kPa nbsp Painting of Mona s Queen Mona s Queen was the last ship built for the company to be fitted with oscillating engines The diameter of the high pressure cylinders was 50 inches the diameter of the low pressure cylinders was 88 inches both producing a stroke length of 72 inches 2 Her saloons were described as very commodious 2 being panelled in satin wood and walnut and decorated in gold 2 The main saloon together with the Captain s Room were upholstered in peacock blue velvet with the Ladies Saloon decorated with bronze green velvet and furnished with sycamore and walnut with gold mountings The design of the Ladies Saloon enabled easy conversion into sleeping accommodation 2 Her Smoke Room was paneled with ash with oak framing and teak mouldings The upholstery was carried out by Townson Ward amp Barrow who also provided the upholstery in the Peveril Service life EditThe second of the large paddle steamers which dominated the Steam Packet s fleet until the Company turned solely to screw propeller driven vessels from 1905 Mona s Queen started service on the Douglas Fleetwood schedule but was transferred to the main home run to help meet and beat the competition from the Isle of Man Liverpool and Manchester Company Mona s Queen was considered a fast vessel and in her first season often steamed from Douglas to the Wyre Light at Fleetwood in under three hours In 1888 she was overhauled at Barrow and fitted with new paddles War service EditTogether with other Steam Packet vessels Mona s Queen had a most distinguished record during the First World War She was chartered in 1915 and was used as a troop carrier The necessary work to fit her out was undertaken by the Steam Packet s own workshops in Douglas and once completed her initial task was to ferry troops mainly between Southampton and the main port serving the British Expeditionary Force at Le Havre nbsp Mona s Queen pictured during her war service in dazzle paint scheme On 16 February 1917 under the command of Captain William Cain she left Southampton on a fine night with a full moon with over 1 000 troops embarked Less than an hour s steaming from Le Havre the German U boat SM UC 26 surfaced almost dead ahead and not more than 200 yards away Cain kept his course and when within about ten yards of the submarine a torpedo was observed travelling underneath the ship and then to track away to starboard The U boat was almost instantaneously hit by the port paddlebox of the Mona s Queen her steel paddle floats rammed home into the submarine s bow and it was severely damaged The collision damaged the vessel which managed to steam slowly to Le Havre The troops were disembarked and the Mona s Queen set off under tow for major repair work in Southampton The weather was bad and the captain decided to complete the journey without aid while a tug stood by She eventually reached Southampton in more than twice her normal time After her repairs she returned to her trooping duties in March 1917 Post war service Edit nbsp Mona s Queen berthed at the Victoria Pier Douglas with the Queen of the North pictured ahead Mona s Queen rejoined the Steam Packet fleet in time for the 1920 tourist season and continued with her normal duties She was the last paddle steamer in service with the company until it was decided to dispose of her in 1929 In some quarters it was hoped to retain the Mona s Queen along with the Fenella so as they could form part of the forthcoming Centenary Celebrations scheduled for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in 1930 3 However the two vessels were offered for sale at the end of August being subsequently inspected by representatives of a Dutch firm of shipbrokers and also by shipbrokers from Ardrossan 3 Both Mona s Queen and the Fenella were offered at auction by Messers C W Kellock at the Cunard Building Liverpool on Thursday 27 September 1929 and it was reported that the auction was well attended 4 Bidding for the Mona s Queen commenced at 4 500 and the vessel was withdrawn at 5 920 She was sold for breaking to Smith amp Co of Port Glasgow for 5 920 See also EditCaptain William CainReferences Edit a b Ships of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Fred Henry p 66 a b c d e f Isle of Man Examiner Saturday 25 April 1885 a b Isle of Man Examiner Friday 12 July 1929 The Ramsey Courier Friday 28 September 1929 BibliographyChappell Connery 1980 Island Lifeline T Stephenson amp Sons Ltd ISBN 0 901314 20 XExternal links EditA photo of the vessel departing Fleetwood in 1890 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SS Mona 27s Queen 1885 amp oldid 1139172959, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
