SS Pollux was built in 1909 at Rotterdam, the Netherlands, by Werf voorheen Rijkee N. V. as a commercial cargo ship for KNSM The Royal Netherlands Steamship Company or De Konninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot-Maatschappij, a major Dutch shipping company at the time. SS Pollux was one of six very similar ships built for KNSM with SS Clio (USS Clio - ID-2578) built by Rijkee at Rotterdam in 1910, SS Saturnus built by Mij Fijenoord in Rotterdam in 1909 along with SS Mercurius (USS Mercurius - ID 2516), SS Minerva, and SS Stella built by William Hamilton & Co. Ltd. in GlasgowScotland in 1909.[1][2]
During World War I, which began in 1914 and ended in 1918, the Netherlands was a neutral power. This meant that Dutch ships could not be used to support either side in the conflict. When the United States entered the war on 6 April 1917, the pressure increased on the Netherlands to allow their ships to be used, but they were not in a position to do this without risking German retaliation. Finally, on 20 and 21 March 1918, the U.S. and the British simply seized all the Dutch ships in their ports and justified it with the legal concept of the 'right of angary'. A total of 135 Dutch ships were seized including Pollux and two of her sister ships: Clio and Mercurius.[3]
The U.S. Navy acquired Pollux for World War I service from her owners, Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot-Maatschappij of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 20 March 1918 and commissioned her at Key West on 3 April 1918 as USS Pollux (SP-2573).
Manned by a skeleton crew of available sailors, Pollux departed Key West on 6 April 1918 for Cuba, where she took on board sugar at Havana, Cárdenas, and Matanzas. She arrived at New Orleans, Louisiana, on 22 April 1918 with 25,000 bags of sugar for the American Sugar Refinery Company, then began preparations for inactivation.
The Navy decommissionedPollux and turned her over to the United States Shipping Board on 24 April 1918 for further use during World War I. She was returned to her owners in 1919.
In 1931 Pollux was renamed Tabarka. On 23 March 1941 Tabarka was sunk as a blockship in Kirk Sound, Scapa Flow. refloated 27 July 1944 and resunk in Burra Sound.[4][5]
Citationsedit
^Cockrill. K.N.S.M. The Royal Netherlands Steamship Company (1856-1981). p. 23.
^van Popta. De Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij-KNSM. p. 54.
^Van Tuyl. The Netherlands and World War I: Espionage, Diplomacy and Survival. pp. 205–207.
Silverstone, Paul (2006). The New Navy 1883-1922. Taylor and Francis Publishing Group. ISBN978-0-415-97871-2.
Cockrill, Philip (1981). K.N.S.M. The Royal Netherlands Steamship Company (1856-1981). Phillip Cockrill.
van Popta, W.E. (1968). De Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij-KNSM. De Alk.
Van Tuyll, H.P. (2001). The Netherlands and World War I: Espionage, Diplomacy and Survival. Brill. ISBN9789004122437.
May 02, 2024
pollux, 2573, other, ships, with, same, name, pollux, first, united, states, navy, cargo, ship, commission, three, weeks, during, april, 1918, history, united, states, nameuss, pollux, namesakeprevious, name, retained, builderwerf, voorheen, rijkee, rotterdam,. For other ships with the same name see USS Pollux The first USS Pollux SP 2573 was a United States Navy cargo ship in commission for three weeks during April 1918 History United States NameUSS Pollux NamesakePrevious name retained BuilderWerf voorheen Rijkee N V Rotterdam the Netherlands Yard number132 Completed1909 Acquired20 March 1918 Commissioned3 April 1918 Decommissioned24 April 1918 FateTransferred to United States Shipping Board 24 April 1918 Sunk as block ship in Scapa Flow 23 March 1941 NotesIn commercial service 1909 1918 United States Shipping Board Service 1918 1919 and commercial service from 1919 as Pollux General characteristics TypeCargo ship Tonnage3 940 deadweight tons Length326 ft 9 in 99 59 m between perpendiculars Beam44 ft 1 in 13 44 m Draft18 ft 5 5 m Speed9 knots Complement70 SS Pollux was built in 1909 at Rotterdam the Netherlands by Werf voorheen Rijkee N V as a commercial cargo ship for KNSM The Royal Netherlands Steamship Company or De Konninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij a major Dutch shipping company at the time SS Pollux was one of six very similar ships built for KNSM with SS Clio USS Clio ID 2578 built by Rijkee at Rotterdam in 1910 SS Saturnus built by Mij Fijenoord in Rotterdam in 1909 along with SS Mercurius USS Mercurius ID 2516 SS Minerva and SS Stella built by William Hamilton amp Co Ltd in Glasgow Scotland in 1909 1 2 During World War I which began in 1914 and ended in 1918 the Netherlands was a neutral power This meant that Dutch ships could not be used to support either side in the conflict When the United States entered the war on 6 April 1917 the pressure increased on the Netherlands to allow their ships to be used but they were not in a position to do this without risking German retaliation Finally on 20 and 21 March 1918 the U S and the British simply seized all the Dutch ships in their ports and justified it with the legal concept of the right of angary A total of 135 Dutch ships were seized including Pollux and two of her sister ships Clio and Mercurius 3 The U S Navy acquired Pollux for World War I service from her owners Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij of Amsterdam the Netherlands on 20 March 1918 and commissioned her at Key West on 3 April 1918 as USS Pollux SP 2573 Manned by a skeleton crew of available sailors Pollux departed Key West on 6 April 1918 for Cuba where she took on board sugar at Havana Cardenas and Matanzas She arrived at New Orleans Louisiana on 22 April 1918 with 25 000 bags of sugar for the American Sugar Refinery Company then began preparations for inactivation The Navy decommissioned Pollux and turned her over to the United States Shipping Board on 24 April 1918 for further use during World War I She was returned to her owners in 1919 In 1931 Pollux was renamed Tabarka On 23 March 1941 Tabarka was sunk as a blockship in Kirk Sound Scapa Flow refloated 27 July 1944 and resunk in Burra Sound 4 5 Citations edit Cockrill K N S M The Royal Netherlands Steamship Company 1856 1981 p 23 van Popta De Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij KNSM p 54 Van Tuyl The Netherlands and World War I Espionage Diplomacy and Survival pp 205 207 Silverstone The New Navy 1883 1922 p 182 wrecks of Scapa Flow North Link Ferries Retrieved 31 March 2021 References editThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entries can be found here and here NavSource Online Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Pollux SP 2573 Silverstone Paul 2006 The New Navy 1883 1922 Taylor and Francis Publishing Group ISBN 978 0 415 97871 2 Cockrill Philip 1981 K N S M The Royal Netherlands Steamship Company 1856 1981 Phillip Cockrill van Popta W E 1968 De Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij KNSM De Alk Van Tuyll H P 2001 The Netherlands and World War I Espionage Diplomacy and Survival Brill ISBN 9789004122437 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Pollux SP 2573 amp oldid 1132808694, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
