cargo ship COMMANDANT MAGES

Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes, 1920 - 1938

History

To replace the losses of ships during the first World War, the English government decides in December 1916 a vast new shipbuilding program standardized in some types easy and fast to realize. 800 orders are placed to the United Kingdom, Canada, the USA and Japan, whose names are preceded by the prefix WAR. 20 steel ships are built in Japan, from which 4 are taken again after the war by Messageries Maritimes (CHEF MECANICIEN MAILHOL, COMMANDANT MAGES, COMMISSAIRE PIERRE LECOQ, LIEUTENANT DE LA TOUR) and one with the Compagnie de Navigation Fabre (SYRIA). Launched in September 1917 under the name of WAR WOLF for Shipping Controller and put under management by Furness Withy & Co. Acquired on August 13, 1920 by Messageries Maritimes, baptized according to the name of the captain of the SONTAY who perished with his ship torpedoed on April 14, 1917. Assigned from 1920 to 1934 on the line Dunkirk-Far East, then laid up in Dunkirk. Chartered by the Nochap in 1936 for her line of Madagascar. Sold in March 1938 to the Compagnie France Navigation and renamed SAINT MALO. Given in management to Compagnie Générale Transatlantique in September 1939 following the setting under sequestration of the company. June 18, 1940 is withhold by the Canadian authorities in the harbour of Sydney (New Scotland) and on July 4 a British team of capture goes aboard. Leaves on August 2 for Halifax where she is requisitioned by the Canadian authorities the 9. Part of the crew decides to remain on board and a complement of British and Canadian crew is embarked. Loads in St John 7274 T. of goods and is enrolled beginning October in the convoy HX 77 bound for the United Kingdom under flag FNFL. Straggler of the convoy is torpedoed on October 12 by the German submarine U101 by 57°58'N. and 16°32'W. (28 victims including 8 French out of 44 members of crew).