Novelist
Ship Number
1033
Vessel Type
Cargo Ship
Built
Govan Yard
Slip Number
4
Launch Date
June 4, 1940
Delivered
August 8, 1940
Owner
T.&J. Harrison
Weight
6133 grt
BP Length
420 feet
Breadth
54-4 feet
No. of Screws
Single
Speed (approx)
11 knots
Propulsion
Triple expansion
Official No.
166296
Registered
Liverpool
Fate
Scrapped
Novelist

[Joe McMillan Collection]
This triple expansion steamer was built by Harland and Wolff Ltd., Glasgow and launched for T and J Harrison on 4 June 1940 at a cost of £151,000.
 
On 11 March 1941 she was loading war materials at Manchester when an air raid took place during which she was struck by a large bomb in number 2 ‘tween deck. She had already loaded some ammunition which was below the bomb damage and subsequent fire. The crew valiantly fought the fire under control, but even so, the damage was severe and after her cargo was unloaded she went for repairs. The MOWT decided that during repair she should be fitted as a CAM ship (Catapult Armed Merchantman). A steel gantry and track, 80 feet long, was erected on the fore part of the ship. On this track was a trolley which fitted to a fighter aircraft. To launch the plane the ship would turn into the wind before a bank of rockets, attached to the trolley, were fired thus launching the aircraft. The plane was considered expendable and upon his return the pilot would try and ditch close to a vessel that would be able to rescue him.
 
She was damaged during an air raid at Bone, Algeria while discharging military supplies.
 
In 1961 she was sold to Liberia and renamed Phoenix and traded under the Lebanese flag for a short while only as she was broken up beginning 15 September 1961.