War Shamrock
Ship Number
520
Vessel Type
A Type Cargo Ship
Built
Belfast
Slip Number
5
Launch Date
June 21, 1917
Delivered
August 20, 1917
Owner
Shipping Controller - Thomas Dixon & Son
Weight
5174 grt
BP Length
400 feet
Breadth
52 feet
No. of Screws
Single
Speed (approx)
11.5 knots
Propulsion
triple expansion engine, single saft, 517 NHP
Official No.
136365
Registered
Belfast
Fate
Wrecked
War Shamrock

[Harland and Wolff Collection]
Harland and Wolff steps in to help the war effort  [Belfast Newsletter 21 June 2007]
 
Today marks another major first for Belfast; like the others, barely remembered. Exactly ninety years ago in 1917 ship number 520 slipped into the Lagan. She was called War Shamrock, a 5,000 ton cargo vessel - but a very special one. War Shamrock was an A-Type cargo ship and was the first standard ship ever to be built in a UK shipyard. Systemised production was a necessity born of the First World War, as German U-boats took a huge toll on merchant ships and their crews. By 1915 in excess of a million tons of British and Allied shipping had been sunk and Britain was facing the very real prospect of being starved into submission.
 
ex- War Shamrock built for The Shipping Controller, ex- Belgier 1919, 1927 purchased from Lloyd Royal Belge renamed Kabinda, 1929 transferred to CMBC, 1939 wrecked on Goodwin Sands.