Lake Boats at War

The following information is reprinted from a paper submitted to me, some 15 years ago, author unknown. If anyone knows who it might be, please contact me dgm@riverbanktraders.com

Canallers and Package Freighters

Canal-sized freighters were tailor-made in England and Scotland prior to World War I to accomodate the St. Lawrence River canals which extended from Montreal to Kingston, and the Welland canals from Port Dalhousie to Port Colborne.

These vessels were familiarly known as "Canallers" because their size was dictated by the length, breadth and depth of the locks which were ready for traffic in 1901. The maximum breadth of these Canallers was limited to the dimensions of the smallest lock, Lock 17 at Cornwall, Ontario...approximately 43 feet. The length was also limited to ships 259 feet of overall length. The normal depth was 14 feet but many times a draft of 16 feet 6 inches was typically accomodated.

A Class I certificate issued by the Canadian government enabled the vessel to trade as far as the West Indies to bring in cargoes of sugar and bauxite and a Class II certificate enabled the vessel to trade in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and down the Eastern Seaboard as far as New York to bring in cargoes of pulpwood and iron ore.

The Package freighters used by both the Canadian and US fleets were also limited to the length, breadth and depth of these canals but their design and cargo capacity were different because of the nature of their trade...package freight stored in the hull of the vessels and between decks.

Besides the cargoes mentioned above, the main cargo was grain from the Canadian and American lakehead. This grain cargo was usually transported in 500 foot Great Lakes freighters from Duluth-Superior and Port Arthur-Fort William to Buffalo and Port Colborne where it was transhipped in the Canallers which transited the canals to St. Lawrence River Ports. The returning vessels usually sailed Westbound in ballast or with cargoes of pulpwood. Coal was carried by these vessels only Eastbound, Many canal tankers were also employed in their specific petroleum trades.

Adequate for their pre-World War I trades, these vessels were quickly in demand for ocean trades as the ravages of war took their toll on Allied shipping. Due to the lack, of sufficient numbers of hulls to carry war material, these small vessels were pressed into ocean trades because of the German submarine menace which took the lives of many men and ships of the British Merchant Marine. What better ships to carry coal,ore grain overseas could be obtained by the British government ? These were sturdy vessels, having been built in England and having already crossed the seas on their maiden voyages. Many Canadian and American vessels were quickly requisitioned or sold to carry their cargoes between European ports. Many survived the trans-Atlantic voyage in convoys to begin service in British waters. Here their main cargoes were again grain and especially coal from England to France. Some larger Great Lake vessels were cut in two and bulkheaded through the canals, then rejoined at Montreal for ocean service.

Not immune to submarine attack or being destroyed by mines, a total of 26 Great Lakes Canallers and Package Freighters were lost during World War I. Besides these, 4 coasters, formerly chartered by Great Lakes fleets, were also lost. The only canal tanker sunk in this war was the WANETA, ex IMPOCO, while 2 vessels for ocean service prior to 1902 were also destroyed. Three vessels, bulkheaded through the canals were lost. In total, 34 ships built for fresh water service were lost by enemy action during WW I.

Ships lost:

1. ACADIAN. Br. 124-258 steel canaller built in 1908 at Port Glasgow, Scotland by the Clyde Shipbuilding Co.(Hull # 278); 243.5 x 43 x 23.7,- 2305 gross tons. Torpedoed and sunk by UB-117 in the North Atlantic, 11 miles SW by W of Trevose Head September 16,1918. Twenty-five lives were lost.

2. ALGONQUIN Br. 95051 steel canaller built in 1888 at Port of Yorker (Glasgow), by Napier, Shanks &Bell (Hull # 40); 245 x 40.1 x 20.6; 1805 gross tons. To US Registry in 1916; US 214637. Torpedoed and sunk by U-62, 65 miles W of Bishop Rock, Cornwall March 12, 1917. Pos. 40.52 N/ 07.32 W. She was the first American vessel lost in WW I.

3. ARROMANGHES French Registry steel canaller built in 1903 at Wyandotte, Michigan by the Detroit Shipbuilding Co. (Hull # 153) as a) A.D.DAVIDSON (US 20.0181); 241 x.41.1 x 18.8; 1640 gross tons. Torpedoed and sunk by U-20, 100 miles SW of the Scillies Islands, Cornwall October 23, 1916, All hands were lost.

4. ASTURIENNE French Registry steel coaster built in 1913 at Sunderland, England by Osbourne Graham & Co.(Hull # 173) as a) HONOREVA (Br. 134700); 245 x 36.2 x 20; 1452 gross tons. Chartered by the Quebec & Ontario Transportation Co. on the Lakes. According to Lloyd's Wreck List for 1 July to 30 September, 1917, she was lost by enemy action. No date or specifics are given. According to the British Library, a vessel named ASTURIAN was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine February 18, 1917 whilst on a voyage from Liverpool for Alexandria in Pos. 33.48 N/ 15.15 E. Whether this is the same vessel is not known at this time.

HONOREVA, shown on the right passing ALGONQUIN, eluded most photographers. (James Boyd Photo, J.H. Bascom Collection)

5. BUFFALO French Registry steel canaller built in 1903 at Toronto, Ontario by the Bertram Iron Works (Hull # 40) as a) TADOUSAC (C. 116263). Renamed b) DORIC. 247.1 x 43*2 x 26.5; 2359 gross tons. Torpedoed and damaged May 1, 1917. Repaired. Torpedoed and sunk by UB-117 off Godfrey Light and Trevose Head, Cornwall September 18,1918.

6. CHEMUNG US. 126495 steel package freighter built in 1888 at Buffalo, New York by the Union Dry Dock Co.(Hull // 44); 325.7 x 41 .2 x 14.8; 2615 gross tons. Renamed: b) GEORGE F.BROWNELL, c) CHEMEUNG. Bulkheaded through the canals in 1916. Torpedoed and sunk by U-38 in the Mediterranean off Cabo de Strata November 26,1916. Pos. 36.37 N/ 10.35 W.

7. PRONNING MAUD Norwegian Registry steel coaster built in 1907 at Bergen, Norway by Laxevaags M & J (Hull # 84.); 229 x 35.3 x 15.9; 1102 gross tons. Chartered by Keystone Transports for Lake service. Struck a mine in the North Sea off the East of England between Southwall and Lowestoft September 1, 1916 and subsequently sank.

8. DUNDEE, c, 112208 steel package freight canaller built in 1906 at Dundee, Scotland by the Galedon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co.Ltd.(Hull # 190); 250 x 43.2 x 23.5; 2278 gross tons. Torpedoed and. sunk by U-55 ten miles N by W off Ives Head, Cornwall January 31, 1917. One life was lost.

9. W.H.DWYER C. 132073 steel canaller built in 1913 at Sunderland, England by the Sunderland Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.(Hull # 277); 250 x 42.9 x 18.7; 1770 gross tons. Torpedoed and sunk by U-38 fifteen miles E by N from Berry Head, England while in ballast August 26, 1917. She sank in ten minutes but all of the crew of 22 were rescued.

10. D.A.GORDON Br. 129479 steel package freight canaller built in 1910 at Glasgow, Scotland by the Clyde Shipbuilding Co,(Hull # 259); 249.3 x 43 x 23.7; 2301 gross tons. Torpedoed and sunk by U-64, 1 1/4 miles ESE from Cap de las Huertas, Spain December 11,l917. One life was lost.

11. GQRJZIA Uraguayan Registry steel canaller built in 1907 at Dumbarton, Scotland by A.McMillan & Son (Hull # 414) as a) GLENMOUNT (Br. 122408); 249.1 x 42.6 x 20.6; 1957 gross tons. Torpedoed by a German submarine April 1, 1917.

12. HOULGATE French Registry steel canaller built in 1903 at Chicago, Illinois by the Chicago Shipbuilding Co. (Hull# 359) as a) JOHN LAMBERT. 241 x 41 x 15.6; 1550 gross tons. Shelled and sunk by U-19 off the Isle of Wight, 23 miles SE of Overs Light Vessel November 22, 1916. (US. 77583)

13. G.A.JAQUES C. 129497 steel canaller built in 1909 at Dumbarton, Scotland by A.McMillan & Son (Hull # 430); 249 x 43.6 x 25; 2105 gross tons. Torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine, 26 miles WSW of Boulogne, France May 1, 1917. Three lives were lost.

14. EMPRESS OF FORT WILLIAM C. 125443 steel canaller built in 1908 at Wallsend-on-Tyne, England by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson (Hull # 813) as a) MOUNT STEPHEN. 250 x 43 x 25; 2181 gross tons. Struck a mine laid by UC-6 and sank two miles South of Dover in the English Channel February 27, 1916.

15. EMPRESS OF MIDLAND C. 125-428 steel canaller built in 1907 at Wallsend-on-Tyne, England by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson (Hull # 799); 252 x 4.2.6 x 25.6; 2223 gross tons* Struck a mine laid by UC-1 and sank in the English Channel nine miles South of Kentish Knock Light Vessel March 27, 1916.

16. JOHN G.McCOILOUGH US. 11634-0 steel package freighter built in 1890 at Buffalo, New York by the Union Dry Dock Co.(Hull # 52); 255 x 4-0.1 x 21.5; 1895 gross tons. Listed in MVUS from 1915 to 1918 as McCULLOUGH. Built as a) S.C.REYNOLDS. Torpedoed and sunk by UB-74 eight miles South of Ile D'Yeu, Bay of Biscay May 19, 1918.

17. MIDLAND QUEEN C. 110991 steel canaller built in 1901 at Dundee, Scotland by the Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co.Ltd.(Hull # 160); 249 x 4.2.7 x 20.6; 1993 gross tons. Captured and then sunk by gunfire from U-28 seventy miles SW by W off Fastnet August 4., 1915. This was the first Lake vessel lost in WW I.

18. NEEPAWAH C. 102579 steel canaller built in 1903 at Greenock, Scotland by the Greenock & Grangemouth Shipbuilding Co.Ltd, (Hull# 24.5); 244. x 39.10 x 21.8; 1799 gross tons. Attacked by a German submarine, captured and the sunk by time bombs 120 miles West from Bishop Rock April 22, 1917.

19. NORHILDA Br. 127079 steel freighter built in 1910 at Newcastle, England by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson (Hull # 834); 230 x 36.5 x 16,1; 1175 gross tons. Torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine five miles SE from Scarborough, England August 21, 1917. One life was lost.

20. PORT DALHOUSIE C. 133544 steel canaller built in 1913 at Middlesborough, England, by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson (Hull # 922) as a) TYNEMOUNT (a motor vessel). 250 x 4-2.5 x 17.1; 1644 gross tons. Converted to steam. Torpedoed and sunk by UB-10 two miles South, 1/2 mile West from Kentish Knock Light Vessel, March 19, 1916. Twelve lives were lost.

21. S.N.A.No.3 French Registry steel canaller built in 1915 at Ecorse, Michigan by the Great Lakes Engineering Works (Hull # 146) as a) INTERNATIONAL (2) US. 213738. Renamed: b) CLINCHFIELD, c) LEVISA. 250.1 x 43 x 17.1; 1709 gross tons. Torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine in the North Sea September 26, 1917.

22. SAWA MARU Japanese Registry steel freighter built in 1891 at Bay City, Michigan by F.W.Wheeler Shipbuilding Co.(Hull # 70) as a) MACKINAW US.92226. Launched in halves and then taken through the canals to the East coast where the halves were joined together. 270 x 41.9 x 24; 2578 gross tons. Torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine off the SW coast of Ireland March 6, 1917.

23. SCHUYLKILL US. 116526 steel lake freighter built in 1892 at Cleveland, Ohio by the Globe Iron Works (Hull # 49) 274.8 x 40.4 x 13.3; 2205 gross tons. Bulkheaded through the canals in 1917. Torpedoed and sunk by U-39 in the Mediterranean November 24, 1917 in Pos. 36.37 N/ 01.30 E.

24. SCOTTISH HERO C. 105718 steel turret freighter built in 1895 at Sunderland, England by William Doxford & Co. (Hull # 235) 297 x 40 x 24.1; 2201 gross tons. Bulkheaded in and out of the Lakes through the canals. Sunk by gunfire from U-155 in the Atlantic 440 miles W by S 1/2 S from Fastnet June 10, 1917. One life was lost.

25. SOUTHFORD Br. 88739 Iron canaller built in 1883 at Scottswood-on-Tyne, England by Campbell, Mackintosh & Bowstead (Hull # 9); 216.2 x 31.2 x 19.5; 983 gross tons as a) SINDBAD. Struck a mine and sank in the English Channel, four miles ESE from Southwold February 25, 1916. Four lives were lost.

26. STONECROP Br. 135641 steel canaller built in 1913 at Londonderry, North Ireland by the North of Ireland Shipbuilding Co.(Hull # 56) as a) GLENFOYLE. 250 x 43 x 17; 1680 gross tons. Renamed: b) DONLEVON, Used as a "Q" ship in the Special Services of the Royal Navy in WW I, Torpedoed and sunk by U-43 in the North Atlantic September 18, 1917 in Pos. 49.00 N/ 09.32 W.

27. STRATHCONA C. 110354 steel canaller built in 1900 at Dundee, Scotland by Caledon Shipbuilding Co.Ltd. (Hull # 154); 249.1 x 41.8 x 21; 1881 gross tons. Captured and then sunk by U-78, 145 miles WNW off Ronaldshay, England April 13., 1917. Nine lives were lost and three were made prisoners.

28. C.SUNDT Norwegian Registry steel coaster built in 1901 at Bergen, Norway by Bergen Meks. Vaerks (Hull # 114); 228.5 x 35.3 x 15.9; 1105 gross tons. Chartered by Keystone Transports while on the Lakes. Torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine in the North Sea March 25, 1917.

29. TAGONA C. 128188 steel canaller built in 1908 at Dumbarton, Scotland by A. McMillan & Son (Hull # 421); 249.7 x 46.7 x 23.6; 2003 gross tons. Torpedoed and sunk by U-55 five miles WSW from Trevose Head May 16, 1918. Eight lives were lost.

30. WANETA C. 129096 steel canal tanker built in 1910 at Greenock, Scotland by Greenock & Grangemouth Dock Yard Co.(Hull # 323); 242 x 40.1 x 18.8; 1683 gross tons, as a) IMPOCO (1). Torpedoed and sunk by U-101, 42 rniles SSE from Kinsale Head May 30, 1918. Eight lives were lost.

Other canallers lost in WW I of which there is some doubt of Enemy Action are:

1. ETRETAT a) GEORGETOWN
2. FINISTERE a) KINMOUNT
3. MEAFORD (1) a) NEWMOUNT
4. GEORGE L. EATON (1)