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Great Liners: The MONTCLARE |
Article: Great Liners: MONTCLARE
Of 10,400 gross tons, she was a steel shelter deck passenger liner built on Clydebank to the order of Canadian Pacific Steamships by John Brown and Co. Ltd. Launched on December 18, 1921 it was the intention of her owners to call her METAPEDIA but she went down the ways as the MONTCLARE.
At the launch of her sister, the MONTROSE, it was said that the three ships comprising the class would each cost £1,500,000 but it afterwards became known that the MONTCLARE had in fact cost £1,800,000.
The ship was driven by double-reduction geared turbines coupled to two shafts producing a speed in service of 16 knots. Steam was provided by 10 boilers all burning oil fuel. The main turbines were of Brown-Curtis design but in 1929 she was sent to Belfast where her machinery was replaced by a single-reduction set built and fitted by
Harland and Wolff.
The trio were not outstanding by any calculation. They were designed exclusively for the new tourist traffic and as such they fulfilled their demands adequately.
Tall widely spaced elliptical funnels gave the ships a balanced appearance and did much to compensate for the ugly sets of davits by which, in theory at least, it was possible to launch all her 24 boats in two minutes.
Each ship had a slightly raked stem, cruiser stern and a neat island bridge completely plated in round the front. The low compact superstructure and ample freeboard were adequate protection against the Atlantic winter on the Canadian route.
Accommodation for passengers - all amidships - was roomy and comfortable. The MONTCLARE herself could carry 554 cabin-class on B and C decks with state-rooms arranged for two or four passengers and fitted out in solid style. In all third-class passengers totalled 1,252, quite distinct in those days from the cabin-class. They were berthed in 2, 4 and 6-berth rooms.
On August 18, 1922 the MONTCLARE, commanded by Capt. R. G. Latta, who had been with the company since October 1907, left Liverpool for Canada on her maiden voyage.
During 1924 the ship came into prominence when two christenings took place on board when she was Liverpool-bound from Montreal. In November of the same year the MONTCLARE became the first ship fitted with radio equipment capable of relaying music to all parts of the ship. Two years later, in November 1926, she made a fast passage between Montreal and Liverpool which, if not a record, was a notable achievement. She made the crossing in 6 days 17 hrs. 40 min., under the command of Capt. G. S. Webster, R.D., R.N.R.
(Photo orginally posted by Bill Green in 2003)
Her hitherto unspoiled career collected its first blemish on March 21, 1931 when she ran aground on Little Cumbrae at the mouth of the Firth of Clyde, with about 300 passengers on board who were taken ashore in eight tugs soon in attendance on the liner. At one stage she was lying at a dangerous angle but she fortunately refloated the following day and left for Liverpool under her own power - albeit only on one engine, having damaged her starboard propeller.
On December 14 of the same year she had another brush with the ground when she touched Taylor's Bank revetment in Liverpool after colliding with the boat beacon ALPHA. She remained aground for some time but was afterwards safely refloated without assistance. Passengers had been warned to prepare to be landed but this was found to be unnecessary.
On August 28, 1939 the MONTCLARE was requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as an armed merchant cruiser and in April 1942 a scheme was begun to turn her into a submarine depot ship. Her sale to the Admiralty was on June 2, 1942. The effect of her conversion by the Admiralty on her appearance was devastating. She looked a poor thing when the task was finished but doubtless the changes suited the purposes of her new owners. Both funnels had been cut down by several feet and had lost their rake ; the foremast had been taken out of her and a signalling mast stepped -just abaft the bridge. Other changes included the removal of her boats, and the equipping of what had been her boat deck with a pair of cranes of considerable lifting power between the funnels. Her mainmast had also gone and was replaced by a tripod mast of standard Admiralty design. This was stepped with the legs forward of the main pole. With a pair or so of Carley floats decorating her side and several overall coats of drab grey she constituted a mockery of what she had once been.
(Photo originally posted by Brian Hargreaves in 2002)
The Admiralty decided that she would make a very good Flagship for the Fleet train of supply Vessels in the Pacific and off she went to fulfil her new duties. Later however she became a parent ship for submarine flotillas and spent a lot of time at Rothesay. On October 12, 1954 site was towed into the Gareloch to lay up - often a portent of impending doom. However, in February 1955 she was towed to Portsmouth where it was made clear from devious reports that she would soon he in the shipbreaker's hands.
In September 1955 she appeared on the " disposal list " but had a further two years to go before being delivered for scrap. Towed to Inverkeithing by the Hull tugs ENGLISHMAN and MERCHANTMAN, she joined the old Cunard liner SCYTHIA in the condemned hold.
(Adapted from an article in April 1958 See Breezes by Stephen Tetlow).
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