Ben my Chree (1908) - Isle of Man Steam Packet Company



This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the famous Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPCo) turbine steamer Ben-my-Chree (3) of 1908.

Ben-my-Chree (3) was even larger and faster than her predecessor the Viking. She was 375 feet long (compared to 350ft), 2550 grt (compared to 1957 grt) and her engines developed 14,500shp (compared to 11,000shp). Her design speed was 24.5 knots, which was exceeded in service. Ben-my-Chree (3) operated on the main Liverpool-Douglas route until the First War, when she was taken by the Admiralty in 1915 for conversion to a seaplane carrier, forming the prototype for later conversions, including the Viking. The conversion work was done at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, and mainly consisted of the addition of a large hangar aft. She was also fitted with a dismountable launching platform forward, for seaplanes on trolleys. This was not successful, and so was removed. later conversions, starting with Viking, had a flat launching platform forward, to be used by landplanes. She subsequently operated various types of Short and Sopwith floatplanes.

Ben-my-Chree (3) replaced the ex-SECR turbine Empress at Harwich in April 1915, and took part in operations off the German Coast. In June 1912 she replaced the Ark Royal at the Dardanelles, carrying Short Type 184s. On the 12th and 17th August, her Shorts carried out the world's first aerial torpedo attacks. These were successful, but damage caused was not as substantial as claimed at the time. Ben-my-Chree (3) became the flagship of the East Indies & Egypt Seaplane Squadron at Port Said in January 1916, and was active in the area until 9th January 1917, when she was caught by Turkish artillery whilst in the harbour at Castelorizo, and was set on fire and sunk. The wreck was raised in 1921, towed to Piraeus, and subsequently scrapped in Italy. Ben-my-Chree (3) was the only aviation vessel lost to enemy action in the First War.


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Ben-my-Chree (3) IOMSPCo: 1908-1917
Ben-my-Chree (3) was even larger and faster than the her predecessor the Viking. She was 375 feet long (compared to 350ft), 2550 grt (compared to 1957 grt) and her engines developed 14,500shp (compared to 11,000shp). Her design speed was 24.5 knots, which was exceeded in service. Ben-my-Chree (3) operated on the main Liverpool-Douglas route until the First War, when she was taken by the Admiralty in 1915 for conversion to a seaplane carrier, forming the prototype for later conversions, including the Viking. Ben-my-Chree (3) was , caught by Turkish artillery on 9th January 1917, whilst in the harbour at Castelorizo, and was set on fire and sunk. The wreck was raised in 1921, towed to Piraeus, and subsequently scrapped in Italy. Ben-my-Chree (3) was the only aviation vessel lost to enemy action in the First War. IOMSPCo art postcards of the Ben-my-Chree (3) Images link to larger copy IOMSPCo art postcard of the Ben-my-Chree (3) with war record Images link to larger copy IOMSPCo art postcard of the Ben-my-Chree (3) with war record Images link to larger copy Valentine's art postcards of the Ben-my-Chree (3) Image links to larger copy Hough art postcard (Dougls) of the Ben-my-Chree (3) Image links to larger copy S.R.Keig photographic postcard of the Ben-my-Chree (3). Duncan photographic postcard of the Ben-my-Chree (3). WSS photographic postcard of the Ben-my-Chree (3). Duncan photographic postcard of the HMS Ben-my-Chree (3) Image links to larger copy IOM stamp showing HMS Ben-my-Chree (3). IOMSPCo-Header Page - IOMSPCo-Page 1 - IOMSPCo-Page 2 - IOMSPCo-Page 3 IOMSPCo-Page 4 - IOMSPCo-Page 5 - IOMSPCo-Page 6 Ferry Postcards - Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcards Top of Page - Simplon Postcards Recent Updates - Simplon Postcards Home Page �1999-2013 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards (all pages on web site) All Rights Reserved Free Web Counter Times viewed since 12/08/2012: