Koning Luise and the Montevideo Maru [Archive]

nari010

11-06-2010, 04:38

I'm not sure of the spelling, but does anyone have more information about these ships?

The Luise was a German ship which served as a troopship during (?) and after WW1. It was on the UK/Aust run.

The Montevideo Maru was of course sunk by the USS Sturgeon near Manila/ Japan/ Rabaul during WW11(depending on which source is true), resulting in the deaths of the POWs aboard. One of my relatives was on that ship as a POW.

Thanks for any further enlightenment.

nari010

patroclus

11-06-2010, 05:14

The ss KONIGIN LUISE was a German passenger ship of Norddeutscher Lloyd line built in Stettin in 1896. 10566 tons; used on the New York and Australian trades; sold after the Armistice to the Orient Line as OMAR (1920).

The KONIGIN LUISE was of the "Barbarossa" Class, one of which is pictured here:

berry

11-06-2010, 05:50

Konigin Luise :
Another source states -
tonnage- 2163 grt
dimensions- 276X39X21 ft.
machinery- 2-shaft turbines,N.H.P. 846 = 21 knots
armament -2 pom-poms,200 mines
builders A.G.Vulcan ,Stettin
comp. 1913
5/8/14 -sunk by gunfire.R.N.light cruiser AMPHION,and destroyers,North sea off Orfordness.
Hambug-America liner,sailed as minelayer 4.8.14 - First German warship to be sunk in WW1.
Regards
Sid

patroclus

11-06-2010, 06:30

Konigin Luise :
Another source states -
tonnage- 2163 grt
dimensions- 276X39X21 ft.
machinery- 2-shaft turbines,N.H.P. 846 = 21 knots
armament -2 pom-poms,200 mines
builders A.G.Vulcan ,Stettin
comp. 1913
5/8/14 -sunk by gunfire.R.N.light cruiser AMPHION,and destroyers,North sea off Orfordness.
Hambug-America liner,sailed as minelayer 4.8.14 - First German warship to be sunk in WW1.
Regards
Sid

That was the SMS KONIGIN LUISE, a small vessel of 2160 tons which pre-war operated between Hamburg and the Netherlands; converted into a minelayer.

The Norddeutscher Lloyd SS KONIGIN LUISE was in Germany at the outbreak of war and during it was laid up in Bremen.

berry

11-06-2010, 06:45

patroclus,roger that,getting my 'SS'S' confused with my SMS'S'.....
Regards
Sid

patroclus

11-06-2010, 06:49

Well, she was SS before the Imperial German Navy appropriated her!

nari010

12-06-2010, 19:59

Thanks for the info - my grandfather travelled on her from the UK to Aust in 1919 and the voyage took over 6 months due to any number of mishaps on the way, including her water tanks being filled with salt water instead of fresh in Durban....

I'll keep hunting for accurate info on the Montevideo Maru.

nari010