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ASSAYE (1899)
Service dates: 1899-1928
Official number: 109252
Shipping lines: P&O STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY
Ship type:
Passenger Liner; Troopship.
Career
- 07.10.1899
- Launched.
- 28.11.1899
- Registered.
- 17.12.1899
- Completed as Assaye for The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. Advertised for a commercial voyage to Calcutta in January 1900, she was however taken up on completion as a Boer War transport – a notable passenger was General Cronje whom she took to St Helena as a prisoner-of-war – and for the Boxer Rising in China, and remained in Government service for 9 years.
- 1903/1905
- Taken up for peacetime Indian trooping in the 1903-1904 and 1904-1905 seasons.
- 25.11.1903
- Rescued crew of the disabled Turkish schooner Momadieh when between Port Said and Valetta. The sailing vessel was abandoned and the crew landed in Malta on 27th November.
- 20.03.1904
- In collision in thick fog with the American steamer New York off Hurst Castle in the Solent. Her starboard bow was severely damaged and the bowsprit of New York was carried away. Repaired and returned to service.
- 1905/6
- Laid up at Southampton. Trooped again 1906-1907 and 1907-1908 (being laid up in between).
- 07.1908
- First commercial sailings between Bombay and the Far East. Deadweight 6,810 tons. Draught 8.163m (26ft 9½in).
- 16.05.1913
- Suffered a fire in No.3 hold at Singapore, extinguished 17th May. Mails and specie forwarded in Ceylon.
- 19.08.1914
- Hired by the Admiralty for service as a troopship and later a hospital ship.
- 1921
- Took troops to the Turkish troubles, and while in Constantinople collided – without much damage – with the Italian steamer Umbria.
- 1923/7
- Indian trooping.
- 08.02.1923
- En route from Bombay to Aden, stopped to take on board the Chief Officer of British India SNCo’s Queda who was in need of medical attention.
- 1927
- Carried the Devonshire Regiment to the Shanghai disturbances as part of the Shanghai Defence Force. Converted into a hospital ship in Hong Kong.
- 1928
- Reverted to a troopship to bring the Coldstream Guards home from Shanghai.
- 09.05.1928
- Sold to Stavanger Skibs-Ophugnings Co. A/S, Norway for £17,500.
- 17.05.1928
- Sailed from Southend for Stavanger for demolition.