Navy | The Royal Navy |
Type | Armed Merchant Cruiser |
Class | [No specific class] |
Pennant | F 35 |
Built by | Harland & Wolff Ltd. (Greenock, Scotland) |
Ordered | |
Laid down | |
Launched | 6 Aug 1925 |
Commissioned | 16 Dec 1939 |
Lost | 13 Apr 1941 |
Loss position | 64° 50'N, 27° 25'W |
History | On 4 September 1939 the passenger ship Rajputana of the P. & O. Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London was requisitioned by the Admiralty. She was converted to an armed merchant cruiser and commissioned as such on 16 December 1939. Displacement: 16644 BRT Career: HMS Rajputana (Capt. Frederick Henry Taylor, DSC, RN (retired)) was torpedoed and sunk on 13 April 1941 by the German submarine U-108 west of Reykjavik, Iceland in position 64º50'N, 27º25'W. 283 survivors were picked up by the British destroyer HMS Legion and landed at Reykjavik. 40 of her crew went down with the ship. Hit by U-boat |
U-boat Attack | See our U-boat attack entry for the HMS Rajputana |
Commands listed for HMS Rajputana (F 35)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
Commander | From | To | |
1 | Capt. (retired) Frederick Henry Taylor, DSC, RN | 2 Oct 1939 | 13 Apr 1941 |
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Notable events involving Rajputana include:
17 Jan 1940
The light cruiser HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. A. Poland, DSO, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS Rajputana (Capt.(Retd.) F.H. Taylor, DSC, RN) and the RFA tanker Abbeydale (8299 GRT, built 1937) made rendezvous off San Nicolás Bay, Peru.
All ships departed again to resume their patrols later the same day. (1)
11 May 1940
Convoy BHX 42
This convoy departed Bermuda on 11 May 1940.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Adellen (British (tanker), 7984 GRT, built 1930), Atheltemplar (British (tanker), 8992 GRT, built 1930), Brandanger (Norwegian, 4624 GRT, built 1924), British Resource (British (tanker), 7209 GRT, built 1931), Davila (British (tanker), 8053 GRT, built 1938), Davisian (British, 6433 GRT, built 1925), Inversuir (British, 9456 GRT, built 1938), King Arthur (British, 5224 GRT, built 1928), Kumasian (British, 4992 GRT, built 1930), Llanover (British, 4959 GRT, built 1928), Pacific Exporter (British, 6734 GRT, built 1928), Pacific Ranger (British, 6865 GRT, built 1929), Petter (Norwegian (tanker), 9109 GRT, built 1935), Pomella (British (tanker), 6766 GRT, built 1937), Rapana (British (tanker), 8017 GRT, built 1935), San Ambrosio (British (tanker), 7410 GRT, built 1935), San Roberto (British (tanker), 5890 GRT, built 1922), Scherazade (French (tanker), 13467 GRT, built 1935), Solstad (Norwegian (tanker), 5952 GRT, built 1927), Sticklestad (Norwegian (tanker), 9349 GRT, built 1938), Strategist (British, 6255 GRT, built 1937) and Vancouver (British (tanker), 5729 GRT, built 1928).
On departure from Bermuda the convoy was escorted by HMS Rajputana (Capt.(Retd.) F.H. Taylor, DSC, RN) and the sloop HMS Penzance (Cdr. A.J. Wavish, RN).
Around 2245Q/11, HMS Penzance was detached to return to Bermuda.
Around 1015Q/12, the merchant vessel Calgarolite (British (tanker), 11941 GRT, built 1929) overtook and joined the convoy, having sailed late from Bermuda.
Around 1235P/17, in position 41°46'N, 42°55'E, HMS Ranpura parted company to return to Bermuda. No contact with convoy HX 42 had been made at that time.
Convoy BHX 42 joined convoy HX 42 in the afternoon of the 18th in position 42°57'N, 39°30'W. (2)
23 May 1940
Convoy BHX 45
This convoy departed Bermuda on 23 May 1940.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Beth (Norwegian, 6852 GRT, built 1930), Bradglen (British, 4741 GRT, built 1930), British Commander (British (tanker), 6901 GRT, built 1922), British Dominion (British (tanker), 6983 GRT, built 1928), British Prudence (British (tanker), 8620 GRT, built 1939), Brumaire (French (tanker), 7638 GRT, built 1930), Caprella (British (tanker), 8230 GRT, built 1931), Cliona (British (tanker), 8375 GRT, built 1931), Coya (British, 4954 GRT, built 1919), Cressington Court (British, 4971 GRT, built 1929), Donax (British (tanker), 8036 GRT, built 1938), Edward F. Johnson (British (tanker), 10452 GRT, built 1937), Evoikos (Greek, 4792 GRT, built 1922), Hallanger (Norwegian (tanker), 9551 GRT, built 1928), Hoegh Scout (Norwegian (tanker), 9924 GRT, built 1939), Houston City (British, 4935 GRT, built 1934), Inanda (British, 5985 GRT, built 1925), Inventor (British, 6210 GRT, built 1935), Krossfonn (Norwegian (tanker), 9323 GRT, built 1935), Litiopa (Norwegian (tanker), 5311 GRT, built 1917), Lunula (British (tanker), 6363 GRT, built 1927), Lylepark (British, 5186 GRT, built 1929), Moveria (British, 4867 GRT, built 1935), Rangitiki (British, 16698 GRT, built 1928), Ruth Kellogg (British (tanker), 5543 GRT, built 1920), Saintonge (French (tanker), 9386 GRT, built 1936), San Cipriano (British (tanker), 7966 GRT, built 1937), San Eliseo (British (tanker), 8042 GRT, built 1939), San Gabriel (British, 4943 GRT, built 1920), Schuylkill (British (tanker), 8965 GRT, built 1928), Scottish Heather (British (tanker), 7087 GRT, built 1928), Scottish Standard (British (tanker), 6999 GRT, built 1921), Solsten (Norwegian (tanker), 5379 GRT, built 1929), South America (Norwegian (tanker), 6246 GRT, built 1931), Tamaroa (British, 12405 GRT, built 1922), Thelma (Norwegian (tanker), 8297 GRT, built 1937), Torvanger (Norwegian, 6564 GRT, built 1920), Varanger (Norwegian (tanker), 9305 GRT, built 1925) and Waban (British, 6038 GRT, built 1919).
On departure from Bermuda the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Rajputana (Capt.(Retd.) F.H. Taylor, DSC, RN) and the sloop HMS Penzance (Cdr. A.J. Wavish, RN).
HMS Penzance was to escort the convoy until sunset on 23 May and then return to Bermuda.
At 1912Q/25, in position 35°57'N, 56°50'W, the Scottish Standard dropped out of the convoy with engine trouble. She did not rejoin and arrived at Portsmouth on 9 or 10 June.
At 1520P/28, in position 40°41'N, 46°08'W, the Saintonge dropped out of the convoy with engine trouble. She did not rejoin and arrived at Brest on 6 June.
By 0830P/29, convoy BHX 45 had joined up with convoy HX 45. HMS Rajputana parted company around 0915P/29 to return to Bermuda. (3)
8 Jun 1940
Convoy BHX 49
This convoy departed Bermuda on 8 June 1940.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Athelfoam (British (tanker), 6554 GRT, built 1931), Athellaird (British (tanker), 8999 GRT, built 1930), Augvald (Norwegian, 4811 GRT, built 1920), Barrdale (British, 5072 GRT, built 1925), British Fidility (British (tanker), 8465 GRT, built 1938), British Cincerity (British (tanker), 8538 GRT, built 1939), Cadillac (British (tanker), 12062 GRT, built 1917), Charles F. Meyer (British (tanker), 10516 GRT, built 1938), Collegian (British, 7886 GRT, built 1923), Confield (British, 4956 GRT, built 1940), Cromarty (British, 4974 GRT, built 1936), Director (British, 5107 GRT, built 1926), Eli Knudsen (Norwegian (tanker), 9026 GRT, built 1925), Gallia (Norwegian (tanker), 9974 GRT, built 1939), Glarona (Norwegian (tanker), 9912 GRT, built 1928), Jhelum (British, 4038 GRT, built 1936), Moordrecht (Dutch (tanker), 7493 GRT, built 1930), Port Huon (British, 8021 GRT, built 1927), Regent Lion (British (tanker), 9551 GRT, built 1937), San Felipe (British, 5626 GRT, built 1919), Solarium (British, 6239 GRT, built 1936), Strinda (Norwegian (tanker), 10973 GRT, built 1937), Suderholm (Norwegian (tanker), 4908 GRT, built 1917) and Torborg (Norwegian (tanker), 6042 GRT, built 1921).
On departure from Bermuda the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Rajputana (Capt.(Retd.) F.H. Taylor, DSC, RN) and the sloop HMS Penzance (Cdr. A.J. Wavish, RN).
HMS Penzance was to part company around sunset on the 8th and then return to Bermuda.
Around 1320P/13, 40°01'N, 46°54'W, HMS Rajputana parted company with the convoy to return to Bermuda.
Convoy BHX 49 joined convoy HX 49 later that afternoon. (4)
20 Jun 1940
Convoy BHX 52
This convoy departed Bermuda on 20 June 1940.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels; British Chivalry (British (tanker), 7118 GRT, built 1929), Coryton (British, 4553 GRT, built 1928), Cumberland (British, 11446 GRT, built 1920), Dalfram (British, 4558 GRT, built 1930), Fana (Norwegian, 1375 GRT, built 1939), Inverlee (British (tanker), 9158 GRT, built 1938), Leeds City (British, 4758 GRT, built 1927), Luxor (British (tanker), 6554 GRT, built 1930), Sambre (British, 5260 GRT, built 1919) and Siris (British, 5242 GRT, built 1919).
On departure from Bermuda the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Rajputana (Capt.(Retd.) F.H. Taylor, DSC, RN) and the sloop HMS Penzance (Cdr. A.J. Wavish, RN).
HMS Penzance either parted company late on the 20th or more likely early on the 21st and then returned to Bermuda where she arrived around 1530Q/21.
Around 1300P/25, HMS Rajputana parted company with the convoy to proceed or. Convoy HX 52 had not yet been met.
Around 1915P/25, Convoy BHX 52 joined convoy HX 52. (4)
29 Jun 1940
Convoy HX 54.
This convoy departed Halifax on 29 June 1940.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Allende (British, 5108 GRT, built 1928), Antigone (British, 4545 GRT, built 1928), Baron Dunmore (British, 3938 GRT, built 1933), Breedijk (Dutch, 6861 GRT, built 1922), Brookwood (British, 5100 GRT, built 1929), Demeterton (British, 5251 GRT, built 1926), Dunaff Head (British, 5258 GRT, built 1918), Embassage (British, 4954 GRT, built 1935), Gregalia (British, 5802 GRT, built 1929), Hartington (British, 5496 GRT, built 1932), Janna (Norwegian, 2197 GRT, built 1919), Kainalu (British, 6085 GRT, built 1920), Lars Kruse (British, 1807 GRT, built 1923), Leonidas (Greek, 4573 GRT, built 1929), Manchester Spinner (British, 4767 GRT, built 1918), Pennland (Dutch, 16082 GRT, built 1922), Rupert de Larrinaga (British, 5358 GRT, built 1930), Sabine (British (tug), 488 GRT, built 1917), San Gaspar (British (tanker), 12910 GRT, built 1921), Tresillian (British, 4743 GRT, built 1925), Treverbyn (British, 5281 GRT, built 1920), Treworlas (British, 4692 GRT, built 1922), Trolleholm (Swedish, 5047 GRT, built 1941), Vaalaren (Swedish, 3406 GRT, built 1936) and Voco (British (tanker), 5090 GRT, built 1925).
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Rajputana (Capt.(Retd.) F.H. Taylor, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMCS Assiniboine (Capt. G.C. Jones, RCN) and HMCS Ottawa (Cdr. E.R. Mainguy, RCN).
The Canadian destroyers returned to Halifax on 30 June.
The convoy departed in poor visibility which later developed into fog and the convoy was not properly formed up until the 30th when four ship were still missing.
Two of these rejoined on 1 July and one more rejoined in the afternoon of 3 July when also convoy BHX 54 joined. This convoy was made up of the following ships; Athelbeach (British (tanker), 6568 GRT, built 1931), Athinai (Greek, 2897 GRT, built 1910), Benmohr (British, 5920, built 1928), Bonnington Court (British, 4909 GRT, built 1929), Buesten (Norwegian, 5187 GRT, built 1927), Comanchee (British (tanker), 6837 GRT, built 1936), Dirphys (Greek, 4240 GRT, built 1917), Dromus (British (tanker), 8036 GRT, built 1938), Empire Caribou (British, 4861 GRT, built 1919), Empire Moose (British, 6071 GRT, built 1920), Holmpark (British, 5780 GRT, built 1927), Hoperange (British, 5177 GRT, built 1939), Jutland (British, 6153 GRT, built 1928), Port Brisbane (British, 8315 GRT, built 1923), Sepia (British (tanker), 6214 GRT, built 1936), Stureholm (Swedish, 4575 GRT, built 1919), Vimeira (British, 5728 GRT, built 1927), Westmoreland (British, 9001 GRT, built 1917).
This left only the Janna unaccounted for. She actually never joined the convoy and proceeded independently to the U.K. She was however torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-34 south-west of Ireland on 11 July.
In the early hours of 11 July the Trolleholm and Holmpark collided. Both proceeded to the U.K. independently with the Holmpark standing by the leaking Trolleholm. Both arrived in Belfast Lough on 15 July. HMS Wanderer had also stood by.
Around 0400Z/11, the local escort joined. This was made up of the sloop HMS Sandwich (Cdr. M.J. Yeatman, RN) and the destroyer HMS Wanderer (Cdr. J.H. Ruck-Keene, DSC, RN). An hour later HMS Rajputana parted company to return to Halifax.
Later the destroyers HMS Havelock (Capt. E.B.K. Stevens, DSC, RN) and HMS Harvester (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, RN) also joined.
Around 0920A/11, the Buesten was detached to Foynes, Ireland but she rejoined around 1500A/11. Her ordered obviouly having been changed.
Around 1200A/12, the Leonidas was detached to Cork, Ireland.
Around 1900A/12, off the Smalls, the Buesten, Hartington and Treworlas were detached to Milford Haven.
Later the Lars Kruse was also ordered by HMS Havelock to proceed to Milford Haven.
Around 0815A/13, off the Skerries the Clyde and Belfast sections parted company. HMS Sandwich went with them as esocrt.
The following ships made up the 'Belfast section; Dirphys, Dunaff Head and Stureholm.
The following ships made up the 'Clyde section; Allende, Antigone, Athinai, Baron Dunmore, Benmohr, Boddington Court, Breedijk, Brookwood, Comanchee, Embassage, Empire Moose, Gregalia, Hoperange, Jutland, Rupert de Larrinaga, Sabine, Sepia, Tresillian, Treverbyn, Vimeira and Voco.
The remaining ships went to Liverpool as did HMS Havelock, HMS Harvester and HMS Wanderer. (5)
27 Mar 1941
Convoy HX 117.
This convoy departed Halifax on 27 March 1941.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Aelybryn (British, 4986 GRT, built 1938), Balingkar (Dutch, 6318 GRT, built 1921), Bayano (British, 6815 GRT, built 1917), Bengore Head (British, 2609 GRT, built 1922), Boren (Swedish, 4528 GRT, built 1921), British Honour (British (tanker), 6991 GRT, built 1928), British Mariner (British (tanker), 6996 GRT, built 1922), Cape Breton (British, 6044 GRT, built 1940), Cressington Court (British, 4971 GRT, built 1929), Derrymore (British, 4799 GRT, built 1938), Donax (British (tanker), 8036 GRT, built 1938), Eastern Star (Norwegian, 5658 GRT, 1920), Edam (Dutch, 8871 GRT, built 1921), Empire Eagle (British, 5775 GRT, built 1919), Fanad Head (British, 5038 GRT, built 1941), Fowberry Tower (British, 4484 GRT, built 1929), Harberton (British, 4585 GRT, built 1930), Henry Dundas (British (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1937), Labette (British, 4989 GRT, built 1919), Leonidas M. (Greek, 4573 GRT, built 1929), Luculus (British (tanker), 6546 GRT, built 1929), Maaskerk (Dutch, 4343 GRT, built 1929), Maja (British (tanker), 8181 GRT, built 1931), Nailsea Court (British, 4946 GRT, built 1936), Nailsea Manor (British, 4926 GRT, built 1937), Nailsea Moor (British, 4926 GRT, built 1937), New York City (British, 2710 GRT, built 1917), Noreg (Norwegian (tanker), 7605 GRT, built 1931), Nueva Granada (Norwegian (tanker), 9968 GRT, built 1937), Polarsol (Norwegian (tanker), 10022 GRT, built 1939), Prins Willem II (British, 1304 GRT, built 1939), Richard de Larrinaga (British, 5358 GRT, built 1929), San Alvaro (British (tanker), 7385 GRT, built 1935), San Ambrosio (British (tanker), 7410 GRT, built 1935), San Gaspar (British (tanker), 12910 GRT, built 1921), Sandar (Norwegian (tanker), 7624 GRT, built 1928), Sicilian Prince (British, 3489 GRT, built 1922), Sommerstad (Norwegian (tanker), 5923 GRT, built 1926), Taranger (Norwegian, 4873 GRT, built 1930), Vanja (Norwegian (tanker), 6198 GRT, built 1929), Warkworth (British, 4941 GRT, built 1924), West Caddoa (British, 5641 GRT, built 1919) and Zeus (Greek, 5961 GRT, built 1920).
On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Rajputana (Capt.(Retd.) F.H. Taylor, DSC, RN) and the submarine HMS Tribune (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Norfolk, RN).
During the night of 5/6 April 1941 heavy weather was encountered and the Aelybryn and Prins Willem II straggled from thee convoy and did not rejoin.
At 0630N/6, HMS Tribune parted company with the convoy to return to Halifax.
On 9 April 1941 HMS Rajputana parted company with the convoy to proceed to Iceland to patrol in the Denmark Strait.
Around 1400/10, the destroyers HMS Wanderer (Cdr. A.F.St.G. Orpen, RN), HMS Achates (Lt.Cdr. Viscount Jocelyn, RN), HMS Boadicea (A/Cdr. E.C.L. Turner, RN), HMS Montgomery (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) W.L. Puxley, RN), HMCS Columbia (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) S.W. Davis, RN), HMCS St. Clair (Lt.Cdr. D.C. Wallace, RCNR), HMCS St.Francis (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Pullen, RCN) and the corvettes HMS Marigold (T/Lt. J. Renwick, RNR) and HMCS Trillium (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Harris, RCNR) joined.
The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 14 April 1941 and was then divided into several portions so that the ships could proceed to their destinations.
Sources
- ADM 53/111986 + ADM 53/113029
- ADM 53/113033 + ADM 199/53 + ADM 199/54
- ADM 53/113033 + ADM 199/54
- ADM 53/113034 + ADM 199/54
- ADM 53/113034 + ADM 53/113035 + ADM 199/49 + ADM 199/50
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.