# HMS Baralong

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**HMS *Baralong*** was a [cargo](/source/Cargo_ship) [steamship](/source/Steamship) that was built in [England](/source/England) in 1901, served in the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) as a [Q-ship](/source/Q-ship) in the [First World War](/source/World_War_I), was sold into [Japanese](/source/Empire_of_Japan) civilian service in 1922 and scrapped in 1933. She was renamed **HMS *Wyandra*** in 1915, ***Manica*** in 1916, ***Kyokuto Maru*** in 1922 and ***Shinsei Maru No. 1*** in 1925.

As a Q-ship, *Baralong* was both successful and controversial. In 1915 she sank two [U-boats](/source/U-boat): in August and in September, in two engagements that are known as the [Baralong incidents](/source/Baralong_incidents). The circumstances of the sinkings led [Germany](/source/German_Empire) to describe both incidents as [war crimes](/source/War_crime).

## Building

In 1900 and 1901 Bucknall Steamship Lines Ltd took delivery of a set of four new [sister ships](/source/Sister_ship) from two shipbuilders in [North East England](/source/North_East_England). In 1900 Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd at [Sunderland](/source/Sunderland) on the [River Wear](/source/River_Wear) launched [HMS *Manica*](/source/HMS_Manica) on 25 September and *Barotse* on 22 December.[1][2] In 1901 [Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd](/source/Armstrong_Whitworth) at [Low Walker](/source/Walker,_Newcastle_upon_Tyne) on the [River Tyne](/source/River_Tyne) launched *Bantu* on 16 July and *Baralong* on 12 September.[3][4] All four ships were named after peoples or places in southern Africa, where Bucknall traded.

The four ships were built to almost identical dimensions. *Baralong'*s registered length was 360.0 ft (109.7 m), her [beam](/source/Beam_(nautical)) was 47.0 ft (14.3 m) and her depth was 28.3 ft (8.6 m). Her [tonnages](/source/Tonnage) were and . The [Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Company](/source/Wallsend_Slipway_%26_Engineering_Company) built her engine, which was a three-cylinder [triple expansion steam engine](/source/Marine_steam_engine#Triple_or_multiple_expansion) rated at 535 [NHP](/source/Horsepower#Nominal_horsepower).[5]

Armstrong, Whitworth completed *Baralong* in November 1901. Bucknall's [registered](/source/Ship_registration) her in [London](/source/Port_of_London). Her UK [official number](/source/Official_number) was 114788 and her [code letters](/source/Code_letters) were SWMN.[5]

## Bucknall's service

On 8 September 1902 *Baralong* left Britain towing a [floating dock](/source/Dry_dock#Floating) to be delivered to [Durban](/source/Port_of_Durban) in [Natal](/source/Colony_of_Natal). The dock was so large that *Baralong'*s speed was limited to 5 knots (9.3 km/h). She got as far as [Mossel Bay](/source/Mossel_Bay) in [Cape Colony](/source/Cape_Colony), where the towing line broke in bad weather. The floating dock was driven ashore and wrecked.[6]

On 22 August 1905 *Baralong* collided with the Japanese [ferry](/source/Ferry) *Kinjo Maru* off Shimishima, killing 160 people. An inquiry found that *Kinjo Maru* had failed to display the correct [navigation lights](/source/Navigation_light).[6]

By 1908 Bucknall was over-extended, so [JR Ellerman](/source/Sir_John_Ellerman,_1st_Baronet) stepped in to support the company. In January 1914 Bucknall became a subsidiary of his [Ellerman Lines](/source/Ellerman_Lines) shipping group, and was renamed Ellerman & Bucknall.[7]

## Requisitioning and naval conversion

In August[4] or September[6] 1914 the [Admiralty](/source/Admiralty_(United_Kingdom)) requisitioned *Baralong* as a naval supply ship. In March 1915 she arrived at [Barry Docks](/source/Barry_Docks) for conversion into a "Special Service Vessel" or Q-ship. She was armed with three [12-pounder naval guns](/source/QF_12-pounder_12_cwt_naval_gun) in concealed mountings, equipped with devices to simulate damage, and otherwise modified for naval service.[8] In April 1915 work was completed, and she was [commissioned](/source/Ship_commissioning) into the Royal Navy as HMS *Baralong*.[9]

*Baralong'*s task was to lure and engage U-boats. Her first commander was [Cdr](/source/Commander_(Royal_Navy)) [Godfrey Herbert](/source/Godfrey_Herbert), who had a decade of experience in the [Royal Navy Submarine Service](/source/Royal_Navy_Submarine_Service), and was chosen to be a "poacher turned gamekeeper". His crew were volunteers for the mission.[9] *Baralong* spent the next four months patrolling the [Southwest Approaches](/source/Southwest_Approaches), seeking to lure a U-boat attack.

## Baralong incidents

Main article: [Baralong incidents](/source/Baralong_incidents)

On 19 August 1915, while angered by the loss of the [White Star](/source/White_Star_Line) passenger liner [SS *Arabic*](/source/SS_Arabic_(1902)), the *Baralong* received a distress call from the [Leyland Line](/source/Leyland_Line) cargo ship [SS *Nicosian*](/source/SS_Nicosian), which had stopped under the [cruiser rules](/source/Cruiser_rules), allowed to evacuate, and was attempting to sink by gunfire. Flying a neutral [United States flag](/source/Flag_of_the_United_States) as a disguise, the Q-ship approached *Nicosian*, signalling that she intended to rescue survivors.

When *Baralong* closed on *Nicosian* she lowered her US flag, raised her [White Ensign](/source/White_Ensign), exposed her concealed guns and opened fire on *U-27*. As the submarine sunk, *Baralong**s crew then opened fire with small arms, killing the German crew as they escaped the U-boat or tried to climb aboard*****Nicosian*.*Baralong*then put a boarding party aboard*Nicosian*, where they pursued and killed the members of the crew that got aboard. All of*U-27**s crew perished.

*Nicosian**s [complement](/source/Ship's_company) included neutral US citizens, most of whom were [muleteers](/source/Arriero) looking after the [mules](/source/Mule) that formed part of her cargo. When they returned to the USA that October, they revealed the circumstances in which*****Baralong**s crew had killed the German submariners. The [German Chancellor](/source/Chancellor_of_Germany), [Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg](/source/Theobald_von_Bethmann_Hollweg), condemned the killings.[10][11]

After the incident, Cdr Herbert was transferred back to the Submarine Service. [Lt Cdr](/source/Lieutenant_commander_(Royal_Navy)) A Wilmot-Smith succeeded him in command of *Baralong*, which continued to patrol the Southwest Approaches. On 21 September 1915 attacked [Wilson Line](/source/Thomas_Wilson_Sons_%26_Co.)'s cargo steamship *Urbino*. *Baralong* approached, again flying a US flag to feign neutrality. *U-41* submerged, then resurfaced and ordered *Baralong* to stop.

*Baralong* obeyed, but then exposed her guns and opened fire, hitting *U-41*. The submarine dived, then resurfaced a second time. Only two of the German crew escaped before the U-boat sank. One was the [First Officer](/source/Chief_mate), [OLt zS](/source/Oberleutnant_zur_See) Iwan Crompton, who was seriously wounded. Crompton was repatriated to Germany, where he alleged that *Baralong* attacked without lowering her US [false flag](/source/False_flag).

In 1920 *Baralong'*s Royal Navy crew was awarded [prize money](/source/Prize_money) for sinking *U-27* and *U-41*. *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* recorded the awards under the name HMS *Wyandra*.[12]

## Further war service

The "Baralong Incidents" provoked outrage in Germany. In October 1915 *Baralong* was renamed HMS *Wyandra* to conceal her identity.[4] She was transferred to the [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean_Sea) to join a Q-ship force being established there.

In November 1916 the Admiralty returned *Wyandra* to Ellerman & Bucknall, who renamed her again. In 1915 the Admiralty had requisitioned her sister ship *Manica* as a [kite balloon](/source/Kite_balloon) ship, so Ellerman transferred the name *Manica* to *Wyandra*.[1]

## Japanese service

In 1922[4] or '23[6] Ellerman & Bucknall sold *Manica* to Kyokuto Koshi Goshi Kaisha of Japan. Goshi Kaisha renamed her *Kyokuto Maru* and registered her in [Dairen](/source/Dalian) in the [Kwantung Territory](/source/Kwantung_Leased_Territory). In 1925 her ownership passed to Hara Shoji KK, who renamed her *Shinsei Maru No. 1*. In 1926 she changed hands again to Shinsei Kisen Goshi Kaisha.[4] She remained registered in Dairen, and her Japanese code letters were QBPJ.

*Shinsei Maru No. 1* was scrapped in Japan in 1933[4] or '34.[6][13]

## References

1. ["Manica"](http://sunderlandships.com/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=102304&vessel=MANICA). *Wear Built Ships*. Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 8 January 2022.

1. ["Barotse"](http://sunderlandships.com/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=102305&vessel=BAROTSE). *Wear Built Ships*. Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 8 January 2022.

1. ["Bantu"](http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/B-Ships/bantu1901.html). *Tyne Built Ships*. Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 8 January 2022.

1. ["Baralong"](http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/B-Ships/baralong1901.html). *Tyne Built Ships*. Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 8 January 2022.

1. "Steamers". *Lloyd's Register of Shipping*. Vol. I. London: [Lloyd's Register](/source/Lloyd's_Register) of Shipping. 1914.

1. Collard 2014, p. 199

1. Collard 2014, p. 21.

1. Colledge 1970[page needed]

1. Ritchie 1985, p. 33.

1. ["Denies Baralong charge."](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1915/12/11/100182472.html?pageNumber=7). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. 11 December 1915. p. 7. Retrieved 8 January 2022.

1. ["Memorandum of the German Government in regard to incidents alleged to have attended the destruction of a German submarine and its crew by His Majesty's auxiliary cruiser "Baralong" on August 19, 1915, and reply of His Majesty's Government thereto"](http://www.vlib.us/wwi/resources/archives/texts/t050925/Baralong.html). *WWI Virtual Library*. January 1916. Retrieved 10 December 2011.

1. "Notice of intended distribution of naval prize bounty money.". No. 31972. 9 July 1920. p. 7353.

1. ["Steamers and Motorships"](https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/33/33b0803.pdf). *Lloyd's Register of Shipping*. Vol. II. London: [Lloyd's Register](/source/Lloyd's_Register) of Shipping. 1933. – via [Southampton City Council](/source/Southampton_City_Council)

## Bibliography

- Collard, Ian (2014). *Ellerman Lines Remembering a Great British Company*. Stroud: [The History Press](/source/The_History_Press). ISBN 978-0-7524-8963-6.
- Colledge, JJ (1970). *Ships of the Royal Navy: An historical index*. Vol. 2. Newton Abbot: [David & Charles](/source/David_%26_Charles). ISBN 0715343963.
- Ritchie, Carson (1985). *Q-Ships*. ISBN 0-86138-011-8.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [HMS Baralong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Baralong) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Baralong?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.