greg3 Posted January 11, 2017 Posted January 11, 2017 (edited) Launched in 1908 as a packet steamer for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, the SS Ben My Chree was the third vessel to bear the name (which means "woman/girl of my heart"). She operated on the Liverpool-Isle of Man route and was designed to be the fastest and most luxurious of the company's vessels. With a top speed of 24.2 knots (although it's said she attained 26.9 knots while in service) "The Ben" still holds the record for the fastest Liverpool-Isle of Man crossing by steamship (just under 3 hrs... something the modern fast craft sometimes struggle to achieve!!) With a crew of 116, she could carry 2,700 passengers... Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr In 1915, she became one of 11 of the Steam Packet Company's total fleet of 15 ships requisitioned by the Royal Navy for war service. She was converted into a seaplane carrier with a large hangar fitted aft and a flying off ramp fitted to the bow. Planes could also be launched/recovered from the sea using the cranes fitted fore and aft. She could carry four to six seaplanes and was armed with 4 Quick Firing 12 pounder guns and several anti-aircraft guns. In May 1915, she was sent to the Dardanelles to support the Gallipoli campaign. She made history on the 12th August when Flight Commander Charles Edmonds took off from the forward deck in a Short 184 seaplane and launched a successful torpedo attack on Turkish vessel that had been spotted the previous day (this was the first successful ship launched aerial attack on another ship). Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr Untitled by g.nat, on Flickr On the 2nd of September she took part in the rescue of several hundred Australians from the torpedoed troopship HMT Southland. During 1916, she operated off the Egyptian coast as the flagship of the East Indies and Egypt Seaplane Squadron. On 17th January 1917, she was anchored near the coast aiding French forces in their recapture of the Greek island of Kastellorizo when she came under fire from a hidden Turkish shore battery. The first few shots struck her stern, knocking out her steering and setting fire to the aircraft fuel store. As the fire spread, the order was given to abandon ship. All the crew managed to escape to the nearby shore using the one lifeboat undamaged by enemy fire and after 5 hours of bombardment the ship sank in the shallow water. The following day, the captain and engineer returned to the wreck to remove/disable the guns and rescue the ship's mascots (a cat and dog!!) In 1920, the wreck was raised with a view to salvaging her but she was declared a loss and was broken up for scrap in 1923. I decided to try and build this ship a while ago after coming across it's story while researching the Island's role in WW1. Also, today marks 100 years since it's sinking which encouraged me to get it finished!! It was my first real attempt at a microscope ship and I'm pretty pleased with it (the stern's not quite the right shape though!!) Anyway, thanks for looking!! Comments are always welcome... Edited January 11, 2017 by greg3 Quote
KlodsBrik Posted January 11, 2017 Posted January 11, 2017 Wow .. Cool micro builds. You really managed to add a lot of details with simple brickusage. Very well done ! Quote
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