Pre War:

Launched on Febr. 9-1924 by Deutsche Werft A.G., Hamburg (Yard No. 64), completed July 5. 5502 gt, 3359 net, 9159 tdwt, 426.8' x 55.2' x 27.6', two 6 cyl. 4 SCSA oil engines totalling 3100 ihp by Algemeine Electricitäts Gesellschaft, Berlin, driving twin screws. Service speed 11.5 knots.

WW II:

Taiwan is listed among the ships in Convoy HG 8 in Nov.-1939, bound for Greenock with raw sugar - follow link for convoy info.

In German control from Apr.-1940. Sank following an explosion due to sabotage at A/S Akers Verksted in Oslo on Nov. 24-1944. M/S Troma was also sunk, as well as the German M/T Euroland. M/T Austanger, which had been renamed Schleswig under German control was badly damaged. Sabotage was also carried out at Nyland Verksted on the same date (see Kaprino).

POST WAR:

Raised and back in service. In collision in the Gulf of Suez with the steam tanker British Hussar (6954 gt, built 1923) on Apr.-21-1946, when leaving Suez Roads on a voyage from Quilon to New York, and subsequently beached. Refloated on May 15, repaired and returned to service. Stranded near St. John's Island, Red Sea on March 14-1950, position 23 43N 36 15E, on a voyage from Basra to Gothenburg with a cargo of grain and general. Refloated the next day but had to be abandoned in position 23 44N 35 50E and then sank.

Back to Taiwan on the "Homefleet Ships starting with T" page.

(Source: Wilh. Wilhelmsen fleet list by Michael Crowdy, World Ship Society, 1994).

Taiwan is the Chinese name for the island of Formosa, meaning "pretty".

Wilh. Wilhelmsen had another ship by this name, launched Dec. 12-1951, completed March 14-1952, also by Kockums - 5463 gt. Renamed Tirranna (II) in Jan.-1959. Ran aground on Jan. 30-1966 in Finsnesrenna near Tromsø, voyage Murmansk-Rostock with iron ore, broke in two the following day, afterpart sank. Remainder of wreck sold to Erik Volckmar, Oslo for demolition. Some identifiable parts still remain at the stranding site (as per 1994), though most of the wreck was cut into pieces and taken to the smelting works at Mo i Rana.