HMS Baralong

HMS Baralong / Wyandra / Manica / Kyokuto Maru / Shinsei Maru No. 1

Company type	Cargo vessel, Q-ship
Industry	Shipping, Naval warfare
Founded	November 12, 1901 (1901-11-12) in England
Fate	Dismantled in 1933 or 1934
Headquarters	London (registered under Bucknall Steamship Lines Ltd) , United Kingdom (initially)
Area served	United Kingdom, Mediterranean, Japan (under various ownerships)
Products	Cargo transportation, naval operations (Q-ship)
Parent	Bucknall Steamship Lines Ltd; later Ellerman & Bucknall; Japanese owners Kyokuto Koshi Goshi Kaisha, Hara Shoji KK, Shinsei Kisen Goshi Kaisha

Overview

HMS Baralong was a steam-powered cargo vessel constructed in England in 1901. During the First World War, she served as a Q-ship for the Royal Navy. Later, in 1922, she entered civilian service under Japanese ownership before being dismantled in 1933. Throughout her operational life, the ship underwent several name changes: initially Baralong (1901), then HMS Wyandra (1915), followed by Manica (1916), Kyokuto Maru (1922), and finally Shinsei Maru No. 1 (1925).

Service as a Q-ship

In her role as a Q-ship, Baralong achieved notable success but also became a source of controversy. During 1915, she was responsible for sinking two German submarines: U-27 in August and U-41 in September. These encounters are collectively referred to as the Baralong incidents. The nature of these engagements prompted the German Empire to accuse the vessel of committing war crimes.

Building

Between 1900 and 1901, Bucknall Steamship Lines Ltd commissioned four new sister ships from two prominent shipyards located in North East England. In 1900, Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, based in Sunderland on the River Wear, launched Manica on 25 September followed by Barotse on 22 December. The following year, Bantu was launched on 16 July and Baralong on 12 September by Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd at Low Walker on the River Tyne. Each vessel bore names inspired by ethnic groups or regions in southern Africa, reflecting Bucknall’s trading connections in that area.

The quartet of ships shared nearly identical specifications. Baralong measured 360.0 ft (109.7 m) in registered length, with a beam of 47.0 ft (14.3 m) and a depth of 28.3 ft (8.6 m). Her tonnage was recorded as Template:GRT gross register tons and Template:NRT net register tons. The engine powering her was constructed by the Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Company, featuring a three-cylinder triple expansion steam engine rated at 535 NHP.

Completed by Armstrong, Whitworth in November 1901, Baralong was officially registered in London under Bucknall’s ownership. Her UK official number was 114788, and she was assigned the code letters SWMN.

Bucknall's service

On 8 September 1902, Baralong departed from Britain while towing a massive Template:DWT floating dock destined for delivery to Durban in the Natal. Due to the dock’s considerable size, Baralong’s speed was restricted to approximately 5 knots (9.3 km/h). The voyage progressed until reaching Mossel Bay in Cape Colony, where severe weather caused the towing cable to snap. Consequently, the floating dock was driven ashore and destroyed.

A tragic incident occurred on 22 August 1905 when Baralong collided with the Japanese ferry Kinjo Maru near Shimishima, resulting in the loss of 160 lives. An investigation determined that the ferry had not displayed appropriate navigation lights at the time of the accident.

By 1908, Bucknall faced financial strain from over-expansion. Assistance came from JR Ellerman, who provided support to stabilize the company. In January 1914, Bucknall became part of his shipping enterprise, Ellerman Lines, subsequently adopting the name Ellerman & Bucknall.

Requisition and Naval Transformation

In either August or September of 1914, the Admiralty took possession of Baralong for use as a naval supply vessel. By March 1915, she had reached Barry Docks to undergo conversion into a Q-ship, also known as a "Special Service Vessel." During this process, she was outfitted with three 12-pounder naval guns concealed behind hidden mounts, fitted with mechanisms to create the illusion of damage, and otherwise adapted for naval operations. The refit was completed by April 1915, at which point she was commissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Baralong.

The primary mission assigned to Baralong was to attract and engage enemy U-boats. Her initial commanding officer was Commander Godfrey Herbert, who brought ten years of experience from the Royal Navy Submarine Service. He was deliberately selected as a "poacher turned gamekeeper" for this role. The crew consisted entirely of volunteers dedicated to this specialized assignment. Over the following four months, Baralong patrolled the Southwest Approaches, actively seeking opportunities to provoke U-boat attacks.

Incidents Involving Baralong

Main article: Baralong incidents

Engagement on 19 August 1915

On 19 August 1915, motivated by outrage over the sinking of the White Star passenger ship Arabic, Baralong responded to a distress signal from the Leyland Line cargo vessel Nicosian. The German submarine U-27 had stopped Nicosian following cruiser rules, allowed the crew to evacuate, and was in the process of sinking her by gunfire. Disguised under a neutral United States flag, the Q-ship approached Nicosian, signaling an intent to assist survivors.

Upon nearing Nicosian, Baralong lowered the US flag, hoisted her true colours—the White Ensign—revealed her hidden artillery, and commenced firing on U-27. As the submarine sank, Baralong's crew opened small arms fire on German sailors attempting to escape or board Nicosian. Subsequently, a boarding party from Baralong went aboard Nicosian, where they pursued and killed German crew members who had made it aboard. The entire complement of U-27 was lost.

Among those aboard Nicosian were neutral American citizens, primarily muleteers responsible for caring for mules transported as cargo. When they returned to the United States in October, they disclosed how Baralong's crew had killed the German submariners. This led to condemnation from the German Chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg.

Following this event, Commander Herbert returned to the Submarine Service. Command of Baralong passed to Lieutenant Commander A Wilmot-Smith, who continued patrols in the Southwest Approaches. On 21 September 1915, U-41 attacked the cargo steamer Urbino, operated by Wilson Line. Once again, Baralong approached under a US flag as a ruse of neutrality. After surfacing, U-41 ordered her to halt.

Complying initially, Baralong then revealed her weapons and opened fire on U-41, striking the submarine. The U-boat submerged but resurfaced shortly after. Only two German crew members survived before she sank; among them was First Officer OLt zS Iwan Crompton, who sustained serious injuries. After being repatriated to Germany, Crompton claimed that Baralong had engaged without lowering her false US flag.

In 1920, prize money was awarded to HMS Baralong's Royal Navy personnel for sinking both U-27 and U-41. These payments were officially recorded under her later name HMS Wyandra in The London Gazette.

Continued wartime service

The "Baralong Incidents" sparked significant indignation within Germany. To obscure her identity, in October 1915 the vessel formerly known as Baralong was renamed HMS Wyandra. Subsequently, she was redeployed to the Mediterranean to become part of a newly formed Q-ship squadron operating in that region.

By November 1916, the Admiralty handed Wyandra back to Ellerman & Bucknall, who assigned her a new name once more. Since the Admiralty had requisitioned her sister ship, Manica, in 1915 for conversion into a kite balloon vessel, Ellerman transferred the name Manica to what had been Wyandra.

Service under Japanese ownership

In either 1922 or 1923, Ellerman & Bucknall sold Manica to the Japanese company Kyokuto Koshi Goshi Kaisha. Upon acquisition, she was renamed Kyokuto Maru and registered in Dairen, located within the Kwantung Territory. In 1925, ownership changed hands to Hara Shoji KK, who rechristened the ship Shinsei Maru No. 1. The following year, in 1926, she was sold again to Shinsei Kisen Goshi Kaisha. Throughout these changes, she remained registered at Dairen and carried the Japanese code letters QBPJ.

The vessel known as Shinsei Maru No. 1 was dismantled and scrapped in Japan during either 1933 or 1934.

Bibliography

• Collard, Ian (2014). Ellerman Lines Remembering a Great British Company. Stroud: 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. ISBN 0715343963.
• Ritchie, Carson (1985). Q-Ships. ISBN 0-86138-011-8.