The winner of the March competition was Jim Simpson of Fife.

Alan Blackwood writes:

This month’s ‘unknown’ is the 3,952 grt/ 5,630 dwt single screw Australian flag coastal steamer Cycle completed by Hawthorn, Leslie & Co. Ltd. at their Tyneside Hebburn Yard during February 1939, registered to the ownership of Australian Steamships Pty. of Sydney and managed by the Howard Smith Shipping Company, also of Sydney. She was the third vessel to be so named by her owners. Whilst described by her builders as a self trimming collier and indeed regularly carrying coal plus iron ore and other concentrates, she displayed a number of design features characteristic of cargo vessels constructed for the Antipodes between the mid 1930’s and mid 1950’s, including a comprehensive suite of cargo handling equipment typically found on vessels destined for employment on either the Australian or New Zealand dry bulk and break bulk coastal trades. With dimensions of 371’01” (loa) x 355′ (lbp) x 50’06” beam (113.1 x 108.2 x 15.4m), she was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, fed by coal fired boilers, to return a service speed of 11 knots. During 1961 she was renamed Amita when sold for further trading under the Panamanian flag to Cia. de Nav. Victoria Neptuno S.A., Panama, for management by the Teh Hu Steam Shipping Co. of Hong Kong. On 30th January 1972 she was delivered to Kaohsiung for demolition by Cheung Nan Steel Enterprises.

John Jordan writes:

This ship is SS Cycle a triple expansion steamer built in 1939 by Hawthorne Leslie of Newcastle. She was of 3952 tons on a length of 358ft, beam 50.7ft and draft of 24.7 ft. She was built for the Australian Steamship Company and managed by Howard Smith Company. She was sold in 1961 to Victoria Neptuno Navigation of Panama and renamed Amita. She had a service speed of 11knots. Broken up at Kaohsiung commencing 30th January 1972.

D. Frost writes:

March’s Unknown Ship is Howard Smith’s ss Cycle, built in 1939 by Hawthorn, Leslie SB. She was sold 1961and renamed Amita (Teh Hu SS.,HK) and broken up in Taiwan in 1970.

Jim Simpson writes:

The unknown ship in the March edition is the Cycle (111) owned, when the photograph was taken, by Australian Steamships Pty. Ltd., (Howard Smith). She was built in 1939 by Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn on Tyne. Dimensions, Length 113.1m Beam 15m. Tonnages 3,952 Grt, 5630 DWT. Propulsion:

Single triple expansion steam engine,speed 11kts.The Cycle was sold in 1961 to Cia De Nav. Victoria Neptuno, Panama, (Teh Hu SS Co.) and renamed Amita. She was finally broken up at Kaohsiung in January 1972.

Christy Machale writes:

March’s ‘mystery ship’ is the steamer Cycle (3,952 grt), completed in February 1939 by R. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Co. Ltd., Hebburn-on-Tyne, Newcastle. Her owners were Australian Steamships Pty. Ltd. (Howard Smith Ltd.), of Sydney, the company having moved there from Melbourne some ten years previously. She was powered by triple-expansion engines which gave her a service speed of 11 knots. After 22 years in the Australian coastal cargo trade, she was sold in 1961 and renamed Amita by the Cía. de Navegación Victoria Neptuno S.A., under the Panamanian flag and the management of the Teh Hu Steamship Co. Ltd., Hong Kong. She was broken up in 1972 at Kaohsiung, arriving there for demolition on 30th January.

Nigel Williams writes:

The ship is the SS ‘Cycle’, which was built by Hawthorn, Leslie & Co for Howard Smith, Australia. She was operated by Howard Smith from 1939 to 1961.