April’s unknown ship brought many replies most of whom identified her as the Cordillera.

The winner of the April competition was Robert Langlois of Guernsey:

The mystery ship on page 63 is the cargo liner Cordillera of the Donaldson Line. She was completed by Short Bros, Sunderland in October 1920 for the South American services of her owners. Gross tonnage was 6,865 and deadweight 7,850 on dimensions of 435′ (overall) by 54.8′. Her single screw was propelled by double-reduction geared turbines of 756 nominal horse power, giving a service speed of 13 knots. The ship traded worldwide for Donaldsons during her lengthy career, as suggested by “carrying apples from Tasmania to Hamburg”, and survived the Second World War. In May 1948 she was sold to Hector Whaling of London for service as a storeship, and renamed Bransfield. In this capacity she lasted until July 1958, when sold to German breakers. Later that month she arrived at Hamburg for demolition. Rather ironically, the mystery picture was taken in that same city at least 25 years earlier. The tall tower in the background is that of the famous St Michael’s Church. Cordillera had an almost identical sister ship named Corrientes (torpedoed and sunk September 1940). They could be told apart because Corrientes had solid black bulwarks in way of her centre castle, whereas Cordillera featured open railings all along her flush-decked hull, except for the forecastle. Furthermore, she sported an unusual ‘greenhouse’ effect under her lifeboats, with small white triangles painted at the foot of each stanchion (as in the mystery picture). Shorts must have built her well, to last another 10 years after 28 years ploughing the world’s oceans.

A D Frost writes:

April’s Unknown Ship is Donaldson South America Line (Donaldson Bros) ss Cordillera, built in 1920 by Short Bros., Sunderland. Sold in 1948 to Hector Whaling Ltd. renamed Bransfield and broken up at Hamburg in 1958.

Niels Storinggaard writes:

The unknown ship on page 63 of the April 2015 issue is s/s Cordillera of Donaldson Line. The vessel was built 1920 at Sunderland and sold 1948 to Hector Whaling Ltd., London and renamed Brainsfield as a storeship. She was scrapped in Hamburg 1958. In appearance, she could easily be mixed with her sister vessel s/s Corrientes, but the latter had a larger deckhouse between hatch 1 and 2. Also, Cordilla had a wooden bridge, which was not the case for Corrientes. Furthermore, the railing on Corrientes was ‘broken’ (firm railing), i.e. not flush amidships, which was the case for Cordillera.

Laurance Ward writes:

This ship is the Cordillera, built for Donaldson South America Line Ltd., (Donaldson Bros. Ltd., managers) of Glasgow. Builders: Short Bros Ltd., Sunderland, launched 19/04/1920 and completed in October 1920. Registered in Glasgow. Dimensions: O’all length 434.00ft., beam 54.80ft., depth 35.70ft., grt 6,266, nett tonnage 4,248, gross tonnage 6,865. Single screw, 13.0 knots. Engines: 3 steam turbines of 756 N.H.P built by North Eastern Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., Newcastle, double reduction geared to a single screw shaft. Fully refrigerated. She was a member of a series of five ships built for the transportation of chilled and frozen meat from the River Plate to Europe and/or North American ports, and was the only one to survive the 2nd World War. On 27/06/1938 the managers became Donaldson Bros & Black Ltd., and in 1941 was transferred to Donaldson Line Ltd. In May 1948 she was sold to Hector Whaling Ltd., London for service as a storeship and renamed Bransfield. In July 1958 she was finally sold to Eckhardt & Co. K.G., of Hamburg, arriving there on 19/07/1958 and scrapped.

Mike West writes:

The ship is the 6,865grt cargo ship Cordillera of the Donaldson Line of Glasgow. She was built by Short Bros Ltd., Sunderland, yard no. 398, in 1920 for the Donaldson South America Line, transferred to Donaldson Line in 1941, but in 1948 was sold to Hector Whaling of London for service as a storeship, and was renamed Bransfield. Managers were Bugge & Krohn-Hansen. In July 1958 she was sold to Eckhardt & Co. of Hamburg and scrapped there on 19th July 1958.

Alan Blackwood writes:

This month’s unknown is the 6,865 grt turbine steamer Cordillera, the second of a pair of not quite identical fully refrigerated sisterships and completed during October 1920 by Short Brothers Ltd. at their Pallion Yard, Sunderland. Collectively the pair formed the first part of what would be a fleet of five vessels for the December 1919 established Donaldson South America Line of Glasgow (Managed jointly by Donaldson Brothers Ltd. & John Black & Co. Ltd.), for operation on a new service from the River Plate to Europe and and/ or North American ports – the latter the direct result of the Line’s securing a significant contract with the Chicago based Armour Meat Packing Company. The subject photograph appears to have been taken at one of her owner’s nominated Centre Basin, Princes Dock, Glasgow berths and showing in the background behind her mainmast, the extant but now out of use 175 ton capacity 1932 built “Giant” Crane located on the north bank Finnieston Quay. With registered dimensions of 419 x 54.8 x 35.7′, Cordillera was powered by a 756 NHP three stage turbine, double reduction geared to a single screw shaft, constructed by the Northern Eastern Engineering Company of Wallsend-on-Tyne and which returned a service speed of 13 knots. During late June 1938 her managers became Donaldson Bros. & Black Ltd. Her registered ownership was transferred to that of Donaldson Line Ltd. during 1941 and to the Donaldson Atlantic Line Ltd. during 1947. Sold to Hector Whaling Ltd. of London during May 1948 she was renamed Bransfield for service as a stores ship mainly on the Company’s South Georgia based operations and later managed by the Norwegian based Bugge & Krohn-Hansen. The vessel was finally withdrawn from service and sold to Eckhardt & Co., of Hamburg for breaking, arriving at that port on 19th July 1958.

John Livingstone writes:

The Corrientes and Cordillera of Donaldson South America Line Ltd. were very similar but i am sure this is the Cordillera.She was built by Short Bros. Ltd., Sunderland in 1920. She survived the War and was eventualy sold by Donaldson Line Ltd. to Hector Whaling Ltd. and renamed Bransfield. I believe she was scrapped not long after.

Doug Burn writes:

The April mystery ship is Donaldson Line Cordillera. She was built in 1920 by Short Brothers, Sunderland, for Donaldson South American Line Ltd (Donaldson Bros Managers). In 1941 she was transfered to Donaldson Line. In 1948 she was sold to Hector Whaling Ltd., used as a store ship and renamed Bransfield. She was then sold to Eckhardt and Co., Hamburg and scrapped in 1958. Her dimensions were 6,865 grt 4,248 nrt , 419.0 ft x 54.8ft x 35,7ft.

Peter Sommerville writes:

This months ship is Donaldson’s Cordillera which I would guess is seen berthed at Prince’s Dock Glasgow with the Stobcross Crane visible in the background (and is still there today). She was built by Short Brothers Sunderland and launched 19th April 1920 and entered service for Donald South American Line six month later. In 1948 she sold to Hector Whaling Ltd for service as a stores ship and renamed Bransfield. In 1958 she was sold for breaking up in Hamburg arriving in July of that year.

John Jordan writes:

This is Donaldson’s 1920’s built Cordillera. She was constructed by Shorts at Sunderland on dimensions 419Ft. X 54.8ft X 35.7ft. She had three steam turbines driving to a single propellor shaft. She was full refrigerated for South American Trades. In 1948 she was sold to Hector Whaling Ltd. of London as a storeship and renamed Bransfield .In 1958 she was sold on to Hamburg breakers for demolition after 38 years service.

David Markey writes:

The mystery ship is the Cordillera. Built in 1920 by Short Brothers Ltd., Sunderland, (yard no 398) for Donaldson South American Line Ltd. She was 6865 gross tons and powered by three steam turbines. In May 1948 she was sold to Hector Whaling Ltd. London and renamed Bransfield and used as a storeship. In July 1958 she was sold to Eckhardt & Co. K. G. Hamburg for demolition.

Dan Kerr writes:

April’s unknown ship is ss Cordillera, 1920-1948, built by Short Bros. at Sunderland for Donaldson South America Line (Donaldson Bros. managers). She was sold to Hector Whaling in 1948 and renamed Bransfield. She was a fridge boat and used for storage and transport of whalemeat. She was scrapped at Hamburg in 1958. Her sistership was ss Corrientes from the same yard and was torpedoed in the Western Ocean in 1940. The photo was taken in Glasgow. I hope I am correct, I served my time with this company!

John Chitty writes:

The April unknown ship is the Donaldson South America Lines ss Cordillera. Built in 1920 By Short Bros Pallion Yard, Sunderland as yard no. 398. Dimensions: 6,865 GRT, 7850 DWT, LOA 127.7m, Beam 16.7m speed 12 1/2 – 13 kts from 3 steam turbines. Sister ship to SS Corrientes YARD NO 397 also from Short Bros. In 1948 sold to Hector Whaling Ltd. and Refitted/ rebuilt as a store ship for the Hector whaling’s Southern Oceans whaling fleet – renamed ss Bransfield. 1958 Broken up in Hamburg by Eckhardt and Co.

Mike Goadby writes:

This month’s unknown ship is the 6,865 grt refrigerated cargo ship SS Cordillera built by Short Bros at Sunderland in 1920 and owned by Donaldson Line, Glasgow. She was sold in 1948 to Hector Whaling Co., London, and renamed Bransfield, converted into a store ship and for processing whale meat. She arrived in Hamburg on 19th July 1958 to be broken up.

Michael Luscombe writes:

I think the mystery ship is the SS Moreton Bay.