November’s unknown ship brought many replies most of whom identified her as the Dan-y-Bryn.

The winner of the November competition was Gerald Dodd of Pontypridd.

The mystery ship in this months Shipping Today and Yesterday is the Dan-y-Bryn, built by Burntisland Ship Builders in 1940. She was owned by United Transport Ltd. of Jersey.

Peter Sommerville writes:

I thought this was going to be a difficult one, but thanks to an old “abc” edition of British Ocean Freighters I think I may have stumbled on her identity. I think she is the 1940 Burntisland built Dan-y-Bryn which was built for the Brynymor Steamship Co. Ltd (Ambrose, Davies & Matthews Ltd as managers). Her history is as follows: – 1946 to Cook Shipping Co/1947 Jersey United Shipping Co. 1952 to United Transport in which whose funnel colours she is seen in the photograph. In 1960 she became the Hong Kong owned Oceanic Gem before receiving her final name Tosa Bay in 1962. She was laid up in Hong Kong in 1966 and broken up at local breakers in January 1967.

Robert Crayfourd writes:

My father served with London Overseas Freighters , Sugar Line and Athel Line. He believes that the ship belongs to Headline Shipping, he is not quite sure as to the ship but he believes it may be the Fanad Head.

Alan Blackwood writes:

This month’s ship appears to be the 5,117grt Burntisland built single screw tramp Dan-Y-Bryn completed on 31st December 1939 for Ambrose, Davies & Matthews Ltd. of London (Brynymor S.S. Co. Ltd.). With overall dimensions of 436 x 58 ft. she was powered by a David Rowan constructed oil fired triple expansion main engine, returning a service speed of 10 knots. On 9th May 1941 whilst alongside at Hull, she was bombed and damaged during an air raid. During 1946, her ownership was transferred without name change to the Cook Shipping Co., London. The following year her management was placed with the Jersey United Shipping Company and who during 1948, exercised full purchase rights on the vessel. Dan-Y-Bryn’s registered ownership was transferred to United Transports Ltd. of Jersey (in whose markings she is seen in the photograph) during 1952. During 1960 the vessel was sold to Transoceanic Shipping of Hong Kong when renamed Oceanic Gem remaining under British flag operation. Registered ownership was transferred during 1961 to the Gladiator Shipping Co. Ltd., Hong Kong, retaining British registry and renamed Tosa Bay the following year. She was laid up at Hong Kong from April 1966 until January 1967 when sold to the Hong Kong breakers Wise Investments Company Ltd. Her demolition commenced during February 1967.

David Hopcroft writes:

I believe that the unknown ship in the November issue is the Dan-Y-Bryn. Built at Burntisland Shipbuilding in December 1939 for the Brynymor Steamship Co., it was 5,117 grt, with a triple expansion steam engine giving 10 knots. Served in many convoys and single voyages during the war and was sold to Cook Shipping in 1946, Jersey Transports Ltd. in 1949, and United Transports Ltd. in 1952. She is seen here in their colours. She later became Oceanic Gem in 1960, Tosa Bay in 1962 and broken up by Wise Investments in Hong Kong in 1967.

Laurance Ward writes:

This ship is the Dan-Y-Bryn, built by Burntisland Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Burntisland, Fife, for Brynmor Steamship Co. Ltd., of Swansea (Managers – Ambrose, Davies & Matthews Ltd, London). Launched 11/11/1939, completed 31/12/1939. Dimensions: Overall length 436ft., beam 58ft., depth 26.3ft., grt 5,117, nett tonnage 3,084, sdwt 10,000 approx. Single screw, 11 knots. Engines: oil fired boilers supplying steam to a triple expansion 3cyl., 22.50″, 65″ and 86″ diameters, and 48″ stroke, power 458nhp, and supplied by D. Rowan & Co., Ltd., of Glasgow. She had a remarkable war record, being bombed and damaged in Hull on 09/05/1941, numerous convoys including 4 completed Russian Convoys i.e. PQ4, PQ14, PQ18 and JW52, together with several ‘independent voyages. After the war she moved to Cook Shipping Co., Ltd., (same managers), though management changed to Jersey United Shipping Co. Ltd., of St. Helier. These managers became the owners in 1949 and in 1952 ownership changed to United Transports Ltd., Jersey. In 1960 ownership changed to Tranoceanic Shipping Co. Ltd., of Hong Kong and she was renamed Oceanic Gem, but, remaining under the British flag. Owner changed in 1961 to Gladiator Shipping Co. Ltd., Hong Kong – British flag. In 1962 renamed Tosa Bay and continued sailing until she was laid up in April 1966. In 1967 she was taken up for breaking by Wise Investment Co. Ltd., of Hong Kong. She had a sister ship named Cefn-Y-Bryn and she also survived the war, and sailed from 1948-1955 as the Gambhira.

John Jordan writes:

In 1940 Burntisland Shipbuilding built two ships for Ambrose, Davies and Matthews at 5,217 grt on a lenght of 436 ft. I believe this vessel to be the surviving sister Dan-Y-Bryn in the livery of United Transports of Jersey. She also seems to have a Strick Line house flag,maybe on charter. In 1960 she went to Hong Kong as Ocean Gem. In 1962 she was renamed Tosa Bay and in 1967 she was broken up in Hong Kong. The sister Ger- Y- Bryn, was lost to a German submarine off Portugal in March 1941. All 47 crew survived.

George Bower writes:

The November unknown ship is the steam ship Dan-y-Bryn of United Transports Ltd. Built in 1940 and of 5,217 gross tons.

Alastair Swain writes:

November’s ship is Dan-Y-Brin of Jersey United Transports Ltd. The ship was built by Burntisland Shipbuilding Company in 1940 as part of the Government’s prewar ‘scrap and build’ scheme to the order of Brynymore SS Co. Ltd. (Ambrose Davies and Matthews, Swansea), a small pre-war ship owner. Brynymore SS Co. went into liquidation after the war and the Dan-y-Bryn was sold to Jersey United Transports Ltd. without change of name. The Dan-Y-Bryn (5,217 gross tons) was a single screw steamer with reciprocating engines giving a service speed of 10 knots.

Mike Goadby writes:

This month’s unknown ship is steamship Dan-Y-Bryn, 5,117 grt, built by Burntisland Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. for Ambrose, Davies, and Matthews of Swansea. In 1941 she was damaged by aircraft bombs at Hull. In 1946 she was owned by Cook Shipping Co. (Jersey) 1949 (Jersey United Shipping Co. Ltd.). In 1952 she was owned by United Transport Ltd. (Jersey). 1960 renamed Ocean Gem (Transoceanic Shipping Co. Ltd., Hong Kong). 1962 renamed Tosa Bay (Gladiator Shipping Co. Ltd., Hong Kong). Sister ship was Ger-Y-Bran, sunk in 1943 by U- 130, 300 miles west of Cape Finisterre, Spain