Huntsman (1921)

Builder:
Charles Connell & Company
Scotstoun, Scotland
Ordered:
N/A
Keel Laid:
N/A
Year Built:
1921
Launched:
July 5, 1921
Type:
Cargo
Completed:
November 1921
Fate:
Sunk Oct. 17, 1939 by the German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee using charges.

Location: South Atlantic, 581 miles south of Ascension Island.
(16.00S - 17.00W)

84 crewmen taken POW, no casualties.

(Captured Oct. 10, 1939 in the South Atlantic, 620 miles east of Ascension Island at position
08.30S - 05.15W all 84 crew taken POW, no casualties.)


Owner
Charente Steamship Co.
(T&J Harrison)
Liverpool, England


Dimensions, machinery and performance
Length:
499' 2"
Engines:
1 geared steam turbine
Beam:
58' 4"
Boilers:
N/A
Draft:
28' 7" (depth)
Shafts:
1
Gross Tons:
8,196
HP:
N/A
DWT:
11,960
Speed:
13 knots
Crew:
N/A
Funnels:
1
Passengers:
N/A
Masts:
4


Captains
From
To
Name
N/A
Oct. 10, 1939
Albert H. Brown (1876-1943)


Notes
Oct. 10, 1939:
Huntsman is approached by the Admiral Graf Spee which is flying the French flag. When
within firing range the French flag was lowered and the Kriegsmarine flag was raised.
The Huntsman's Radio Officer, B. C. McCorry had already transmitted a signal giving her
position when they were ordered to stop and not to transmit any messages. Capt. Brown
complied with both orders as the Huntsman was unarmed.

Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Schünemann and a prize crew boarded the ship and asked
for the ship's papers. According to the diary of Capt. Brown the papers had been thrown
over the side, however the KTB from the Admiral Graf Spee states that the papers were
captured. Kapitän zur See Hans Langsdorff of the Admiral Graf Spee orders his radio officer
to transmit a false signal, this signal is sent three times, (S-S-S-S and T-T-T-T) this indicates
the ship was under submarine attack by torpedo. He also sends a false longitude and latitude
and the name Newton Beech, this designed to confuse the British.

Oct. 14, 1939:
The 84 man crew was transferred from Huntsman to the Altmark.
Oct. 16, 1939:
Stores and personal effects are removed from the Huntsman and transferred to the Altmark.
Oct. 17, 1939:
The remaining useful items are removed from the Huntsman and the ship is scuttled using
charges.

Nov. 29, 1939:
Capt. Albert H. Brown*, J. H. Beazley (Assistant Engineer), F. Edwards (Chief Engineer),
B. C. McCorry (Radio Officer) and A. H. Thompson (Chief Engineer) were transferred to the
Admiral Graf Spee. All but Capt. Brown remained POW's on the Admiral Graf Spee until
released in Montevideo, Uruguay on Dec. 14, 1939 following the Battle of the River Plate.

Dec. 6, 1939:
Capt. Albert H. Brown was transferred back to the Altmark at his own request so he could
remain with his crew.
(Note Albert Horace Brown died of illness in 1943.)

Feb. 16, 1940:
The 302 crewmen from Newton Beech, Ashlea, Huntsman, Trevanion, Doric Star and Tairoa
being held prisoner on the Altmark were rescued by the HMS Cossack F-03 in Jøssingfjord,
Norway
after the crew of the Cossack forced the Altmark to ground and boarded the ship.
*
King's Commendation for Brave Conduct


Crewmen rescued from the Altmark
Applby, P. (Chief Steward)
Hughes, H. (Carpenter)
Brown, Albert H. (Master)
Johnson, A. A. (2nd Officer)
Clooney, F. (4th Engineer)
Lyons, P. A. (Assistant Engineer)
Creer, A. A. (2nd Engineer)
McCallum, J. (Quartermaster)
Frost, L. (3rd Officer)
McIntyre, G. (Quartermaster)
Goldstein, A. J. (Quartermaster)
Wreight, H. (Quartermaster)
Hall, E. S. (3rd Engineer)
Indian crewmen rescued from the Altmark
Abdul Ahmad
Munshi Mian
Abdul Azis
Munsoorali
Abdul Wahale
Noimoola
Aledool Jolill
Noor Ahmad
Ali Ahmad
Nuntazuran
Ali Hussian
Pasadullah
Amir Ali
Radiuzzaman
Ana Meah
Ramjanali
Arfanulla
Reasutulla
Asadulla
Reazuddin
Asmanali
Reazulla
Badsha Mian
Edoo
Edrisulla
Sahebali
Eusuphulla
Sekandar Mian
Forasatulla
Shakuroollah
Gonoomirar
Sherazool Hawk
Hahd Essack
Somodeali
Harishmeah
Somodeulla
Harisulla
Sorafathali
Hashmatullah
Sultan Ahamode
Jaburulla
Sultan Ahmad
Kala Mian
Sultan Ahmad
Kanai
Sumshireullah
Khurshidali
Sunaulla
Komoreallee
Syed Ahmad
Konaullah
Thacoordhone
Luckmanullah
Tormoozullah
Mahdmeah
Umoor Meah
Mansoorali
Untorali
Massimulla
Wasiur Rahman
Meadon
Woolfatulla
Mofizali
Yeasimullah
Monroozulla
Zaulia Abdin
Mungli


Builder's Data
Page revised Apr. 24, 2008