Can anyone identify this ship? Is it SS Artist?

[rplatell]

We found this very old and tattered photo in my grandfather's wallet after he died. He obviously had this photo for a long time and it must have meant something to him. He was in the merchant navy as was his father before him. His father died on board the SS Artist when that ship was torpedoed on 27-Jan-1917. Therefore, I'm wondering if this photo could be of that ship - however, I cannot find a picture of the Artist. All I have is the following, from http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/v ... sp?id=4963:

ss ARTIST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
built by Charles Connell & Company Scotstoun,
Yard No 330
Engines by Dunsmuir & Jackson
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Propulsion: steam, triple expansion, 300 nhp, 12 knots
Launched: Tuesday, 26/10/1909
Built: 1909
Ship Type: Passenger Cargo Vessel
Tonnage: 3570 grt
Length: 350.1 feet
Breadth: 46 feet
Owner History:
Charente SS Co. (T & J Harrison) Liverpool
Status: Torpedoed & Sunk - 27/01/1917


Can anyone tell me if this could be the ship in the photo? If not, any clues as to what this mystery ship may be?

[Angus Mac Kinnon]

Definitely not the 1909 Connell-built S.S. ARTIST. The Harrisons of Liverpool fleet history, by Graeme Cubbin, has an image of the vessel on which your great-grandfather was lost during WWI and the accompanying details. (Page 96)

[yorkieman]

I would say this is likely to be a pre-Revolution Russian icebreaker, perhaps great-grandfather was on Russian convoys in WW1 and passed the photo to his son?

[davidships]

Yes, George is right.
Here is another photo of the same vessel (or a sister)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnparker ... otostream/

This must be the SALIANINOVICH, mentioned in Janes Fighting Ships of WW1 as in the White Sea in 1919 under Allied control, but giving no details. I have not yet found any other reference to her.

[Angus Mac Kinnon]

Well done, George & David, another maritime mystery solved !

[davidships]

Tracked her down now!

3269grt 1855nrt 275.0 x 57.9 x 21.9ft
Built by Canadian Vickers Ltd, Montreal (Yd 1)
2 x T3cy 568nhp 8000ihp 16kn 2sc Vickers Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness
5/1916 launched for Canadian Government as J D HAZEN
8/1916 completed and registered in name of shipbuilder (ON 138227)
11/1916 sold to Russian Government and modified (3515grt 2041nrt 275.0 x 57.9 x 28.4ft); commissioned as MIKULA SELEANINOVICH/SELYANINOVICH into Imperial Russian Navy in 1/1917.
12/1917 under Revolutionary/Bolshevik control
31/8/1918 scuttled in mouth of River Dvina to impede Allied advance; later raised by the Allies and placed under French control
8/1919 sailed to France in withdrawal of Allied forces from White Sea
1922 sold back to Canadian Government as MIKULA
2/1937 registered at Ottawa as MIKULA to Minister of Transport Ottawa
1937 sold to Maritime Navigation Co Ltd, Liverpool NS
5/1937 arrived to be broken up by W.H.Arnott, Young & Co at Dalmuir, Scotland

A comprehensive history of the vessel is at http://www.cnrs-scrn.org/northern_marin ... _17-42.pdf

[edit: additional details added 17/6/2012]

[rplatell]

Sorry for the very late reply.... and thank you all for solving my mystery. According to my father, my grandfather did serve in the Royal Navy towards the end of WW1, which included several voyages to Archangel in the North Russia campaign. Not sure if he ever sailed on the Mikula or not - maybe he was present when it was refloated and/or when it sailed to England in 1918? I guess I will never know for sure - however, it must have meant something to him as he carried the photo around with him for the next 65 years.

Incidentally, Angus - I would love to get a copy of a photo of the SS Artist. Is that reference that you gave available online, or if not would anyone be able to send me a scanned image of the ship?

Many thanks once again,
Richard

[Angus Mac Kinnon]

Attaching a scan of the excerpt from the excellent 2003 Graeme Cubbin publication 'Harrisons of Liverpool', (World Ship Society and Ships In Focus publications) which has the history and loss details of this British steamer.

[rplatell]

Thanks Angus - much appreciated.

[Angus Mac Kinnon]

Welcome