Smolensk (Russian: Смоленск) was a Hansa A Type cargo ship which was built as Günther in 1944 by Neptun AG, Rostock, Germany for Hamburg South Amerika Line. She was seized as a prize of war in 1945, passing to the Ministry of War Transport and renamed Empire Galashiels. She was allocated to the Soviet Union in 1946, she was renamed Smolensk. She served until 1976 when she was scrapped.
Description
The ship was 85.22 m (279 ft 7 in) long, with a beam of 13.51 m (44 ft 4 in). She had a depth of 4.50 m (14 ft 9 in), and a draught of 6.10 m (20 ft 0 in). She was assessed as 1,923 GRT, 935 NRT,[1] 3,400 DWT.[2]
The ship was propelled by a compound steam engine, which had two cylinders of 42 cm (169⁄16 inches) and two cylinders of 90 cm (357⁄16 inches) diameter by 90 cm (357⁄16 inches) stroke. The engine was built by Neptun AG.[1] Rated at 1,200IHP, it drove a single screw propeller and could propel the ship at 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h).[2]
In 1946, Empire Galashiels was allocated to the Soviet Union and was renamed Smolensk.[3] Her port of registry was Riga and the Code Letters UKEA were allocated.[4] She served ports in Estonia and Latvia. With their introduction in the 1960s, Smolensk was allocated the IMO Number 5332525.[2] She served until 1976, when she was scrapped in the Soviet Union.[3]
^ abcdeMitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN1-85044-275-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Смоленск" [Smolensk] (in Russian). Fleetphoto. Retrieved 30 May 2020.