Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Ten - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Even more aspects - The Lloyd's Register at Penarth Dock . . .

s.s. 'Lake Bloomington'

(Str: t. 2,342; l. 261'; b. 43'6"; dr. 21'; s. 9.5 k.; cpl. 52; a. 1 3") Lake Bloomington, a depot collier, was launched 18 June 1918 by American Shipbuilding Co., Chicago, III.; turned over to the USSB 12 September; and commissioned the same day at Montreal, Canada, Lt. Comdr. D. H. Smith, USNRF, in command. Arriving Sydney, Nova Scotia, 23 September, Lake Bloomington joined a convoy and departed for European waters 7 October. She reached Brest, France, 21 October and began coaling runs between ports in the British Isles and the coast of France. While steaming from Penarth, Wales, to Bordeaux, France, with a cargo of coal, Lake Bloomington was stranded 11 December at Pointe de la Combre, France; abandoned the same day; and declared a total loss. - [640]

The s.s. 'Lake Bloomington' was lost during a gale within 6 months of her launch on the 11th December 1918 off Pointe de la Coubre in the Bay of Biscay near the mouth of the Gironde River. There were no casualties. She was one of 35 vessels built to the Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1020 (Laker Type A) being of 2,342 Gross Tons, 251 ft. in length x 43.5 ft. breath x 21 ft. draft. She had a compliment of 52 men and was armed with one 3" - 50 mount.


The s.s. 'Lake Bloomington' in her dazzle attire courtesy of NavSource Online. [932]