View source for TS Pretoria

{{Short description|Passenger ship (1936–1987)}}
{{For|other ships named Pretoria|SS Pretoria}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=
|Ship caption=TS Pretoria
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=
|Ship flag=
|Ship name=*''Pretoria'' (1936–45)
*''Empire Doon'' (1945–49)
*''Empire Orwell'' (1949–59)
*''Gunung Djati'' (1959–80)
*KRI ''Tanjung Pandan'' (1980–84)<ref name=RedDuster/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indomiliter.com/pernah-digunakan-kriegsmarine-dan-kapal-angkut-haji-inilah-sejarah-kri-tanjung-pandan-971/|title=Pernah Digunakan Kriegsmarine Dan Kapal Angkut Haji, Inilah Sejarah KRI Tanjung Pandan 971|website=indomiliter.com|date=18 March 2019|accessdate=29 April 2021|language=id}}</ref>
|Ship namesake=*[[Pretoria]], [[South Africa]] (1936–45)
*[[River Orwell]] (1949–59)
*[[Sunan Gunungjati]], a 16th-century Javanese ''[[Wali Sanga]]'' (1959–80)
*[[Tanjung Pandan]], [[Bangka Belitung Islands]], [[Indonesia]] (1980-1984)
|Ship owner=*[[Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie]] (1936–39)
*[[Kriegsmarine]] (1939–45)
*[[Ministry of War Transport]] (1945)
*[[Department for Transport#History|Ministry of Transport]] (1945–59)
*[[Blue Funnel Line|Alfred Holt & Co]] (1959–62)
*Indonesian Government (1962–64)
*P.T. Maskapai Pelajaran "Sang Saka" (1964–65)
*Perusahaan Pelajaran Arafat (1965–79)
*[[Indonesian Navy]] (1979–84)
|Ship operator=*Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie (1936–39)
*Kriegsmarine (1939–45)
*[[Orient Steam Navigation Company]] (1945–59), Ocean Steam Ship Co (1959–62)
*Pan-Islamic Steam Ship Co (1962–79)
*[[Indonesian Navy]] (1979–84)
|Ship registry=*{{Flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Bremen]] (1936–39)
*{{Flagicon|Nazi Germany|naval}} [[Kriegsmarine]] (1939–45)
*{{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}} [[London]] (1945–62)
*{{Flagicon|Indonesia}} Indonesia (1962–80)
*{{flagicon|Indonesia|naval}} [[Indonesian Navy]] (1980–84)
|Ship route=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder= [[Blohm+Voss]], [[Hamburg]], Germany<ref name=RedDuster>{{cite web |url=http://www.red-duster.co.uk/BLUEFUN19.htm |title=Alfred Holt & Co the Blue Funnel Line |author=Merchant Navy Association |work=The Red Duster |publisher=Merchant Navy Association |access-date=17 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130114071406/http://www.red-duster.co.uk/BLUEFUN19.htm |archive-date=14 January 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=506
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched= 16 July 1936
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed=1936
|Ship acquired=
|Ship maiden voyage= 19 December 1936
|Ship in service= 
|Ship out of service=1984
|Ship identification=*[[Maritime call sign|call sign]] DJSG (1936–45)
*{{ICS|Delta}}{{ICS|Juliet}}{{ICS|Sierra}}{{ICS|Golf}}
*Pennant Number 971 (1980–84)
*{{IMO|5138395}}
|Ship captured=as [[prize ship]] in May 1945
|Ship refit=*1945 (as troop ship)
*1950 (as troop ship)
*1958–59 (as pilgrim ship)
*1975 (as pilgrim ship)
|Ship fate= Scrapped in 1987
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type=*[[Ocean liner]] (1936–39)
*Depot ship (1939–40)
*Hospital ship (1940–45)
*Troop ship (1945–58)
*Pilgrim ship (1958–80)
*Troop ship (1980–81)
*Naval accommodation ship (1981–84)
|Ship tonnage=*{{GRT|16662}} (1936–58)
*{{GRT|17891|link=off}} (1959–87)
|Ship length={{cvt|547.8|ft|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{cvt|72.5|ft|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{cvt|26|ft|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth={{cvt|31.5|ft|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship hold depth=
|Ship decks=3
|Ship power=14,000 [[Horsepower#Shaft horsepower|SHP]]
|Ship propulsion=*twin [[Propeller|screw]]
*6 steam turbines (1936–73)
*Diesel engines (1973–84)
|Ship speed= {{convert|18|kn|km/h}}
|Ship range=
|Ship endurance=
|Ship boats=
|Ship capacity=*152 1st class and 338 tourist class passengers (1936–39)
*2,500 patients (1945)
*1,491 troops (1950–58)
*106 1st class and 2,000 pilgrim class passengers (1959–75)
|Ship troops=
|Ship complement=*300 (1936–39)
*260 (1945)
|Ship crew=
|Ship time to activate=
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=
|Ship armour=
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=
|Ship aircraft facilities=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''TS ''Pretoria''''' was a ship that had a long and varied career as first a German [[cargo liner]], then a U-boat depot ship, hospital ship, British troop ship, Muslim pilgrim ship and finally an Indonesian naval accommodation ship.

==Description==
The ship's registered length was {{convert|547.|ft|1|abbr=on}} long, her beam was {{convert|72.5|ft|1|abbr=on}}, her depth was {{convert|31.5|ft|1|abbr=on}},<ref name=Pretoria37/> and her draught was {{convert|26|ft|1|abbr=on}}.<ref name=TalbotBooth>{{Cite book |author=E.C. Talbot-Booth |orig-year=1936 |year=1942 |title=Ships and the Sea |publisher=[[Sampson Low]], Marston & Co. Ltd |place=London |page=420 |edition=Seventh}}</ref> As built, she was assessed at {{GRT|16662}}.<ref name=Pretoria37/> After her 1958 refit, she was assessed as {{GRT|17891|link=off}}.<ref name=MNO/>

As built, the ship was powered by six [[steam turbine]]s,<ref name=TalbotBooth/> rated at a total of 14,000 [[Horsepower#Shaft horsepower|shp]].<ref name=Harnack/> These were fed by a number of small, high-pressure [[Benson boiler]]s.<ref name=MNO/> The turbines drove twin [[Propeller|screws]] and gave her a speed of {{convert|18|kn|km/h}}.<ref name=Harnack/> In 1949 the Benson boilers were replaced by convention [[boilers]], made by [[Foster Wheeler]], operating at {{convert|500|psi|bar}}.<ref name=MNO/> In 1973, she was re-engined, being fitted with [[diesel engine]]s.<ref name=RedDuster/>

As built, the ship had berths for 152 first class and 338 second class passengers.<ref name=List>{{cite web |url= https://www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions/ShipsP-Q.shtml |last1=Swiggum |first1=Susan |last2=Kohli |first2=Marjorie |date=28 February 2010 |title=Ship Descriptions – P–Q |work=TheShipsList |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> In 1949 she was converted to a troopship, with berths for 1,491 troops.<ref name=Times100150/> In 1959 she was refitted to carry 106 first class and 2,000 pilgrim class passengers.<ref name=RedDuster/>

==History==
===Pre-war===
''Pretoria'' was built as yard number 506 by [[Blohm & Voss]], [[Hamburg]], Germany.<ref name=Lost>{{cite web|url=http://www.lostliners.de/werften/buv/bauliste/b&v/index.php |title=Liste der Newbauten Werft Blohm & Voss |language=de |publisher=Lostliners |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> She was launched on 16 July 1936.<ref name=Ships>{{cite book |last1= Mitchell |first1=WH |last2=Sawyer |first2=LA |year=1995 |title=The Empire Ships |page=not cited |publisher= Lloyd's of London Press Ltd |place= London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong |isbn=1-85044-275-4}}</ref> She was one of a pair of [[sister ship]]s completed that year for [[Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie]], the other being [[USS Lejeune (AP-74)|TS ''Windhuk'']].<ref name=Harnack>{{cite book |last=Harnack |first=Edwin P |title=All About Ships & Shipping |orig-year=1903 |year=1938 |edition=7th |publisher=[[Faber and Faber]] |place=London |page=462}}</ref> Her [[Maritime call sign|call sign]] was DJSG.<ref name=Pretoria37>{{cite book |url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/37/37b0711.pdf |year=1937 |title=Lloyd's Register |volume=II.—Steamers and Motorships of 300 tons gross and over |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |via=[[Southampton City Council]] |access-date=15 July 2011}}</ref>

''Pretoria'' began her maiden voyage from Hamburg on 19 December 1936.<ref name=RedDuster/> Her destination was [[Maputo|Lourenço Marques]], [[Mozambique]] via [[Southampton]], [[United Kingdom]];<ref name=Times180836/> [[Lisbon]], [[Portugal]]; [[Casablanca]], [[Morocco]];<ref name=Times281236/> [[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]].<ref name=Times180836>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=''Advertisement'' |date=18 August 1936 |page=2 |issue=47456 |column=B }}</ref> On 24 December, having departed from Southampton with 470 passengers and 300 crew on board, she ran aground on the East Lepe Bank in the [[Solent]]. Although five [[tugboat|tugs]] attempted to free her, she remained aground. After 900 tons of water had been discharged overboard and 400 tons of fuel oil had been transferred to a tanker, she was freed with the aid of seven tugs on 26 December, losing her port anchor in the process. ''Pretoria'' returned to Southampton for inspection, resuming her voyage the next day. As a result of the delays incurred, the calls at Lisbon and Casablanca were omitted.<ref name=Times281236>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=German Liner Aground |date=28 December 1936 |page=7 |issue=47567 |column=D }}</ref> Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie operated her mainly between Hamburg, [[South-West Africa]] and [[South Africa]].

On 20 May 1937, ''Pretoria'' was involved in a collision with the British [[tank ship|tanker]] {{SS|Hekla||2}} during [[fog]]gy weather in the [[North Sea]] ({{coord|53|29|N|4|49|E}}). ''Hekla'' was badly damaged amidships and jettisoned some of her cargo. ''Pretoria'' stood by whilst tugs were sent from [[Bremen]], Germany to ''Hekla{{'}}s'' aid.<ref name=Times210537>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Casualty Reports |date=21 May 1937 |page=7 |issue=47690 |column=F }}</ref>

===World War II===
In November 1939, ''Pretoria'' was requisitioned by the [[Kriegsmarine]] and used as a [[U-boat]] [[depot ship]]. Initially based at [[Kiel]], [[Schleswig-Holstein]], she  served the [[1st U-boat Flotilla]], based at [[Neustadt, Hamburg|Neustadt]], [[Hamburg]], from January 1940. In December she was transferred to [[21st U-boat Flotilla]], based at [[Pillau]], [[East Prussia]]. In 1945,<ref name=MNO>{{cite web |url=http://www.merchantnavyofficers.com/hadj.html |title=Ships of the Hadj  |publisher=Merchant Navy Officers |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> she was converted to a [[hospital ship]].<ref name=Ships/> ''Pretoria'' assisted in the [[Flight and evacuation of German civilians during the end of World War II|evacuation of German civilians from the Eastern Territories]] towards the end of the war.<ref name=List/> In May 1945 she was in [[Copenhagen]] when [[Denmark]] was liberated, and UK forces captured her as a [[prize (law)|prize of war]].<ref name=RedDuster/>

==Post-war merchant service==
''Pretoria'' was passed to the [[Ministry of War Transport]] (MoWT) converted to a [[troop ship]] at [[Newcastle upon Tyne]]. She was renamed ''Empire Doon''. The MoWT placed her under the management of the [[Orient Steam Navigation Company]].<ref name=RedDuster/> ''Empire Doon'' suffered boiler trouble in [[Port Said]], [[Egypt]], was towed back to [[Falmouth, Cornwall]] by the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] tug ''Bustler''.<ref name=PNC>{{cite web |url=http://www.pnc.com.au/~byceme/orion/anecdote.htm |title=Letter to Chris Tyrer |publisher=PNC |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> She was then laid up off [[Southend on Sea]]. [[Essex]],<ref name=Ships/> ''Empire Doon'' was moved to [[Southampton]], [[Hampshire]] in May 1947.<ref name=Times230949>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Model Troopship |date=23 September 1949 |page=2 |issue=51494 |column=G }}</ref> In 1949,<ref name=RedDuster/> she was reboilered by [[John I. Thornycroft & Company|J.I. Thorneycroft & Co]] of [[Southampton]],<ref name=Ships/> and converted to a troopship,<ref name=Times230949/> at a cost of [[Pound Sterling|£2,000,000]]. Trials were undertaken in November 1949, but had to be curtailed due to engine problems. Her maiden voyage as a troopship, scheduled for 10 December,<ref name=Times281149>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Troopship returns to port |date=28 November 1949 |page=4 |issue=51550 |column=B }}</ref> was postponed. Sea trials resumed on 29 December.<ref name=Times301249>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Troopship's Trials |date=30 December 1949 |page=4 |issue=51576 |column=F }}</ref>

The refit of ''Empire Doon'' was completed in January 1950 and she was renamed ''Empire Orwell'' to conform with the [[Department for Transport#History|Ministry of Transport]] policy of ship names being prefixed "Empire" and Orient Line policy of using names beginning with "O".<ref name=RedDuster/> She had capacity for 1,491 troops in three classes.<ref name=Times100150>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Latest in Troopships |date=10 January 1950 |page=2 |issue=51585 |column=G }}</ref> ''Empire Orwell'' departed on her maiden voyage as a troopship on 17 January 1950 bound for [[Tobruk]], [[Libya]] and [[Port Said]], [[Egypt]].<ref name=Times170150>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=New Standards in Trooping |date=17 January 1950 |page=3 |issue=51591 |column=B }}</ref> She served as a troopship in the 1956 [[Suez Crisis]]: landing troops in [[Cyprus]] and evacuating troops from the [[Suez Canal]] Zone.{{citation needed|date=May 2011}}

In April 1958, ''Empire Orwell'' was damaged during storms in the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. She was towed into Lisbon, Portugal by a German tug.<ref name=Times070458>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Telegrams in Brief |date=7 April 1958 |page=5 |issue=54118 |column=G }}</ref> There were complaints about conditions on board ''Empire Orwell'' when she was returning troops from the Far East to the United Kingdom in 1958. The issue was raised in Parliament by [[Horace King, Baron Maybray-King|Horace King]], MP. In reply, [[Alfred Barnes (Labour politician)|Alfred Barnes]], the [[Secretary of State for Transport|Minister of Transport]], stated that complaints about messing arrangements encountered in the early part of the voyage were swiftly resolved. Complaints that soldiers below the rank of [[sergeant]] were generally unable to visit their families were stated to be a matter of military discipline.<ref name=Hansard>{{cite web |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1951/jun/18/troopship-empire-orwell-conditions |title=Troopship "Empire Orwell" (Conditions) |work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |date=18 June 1951 |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> Later that year, she was [[bareboat charter|chartered]] to the Pan-Islamic Steam Ship Co of [[Karachi]], [[Pakistan]] who used her to carry [[Muslim]] pilgrims.<ref name=RedDuster/> [[Blue Funnel Line|Alfred Holt & Co]] bought her in November of that year and renamed her ''Gunung Djati'' after the 16th century [[Java]]nese ''[[Wali Sanga]]'' [[Sunan Gunungjati]]. She was placed her under the management of Ocean Steam Ship Co, [[Liverpool]], [[Lancashire]].<ref name=RedDuster/> ''Gunung Djati'' was refitted by [[Barclay Curle|Barclay Curle & Co Ltd]] in [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]].<ref name=RedDuster/> The refit increased her tonnage to {{GRT|17851|link=off}}. She was fitted with a [[mosque]], and an indicator that would point towards [[Mecca]].<ref name=MNO/> On 7 March 1959 she sailed for [[Djakarta]], [[Indonesia]]. She could carry 106 first class passengers and 2,000 pilgrim class passengers.<ref name=RedDuster/>

In 1962 the Indonesian government bought ''Gunung Djati'', transferred her to the Indonesian flag and continued to operate her as a pilgrim ship.<ref name=RedDuster/> In 1964 P.T. Maskapai Pelajaran "Sang Saka" of [[Djakarta]] bought her and continued to operate her in the same service.<ref name=RedDuster/> She was sold to Perusahaan Pelajaran Arafat, Djakarta.<ref name=Mariners/> In 1973 her boilers and steam turbines were replaced with diesel engines and in 1975 she was refitted in [[Hong Kong]].<ref name=RedDuster/>

===Indonesian naval service===
In 1979,<ref name=Mariners/> the Indonesian Government bought ''Gunung Djati'' back, renamed her KRI ''Tanjung Pandan'', with the [[pennant number]] 971.<ref name=RedDuster/> She was used by the [[Indonesian Navy]] as a troopship until 1981, and then as an accommodation ship.<ref name=Mariners>{{cite web|url=http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/EmpireD.html |title=EMPIRE - D |publisher=Mariners |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> She had ceased to serve in this role by 1984.<ref name=RedDuster/> ''Tanjung Pandan'' was sold in 1987 to [[Taiwan]] for scrapping.<ref name=Ships/>

===Replacement naval ship===
In 2003 Indonesia commissioned an [[amphibious transport dock]] ship from Daesun Shipbuilding and Engineering of [[Pusan]] in [[Korea]], which entered service as {{Ship|KRI|Tanjung Dalpele}}. She has since been converted to a [[hospital ship]] and renamed {{ship|KRI|Dr Soeharso|990}}.



==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
==External links==
*[http://www.merchantnavyofficers.com/BlueFunnel/GDasP.jpg Photo of ''Pretoria'']
*[http://www.arborfield-september49ers.co.uk/hmt_empire-orwell_files/image004.jpg Photo of ''Empire Orwell'']
*[http://britisharmedforces.org/troopships/troopship_20.gif Photo of ''Empire Orwell'']
*[http://www.merchantnavyofficers.com/BlueFunnel/GD2.jpg Photo of ''Gunung Djati''] 
*[http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=30145 British Pathé newsreel of ''Empire Orwell'' returning troops from Korea]
*[http://www.rhiw.com/y_mor/blue_funnel_02/postcards/gunung_djati.jpg Painting of ''Gunung Djati'']

{{Empire ships}}
{{Blohm + Voss}}
{{1936 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pretoria}}
[[Category:Ships built in Hamburg]]
[[Category:1936 ships]]
[[Category:Ocean liners]]
[[Category:Merchant ships of Germany]]
[[Category:Steamships of Germany]]
[[Category:World War II merchant ships of Germany]]
[[Category:Auxiliary ships of the Kriegsmarine]]
[[Category:Hospital ships in World War II]]
[[Category:Empire ships]]
[[Category:Ministry of War Transport ships]]
[[Category:Merchant ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Troop ships]]
[[Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Steamships of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Merchant ships of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Naval ships of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1936]]