SS Murex (1892)

Murex was a 3,564 gross ton M class oiler, built by William Gray & Company, West Hartlepool in 1892 for Marcus Samuel & Company. She was the first bulk-oil tanker to pass through the Suez Canal en route to Thailand in 1892. She was chartered by the Royal Australian Navy and took part in operations against the German colonies in the Pacific with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force during the First World War in 1914, as an oiler. Murex was given the battle honour "Rabual 1914", for her service.[1][2] She was later requisitioned by the Admiralty.

History
Name: Murex (1892–1916)
Owner:
Builder: William Gray & Company, West Hartlepool
Yard number: 442
Launched: 28 May 1892
Completed: July 1898
Honours and
awards:
  • Battle honours: (RAN)
  • Rabaul 1914
Fate: Torpedoed and sunk on 21 December 1916
General characteristics
Tonnage: 3564 gross, 2329 net.
Length: 338 ft (103 m)
Beam: 43 ft (13 m)
Draught: 326.4 ft (99.5 m)
Installed power: Triple expansion steam engine aft (Central Marine Engine Works, West Hartlepool)

Fate

Murex was torpedoed on 21 December 1916 by the Imperial German Navy submarine U-73 in the Mediterranean Sea 94 miles off Port Said, Egypt, at 32°20′N 31°00′E and was sunk with the loss of one man.

Citations
  1. "Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours". Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  2. "Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours" (PDF). Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.

References
  • Gillett, Ross (1986). Australia's navy: past, present & future. Brookvale, NSW: Child & Henry. ISBN 0-86777-178-X.
  • Odgers, George (1982). The Royal Australian Navy: an illustrated history. Brookvale, NSW: Child & Henry. ISBN 0-86777-240-9.
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