MV Wotan

"SMS A" redirects here. For the weather satellite, see SMS-1. For other uses, see SMSA.

History
Name
  • MV Wotan (1913–14)
  • SMS A (1914–15)
  • MV Wotan (1915–27)
  • SS Gianna M (1927–41)
  • SS Empire Control (1941–48)
  • SS Kleinella (1948–53)
Owner
  • Deutsche-Amerikanische Petroleum Gesellschaft (1913–14)
  • Kaiserliche Marine (1914–15)
  • Deutsche-Amerikanische Petroleum Gesellschaft (1915–19)
  • The Reparation Commission (1919–27)
  • Compagnia Italiana Trasporto Olii Minerali (1927–41)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1941–48)
  • Shell Company of Gibraltar Ltd (1948–53)
Operator
  • Deutsche-Amerikanische Petroleum Gesellschaft (1913–14)
  • Kaiserliche Marine (1914–15)
  • Deutsche-Amerikanische Petroleum Gesellschaft (1915–19)
  • Standard Oil Co (1919–20)
  • Compagnia Italiana Trasporto Olii Minerali (1927–41)
  • Eagle Oil & Shipping Co. Ltd. (1941)
  • Davies & Newman Ltd (1941–45)
  • Shell Company of Gibraltar Ltd (1948–53)
Port of registry
  • German Empire Hamburg (1913–14)
  • German Empire Kaiserliche Marine (1914–15)
  • German Empire Hamburg (1915–18)
  • United States United States (1918–27)
  • Italy Genoa (1927–41)
  • United Kingdom London (1941–53)
BuilderReiherstieg Schiffswerft & Maschinenfabrik
Yard number447
Launched1913
CompletedAugust 1913
Out of service
  • 1920-27
  • 1940-41
  • 1945-48
Identification
  • Code Letters NRJL (1927–33)
  • Code Letters IBAO (1933–41)
  • Code Letters BPWC (1941–53)
  • United Kingdom Official Number 149772 (1941–53)
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Class and typeTanker
Tonnage
  • 5,703 GRT(1913–27)
  • 5,719 GRT (1927–53)
  • 3,449 NRT
  • 7,970 DWT
Length406 ft 4 in (123.85 m)
Beam52 ft 7 in (16.03 m)
Depth26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)
Installed power
  • Diesel engine (1913–27)
  • Triple expansion steam engine (1927–53)
PropulsionScrew propeller

MV Wotan was a 5,703 GRT tanker that was built in 1913 by Reiherstieg Schiffswerft & Maschinenfabrik, Hamburg, Germany. Requisitioned by the Imperial German Navy in 1914, she served until 1915 as SMS A and was then returned to her owners. Ceded to the United States in 1919, she was operated until 1920 then laid up following an engine failure.

In 1927, she was sold to Italian owners. Her diesel engine was replaced by a triple expansion steam engine and she was renamed SS Gianna M. In 1941, she was captured by HMS Hilary, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed SS Empire Control. She was sold into merchant service in 1948 and renamed SS Kleinella, serving as a storage hulk at Gibraltar until 1953, when she was scrapped.