Royal
Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Ship Maine was built in 1906 by D &
W Henderson & Co. Ltd., Glasgow with a tonnage of 4,688
gross tonnes, a single screw engine and triple expansion by
the builder, 12.5 Knots.
She
was built for Harris & Dixon & Co. Ltd., as Heliopolis
and purchased by the Admiralty for conversion in 1913 at Pembrokeshire
Dock. Initially called Mediator but was wrecked near Maine,
off the Isle of Mull, in 1914 was then renamed Maine. She
proved unsuitable for the work required and was sold back
to her previous owners in 1916.
There
were 5 RFA vessels called 'Maine' (RFA called all its hospital
vessels 'Maine') Number 4 technically was not commissioned
& the build of no 5 was not completed
3rd
- RFA Maine- Hospital Ship
The
third ship to be named Maine was originally launched as the
SS Panama in 1902. However she was purchased by the Admiralty
in 1920 for use as a Hospital ship with the Mediterranean
Fleet. She entered service after conversion in 1922 and was
mainly based at Malta, although in 1926 she spent a period
at the China Station. In 1935 she attended King George V's
Silver Jubilee Fleet Review off Spithead, hosting government
guests. For this role her hospital markings were removed.
On 20th February 1928 Maine broke her moorings in a storm
at Malta and was grounded. Whilst at Alexandria during the
Second World War Maine treated more than 13000 patients and
on 6th September 1941 a bomb narrowly missed her, causing
some damage. She was paid off on 21st February 1947 and was
sold for breaking up.
4th
- RFA Maine- Hospital Ship
The
fourth ship named Maine was originally built in 1925 as the
'Leonardo da Vinci' by Ansaldo Soc Anon. In 1941 she was captured
at Massawa and subsequently converted into a Hospital Ship
for the army, named 'Empire Clyde'. At the end of the war
she was transferred to the Admiralty. Entering the RFA in
1948 she was renamed Maine. One of her first tasks was to
repatriate Australians from Pacific Theatre. She was based
at Hong Kong. Maine served in the Korean War where she evacuated
more than 13,000 casualties. Scrapped in 1954.
