SS Smolensk (1944)

History
Name	Günther (1944-45); Empire Galashiels (1945-46); Smolensk (1946-48);
Owner	Hamburg Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft A/S & Co KG (1944-45); Ministry of War Transport (1945-46); Soviet Government (1946-48);
Operator	Hamburg Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft A/S & Co KG (1944-45); Glen & Co. Ltd (1945-46); Soviet Government (1946-48);
Port of registry	Hamburg, Germany (1944-45); London, United Kingdom (1945-46); Riga, Soviet Union (1946-76);
Builder	Neptun AG
Yard number	523
Launched	4 April 1944
Completed	8 July 1944
Out of service	1976
Identification	United Kingdom Official Number 180712 (1945-46); Code Letters GMVM (1945-46); ; Code Letters UKEA (1946-76); ; IMO number: 5332525 ( –1976);
Fate	Scrapped
General characteristics
Class & type	Hansa A type Cargo ship
Tonnage	1,923 GRT, 935 NRT, 3,400 DWT
Length	85.22 m (279 ft 7 in)
Beam	13.51 m (44 ft 4 in)
Draught	6.10 m (20 ft 0 in)
Depth	4.50 m (14 ft 9 in)
Installed power	Compound steam engine, 1,200IHP
Propulsion	Single screw propeller
Speed	10.5 knots (19.4 km/h)

Smolensk (Russian: Смоленск) was a Hansa A Type cargo ship which was built as Günther in 1944 by Neptun AG, Rostock, Germany for Hamburg South Amerika Line. She was seized as a prize of war in 1945, passing to the Ministry of War Transport and renamed Empire Galashiels. She was allocated to the Soviet Union in 1946, she was renamed Smolensk. She served until 1976 when she was scrapped.

History

Name	Günther (1944-45) Empire Galashiels (1945-46) Smolensk (1946-48)
Owner	Hamburg Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft A/S & Co KG (1944-45) Ministry of War Transport (1945-46) Soviet Government (1946-48)
Operator	Hamburg Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft A/S & Co KG (1944-45) Glen & Co. Ltd (1945-46) Soviet Government (1946-48)
Port of registry	Hamburg, Germany (1944-45) London, United Kingdom (1945-46) Riga, Soviet Union (1946-76)
Builder	Neptun AG
Yard number	523
Launched	4 April 1944
Completed	8 July 1944
Out of service	1976
Identification	United Kingdom Official Number 180712 (1945-46) Code Letters GMVM (1945-46) Code Letters UKEA (1946-76) IMO number: 5332525 ( –1976)
Fate	Scrapped
General characteristics
Class & type	Hansa A type Cargo ship
Tonnage	1,923 GRT, 935 NRT, 3,400 DWT
Length	85.22 m (279 ft 7 in)
Beam	13.51 m (44 ft 4 in)
Draught	6.10 m (20 ft 0 in)
Depth	4.50 m (14 ft 9 in)
Installed power	Compound steam engine, 1,200IHP
Propulsion	Single screw propeller
Speed	10.5 knots (19.4 km/h)