Ths Pamir

Over the weekend I acquired a very nice model of the four masted sailing ship Pamir. It now sits in a prominent position on the mantle over our fireplace. The Pamir was never destined to be covered in glory or involved in famous sea battles.
Nevertheless, she is a ship of significant fame. She was built in Hamburg Germany in 1905, a steel hulled four masted sailing vessel. For many years she sailed between Hamburg and Valparaiso . She had an average speed of 8-9 knots but could reach to 16 knots with a favourable wind. After the 1st World War the ship was handed over to Italy as war reparation. She was not put into service until being bought back by Germany in 1924 and returned to the nitrate trade sailing again between Hamburg and Chile. During the 2nd World War she was seized by New Zealand as a prize of war.. In 1951 she was sold for scrap but at the last minute purchased by a Antwerp German shipping line. The ship was modernized, adding two auxiliary engines, and accommodation fitted for cadets. On August 10th 1957 she left Buenos Aires with a crew of 86 and a cargo of 3,780 tons of barley. On the morning of 21st September she was caught in hurricane Carrie, she capsized and sank with a heavy loss of crew. Only four crew members and 2 cadets survived. Pamir was the last of the great sailing ships to round the Horn.