HMS Argenta

History
United States
Name:	SS Argenta
Builder:	National Shipbuilding Company, Orange, Texas
Yard number:	245
Laid down:	July 1917
Launched:	May 1919
In service:	1919
Out of service:	1921 (cargo)
Fate:	Sold, 1922
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Argenta
Acquired:	1922
Out of service:	1925
Fate:	Scrapped 1925
General characteristics
Type:	Cargo ship / Prison ship
Tonnage:	3,500 grt

HMS Argenta (originally the American cargo ship SS Argenta) was a prison ship of the British Royal Navy.

The two deck steamer was laid down in July 1917 by the National Shipbuilding Company of Orange, Texas as Hull No. 245. Shortages of materials meant that she was wooden-hulled, with a steel keelson, stem and stern posts of oak, and timbers largely of yellow pine. This was due to shortages of metals. SS Argenta was launched in May 1919.

Argenta's career as a cargo ship was short. As early as November 1919, there were some signs of leakage, and the ship was out of service from late 1921. Condemned and declared unseaworthy in May 1922, she was then sold for use as a prison ship (a prison hulk) by the British Royal Navy.

During the 1920s, the vessel was used by the British government as a military base and prison ship for holding Irish Republicans as part of Britain's internment strategy following the events of "Bloody Sunday" in 1920.

By February 1923, under the 1922 Special Powers Act the British were detaining 263 men on the Argenta, which was moored in Belfast Lough. This was supplemented with internment at other land based sites, such as Larne workhouse, Belfast Prison and Derry Gaol. Together, both the ship and the workhouse alone held 542 men without trial at the highest internment population level during June 1923.

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Wikipedia