SS Italia (1904)

SS Italia was a French passenger steamship that was built as a civilian ship in 1904, requisitioned by the French Navy in the First World War as an armed boarding steamer, and sunk by an Austro-Hungarian Navy U-boat in 1917.

Italia in civilian colours
History
France
NameItalia
NamesakeItaly
OwnerC Marsaillaise de Nav à Vap
OperatorFraissinet & Cie
Port of registryMarseille
BuilderCie Française de Nav et de Construction Nav, Nantes
Completed1904
Identification
Fatesunk by torpedo, 1917
General characteristics
Typepassenger ship
Tonnage1,305 GRT, 485 NRT
Length260.7 ft (79.5 m)
Beam28.5 ft (8.7 m)
Depth16.2 ft (4.9 m)
Decks1
Installed power305 NHP
Propulsion
Speed16 knots (30 km/h)

Building

The Compagnie Française de Navigation et de Construction Naval built Italia in Nantes, completing her in 1904. Her registered length was 260.7 ft (79.5 m), her beam was 28.5 ft (8.7 m), her depth was 16.2 ft (4.9 m) and her tonnages were 1,305 GRT and 485 NRT. She had two screws, each driven by a three-cylinder triple-expansion engine. Between them her twin engines were rated at 305 NHP[1] and gave her a speed of 16 knots (30 km/h).[2]

Italia's owner was the Compagnie Marseillaise de Navigation à Vapeur, and her managers were Fraissinet et Compagnie. They registered her at Marseille. Her code letters were JPKF.[1] By 1914 Italia was equipped for wireless telegraphy. Her call sign was FRI.[3]

First World War

In the First World War the French Navy requisitioned Italia and had her converted into an armed boarding steamer. On 30 May 1917 the Austro-Hungarian U-boat U-4 sank her by torpedo in the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Strait of Otranto and 46 miles southeast of Santa Maria di Leuca, Italy.[4]

References
  1. Lloyd's Register, 1914.
  2. Allen, Tony; Vleggeert, Nico; Lettens, Jan. "SS Italia (+1917)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  3. The Marconi Press Agency Ltd 1914, p. 360.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Italia". uboat.net. Retrieved 24 June 2022.

Bibliography
  • Lloyd's Register of Shipping. Vol. I–Steamers. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1914. ITA.
  • The Marconi Press Agency Ltd (1914). The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony. London: The Marconi Press Agency Ltd.

39°45′N 19°00′E

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