SS Karnak (1898)

SS Karnak was a French Passenger ship turned Troop transport that the German submarine SM U-32 torpedoed on 27 November 1916 in the Mediterranean Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) south south east of Valletta, Malta. Karnak was carrying mostly troops from Marseille and Malta to Saloniki, Greece.[1]

SS Karnak when she was named Annam between 1899 and 1904
History
Name
  • France Annam (1899-1904)
  • France Tourane (1904-1912)
  • France Karnak (1912-1916)
NamesakeKarnak, Egypt
OwnerMessageries Maritimes
Port of registryFrance Marseille, France
Ordered1898
BuilderMessageries Maritimes, La Ciotat
Yard number114
Launched1898
CompletedSeptember 1899
Acquired1899
Maiden voyage1899
In service1899
IdentificationOfficial number: 5601059
FateTorpedoed and sunk 27 November 1916
General characteristics
TypePassenger ship
Tonnage6,816 GRT
Length142 metres (465 ft 11 in)
Beam15.5 metres (50 ft 10 in)
Depth11 metres (36 ft 1 in)
Installed power2 x 3 cyl. triple expansion engines
Propulsion2 screw propellers
Sail planMarseille - Malta - Saloniki
Speed18 knots
Capacity394 Passengers

Construction

Karnak was built at the Messageries Maritimes shipyard in La Ciotat, France in 1898. Where she was launched and completed the following year. The ship was 142 metres (465 ft 11 in) long, had a beam of 15.5 metres (50 ft 10 in) and had a depth of 11 metres (36 ft 1 in). She was assessed at 6,816 GRT and had 2 x 3 cyl. triple expansion engines driving two screw propellers. The ship could reach a maximum speed of 18 knots with her 20 boilers generating 832 n.h.p.. She also had 2 funnels and a white hull which was later repainted to black.[2]

Sinking

During World War I Karnak was used as a Troop transport by the French admiralty mainly on the route Marseille - Malta - Saloniki. It was during a voyage from Malta to Saloniki, Greece when the with troops crowded Karnak was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine SM U-32 on 27 November 1916, 70 nautical miles (130 km) south south east of Valletta, Malta. The ship sank in 15 minutes and claimed the lives of 17 people, but the number of survivors is unknown.[2]

Wreck

The wreck of Karnak lies at (35°07′N 15°25′E).[1]

References
  1. "Karnak". uboat.net. 1995. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  2. "SS Karnak [+1916]". wrecksite.eu. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
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