SS Russian (1895)

SS Russian was a British cargo ship, formerly the Victorian, that was torpedoed and sunk by UB-43 210 miles East of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea, while she was travelling from Salonica, Greece, to Newport, United Kingdom, in ballast. The ship was 156.2 metres (512 ft 6 in) long, with a beam of 18.1 metres (59 ft 5 in). The ship was assessed at 8,825 GRT. She had a 1 x 3 cyl. triple expansion engine, single shaft driving a single screw propeller.

Not to be confused with Russia (ship).

SS Russian.
History
Name
  • United Kingdom SS Victorian (1895–1914)
  • United Kingdom SS Russian (1914–1916)
NamesakeRussia
Owner Leyland Line
Operator
Port of registryUnited Kingdom Liverpool, United Kingdom
RouteLiverpool, UK to Boston, USA
Ordered1895
BuilderHarland & Wolff Ltd.
Yard number291
Launched7 July 1895
Completed31 August 1895
Maiden voyage7 September 1895
In service7 September 1895
Identification105334
FateTorpedoed and sunk by UB-43, 14 December 1916
General characteristics
Class and typeVictorian class cargo liner
TypeCargo ship
Tonnage8,825 GRT
Length156.2 metres (512 ft 6 in)
Beam18.1 metres (59 ft 5 in)
Decks3
Installed power1 x 3 cyl. triple expansion engine, single shaft
PropulsionScrew propeller
Speed13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)

History

Russian was constructed as a cattle and cargo carrier in 1895 for the Leyland company at the Harland & Wolff Ltd. shipyard in Belfast, United Kingdom. She was launched on 7 July 1895 and was the first of four sister ships. She was initially named Victorian and completed her maiden voyage from Liverpool, United Kingdom, to Boston, United States.

Boer War

As the SS Victorian, she served as a transport ship during the Boer war in November 1899. She mostly carried horses to South Africa and was used intensively on this operation.

White Star Line

In 1903 she was chartered to the White Star Line. She completed her first journey to New York City, United States, on 24 April 1903. Her name was changed to Russian in August 1914 to avoid confusion with the Allan Line's SS Victorian.[1]

Sinking

On 14 December 1916, Russian was on a voyage from Salonica, Greece, to Newport, United Kingdom, in ballast when she was torpedoed by UB-43 210 miles East of Malta. 28 crew members lost their lives during the sinking. [2]

Sister ships

SS Russian had 3 sister ships which all sank too:

  • SS Armenian (Built 1895, torpedoed 28 June 1915 with the loss of 33 crew)
  • SS Cestrian (Built 1896, torpedoed 24 June 1917 with the loss of 3 crew)
  • SS Londonian (Built 1896, capsized and sank 29 November 1898 with the loss of 17 crew)

They were built for the Leyland line between 1895 and 1898.

References
  1. "SS Russian". Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  2. "Wrecksite-Russian Cargo Ship 1895-1916". Wrecksite. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.