SS Ceramic (1913)
Encyclopedia
SS Ceramic was an 18,400-ton ocean liner
of the White Star Line
launched in 1913, and later sold to the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line. In 1942 sunk the Ceramic, leaving only one survivor from the 656 on board.
Ceramic was built at the Harland and Wolff
yard in Belfast
. She sailed the Liverpool
to Australia
route after her maiden voyage
, then served as a British troopship
during World War I
. After the war, she returned to her regular run. In 1934, White Star merged with Cunard
, and Ceramic was then sold to Shaw, Savill and Albion, but kept the same itinerary.
At the outset of World War II
, Ceramic again carried troops, but soon returned to civilian service. On the night of 6 December 1942 she was in the Atlantic Ocean
west of the Azores
, bound for Australia, when she was hit by three torpedo
es fired from U-515. Ceramic was crippled but still afloat, and about eight lifeboat
s were launched, all full. About three hours later, U-515 fired two more torpedoes, which broke the ship's back and sank her immediately.
Sea conditions had become very stormy, and lifeboats began to capsize, leaving the people to struggle in the water. Despite the storm (which was severe enough to be a hazard to the U-boat) the commander Werner Henke
had been ordered to return to the location of the sinking to look for the captain, in the hopes of finding out the Ceramic's destination. However, he only stayed long enough to pull in one person, Sapper
Eric Munday of the Royal Engineers, and took him aboard the submarine. (Sapper Munday was eventually sent to Stalag VIII-B
in Upper Silesia
and remained there until he was liberated.) When Henke returned to the site of Ceramic's sinking, the occupants of one of the eight fully loaded lifeboats waved to him. He felt taunted by this, so he took Munday aboard, and left the rest to perish. Henke was later captured and accused of machine-gunning survivors in the water, but it is likely that the survivors simply drowned in the rough seas.
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
of the White Star Line
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
launched in 1913, and later sold to the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line. In 1942 sunk the Ceramic, leaving only one survivor from the 656 on board.
Ceramic was built at the Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
yard in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. She sailed the Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
route after her maiden voyage
Maiden voyage
The maiden voyage of a ship, aircraft or other craft is the first journey made by the craft after shakedown. A number of traditions and superstitions are associated with it....
, then served as a British troopship
Troopship
A troopship is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. After the war, she returned to her regular run. In 1934, White Star merged with Cunard
Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
, and Ceramic was then sold to Shaw, Savill and Albion, but kept the same itinerary.
At the outset of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Ceramic again carried troops, but soon returned to civilian service. On the night of 6 December 1942 she was in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
west of the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, bound for Australia, when she was hit by three torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es fired from U-515. Ceramic was crippled but still afloat, and about eight lifeboat
Lifeboat (shipboard)
A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable watercraft carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard ship. In the military, a lifeboat may be referred to as a whaleboat, dinghy, or gig. The ship's tenders of cruise ships often double as lifeboats. Recreational sailors sometimes...
s were launched, all full. About three hours later, U-515 fired two more torpedoes, which broke the ship's back and sank her immediately.
Sea conditions had become very stormy, and lifeboats began to capsize, leaving the people to struggle in the water. Despite the storm (which was severe enough to be a hazard to the U-boat) the commander Werner Henke
Werner Henke
Lieutenant Commander Werner Henke born in Thorn in Germany was the commander of during the Second Battle of the Atlantic of World War II. U-515 was sunk by the American task group 22.3, commanded by Daniel V...
had been ordered to return to the location of the sinking to look for the captain, in the hopes of finding out the Ceramic's destination. However, he only stayed long enough to pull in one person, Sapper
Sapper
A sapper, pioneer or combat engineer is a combatant soldier who performs a wide variety of combat engineering duties, typically including, but not limited to, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences, general construction and building, as well as road and airfield...
Eric Munday of the Royal Engineers, and took him aboard the submarine. (Sapper Munday was eventually sent to Stalag VIII-B
Stalag VIII-B
Stalag VIII-B Lamsdorf was a notorious German Army prisoner of war camp, later renumbered Stalag-344, located near the small town of Lamsdorf in Silesia. The camp initially occupied barracks built to house British and French prisoners in World War I...
in Upper Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
and remained there until he was liberated.) When Henke returned to the site of Ceramic's sinking, the occupants of one of the eight fully loaded lifeboats waved to him. He felt taunted by this, so he took Munday aboard, and left the rest to perish. Henke was later captured and accused of machine-gunning survivors in the water, but it is likely that the survivors simply drowned in the rough seas.