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SS Laurentic (1927)
Encyclopedia
The second SS Laurentic was an 18,724-ton
ocean liner
built in 1927 by Harland and Wolff
, Belfast
, for the White Star Line
.
She served the White Star Line from 1927 to 1936, undergoing two collisions during her career. The ship was then transformed into an auxiliary cruiser for the Royal Navy in the Second World War. The Laurentic was torpedoed by the on 3 November 1940 off Bloody Foreland, County Donegal
, Ireland
, but she remained afloat. But after two more torpedoes hit her, she sank with the loss of 49 lives. This was the second ship of the company to have worn the name. The first, commissioned in 1909, suffered the same fate during the First World War.
On November 12, she made her maiden voyage between Liverpool and Halifax
then on to New York
. On 27 April 1928, the ship was transferred to the Liverpool - Quebec - Montreal route and remained there during the rest of her commercial career. In January 1931, it was expected that the ship transferred to a Mediterranean cruise but the Great Depression made it unprofitable and eventually left the passengers for the .
The Laurentic had two collisions during her career. The first occurred on 3 October 1932 with the Lurigethen of the HE Moss Line3. Both vessels, however, survive the shock. The second occurred on 18 August 1935 with the Napier Star of the Blue Star Line, leaving six dead among the crew of Laurentic.
. In this capacity, she made her last trip for the White Star Line in December of that year. In 1937 she took part in the Coronation Naval Review at Spithead carrying government guests. In 1939, with the start of the Second World War, the Laurentic was requisitioned as HMS Laurentic and converted into an auxiliary cruiser, losing her recasting part of the superstructure aft. On 3 November 1940, the Laurentic was called for help from a ship torpedoed by a U-boat. Arriving at the scene, she was torpedoed twice by U-99 commanded by Otto Kretschmer
, but the torpedoes missed their target. The Laurentic answers, but after four hours of fighting, she was struck by two torpedoes which sent her to the bottom with 49 losses of 416 people on board.
Tonnage
Tonnage is a measure of the size or cargo carrying capacity of a ship. The term derives from the taxation paid on tuns or casks of wine, and was later used in reference to the weight of a ship's cargo; however, in modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically refers to a calculation of the volume...
ocean liner
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...
built in 1927 by 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....
, 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...
, for 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...
.
She served the White Star Line from 1927 to 1936, undergoing two collisions during her career. The ship was then transformed into an auxiliary cruiser for the Royal Navy in the Second World War. The Laurentic was torpedoed by the on 3 November 1940 off Bloody Foreland, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, but she remained afloat. But after two more torpedoes hit her, she sank with the loss of 49 lives. This was the second ship of the company to have worn the name. The first, commissioned in 1909, suffered the same fate during the First World War.
Passenger career
The Laurentic was built in the Harland & Wolff of Belfast with the hull number 470. Launched on 16 June 1927, she was the last ship of the company using coal, and used two quadruple expansion engines powering sided propellers and a low pressure turbine for the central propeller, initiated by the . The ship was completed on 1 November 1927.On November 12, she made her maiden voyage between Liverpool and Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
then on to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. On 27 April 1928, the ship was transferred to the Liverpool - Quebec - Montreal route and remained there during the rest of her commercial career. In January 1931, it was expected that the ship transferred to a Mediterranean cruise but the Great Depression made it unprofitable and eventually left the passengers for the .
The Laurentic had two collisions during her career. The first occurred on 3 October 1932 with the Lurigethen of the HE Moss Line3. Both vessels, however, survive the shock. The second occurred on 18 August 1935 with the Napier Star of the Blue Star Line, leaving six dead among the crew of Laurentic.
Military service and sinking
The White Star Line and Cunard Line merged in 1934, without this having an impact on the career of the ship. The ship was docked in December 1935 and served the following September as troop transport bound for PalestinePalestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. In this capacity, she made her last trip for the White Star Line in December of that year. In 1937 she took part in the Coronation Naval Review at Spithead carrying government guests. In 1939, with the start of the Second World War, the Laurentic was requisitioned as HMS Laurentic and converted into an auxiliary cruiser, losing her recasting part of the superstructure aft. On 3 November 1940, the Laurentic was called for help from a ship torpedoed by a U-boat. Arriving at the scene, she was torpedoed twice by U-99 commanded by Otto Kretschmer
Otto Kretschmer
Flotilla Admiral Otto Kretschmer was a German U-boat commander in the Second World War and later an admiral in the Bundesmarine. From September 1939 until being captured in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak...
, but the torpedoes missed their target. The Laurentic answers, but after four hours of fighting, she was struck by two torpedoes which sent her to the bottom with 49 losses of 416 people on board.