RMS Amazon (1906)

RMS Amazon was a transatlantic Royal Mail Ship that the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company operated on scheduled services between Southampton and South American ports including Buenos Aires. She was the second of the RMSP's fleet of "A" series liners, and was launched in 1906.

For other ships with the same name, see RMS Amazon.

RMS Amazon
History
United Kingdom
Name: Amazon
Namesake: Amazon River
Owner: Royal Mail Steam Packet Co
Operator: Royal Mail Steam Packet Co
Port of registry: Belfast
Route: Southampton – Buenos Aires
Ordered: November 1904
Builder: Harland and Wolff, Belfast
Yard number: 372
Launched: 24 February 1906
Completed: 5 June 1906
Identification:
Fate: Sunk by torpedo 15 March 1918
General characteristics
Class and type: RMSP "A" series
Type: ocean liner
Tonnage: 10,037 GRT, 6,301 NRT
Length: 513.2 ft (156.4 m)
Beam: 60.4 ft (18.4 m)
Depth: 30.5 ft (9.3 m)
Installed power: 827 NHP
Propulsion:
Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h)
Capacity:
  • 870 passengers
  • 300 first class
  • 70 second class
  • 500 third class
Notes:

In the First World War a U-boat sank Amazon in 1918 in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) north by west off Malin Head, Ireland.

Building

RMSP ordered Amazon in or shortly after November 1904.[1] Harland and Wolff built her on slip number 6 of its south yard in Belfast.[2] She was launched on 24 February 1906 and completed in 5 June 1906. She was built to the same dimensions as RMSP's first "A-liner", Aragon: 513.2 ft (156.4 m) long, 60.4 ft (18.4 m) beam and 30.5 ft (9.3 m) depth. Amazon's tonnages were 10,037 GRT and 6,301 NRT.[3]

Amazon had twin screws, each driven by a quadruple expansion steam engine. Between them the two engines were rated at 827 NHP[3] and gave her a service speed of 16 knots (30 km/h).[4]

RMSP registered Amazon at Belfast. Her UK official number was 120715 and her code letters were HGKN.[5]

Service

Amazon's regular route was between Southampton and ports in the Río de la Plata.

In 1908 Amazon undertook a 17-day cruise to Norway. This was RMSP's first ever "single ship" cruise, in which passengers remained aboard one ship for their entire holiday. In 1909 Amazon ran a series of cruises to Norway. In subsequent years RMSP used her larger sister ship Avon for cruises instead.[6]

By 1913 Amazon was equipped for wireless telegraphy, operating on the 300 and 600 metre wavelengths. Her call sign was MVN.[7]

By 1918 Amazon was operating from Liverpool instead of Southampton.

Loss

On 14 March 1918 Amazon left Liverpool for Brazil with 24 passengers and without a naval escort. She sailed at reduced speed due to thick fog. At 0930 hrs on 15 March she was zigzagging in the Western Approaches off County Donegal when SM U-110 hit her with one torpedo in her bunker and her number four hold.

Amazon sank stern first in 15 minutes. The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Moresby rescued all her passengers and crew, sank U-110 with depth charges and rescued nine of the U-boat's 48 crew.[4]

Wreck

The wreck is at 55°49′N 08°06′W at a depth of 113 metres (371 ft).[4]

References
  1. Nicol 2001, p. 117.
  2. "Amazon". Harland and Wolff. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  3. "Amazon". Shipping and Shipbuilding. Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  4. Allen, Tony; Lettens, Jan (16 October 2019). "Amazon". Wrecksite. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  5. Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen (1907). Mercantile Navy List. Board of Trade. p. 18. Retrieved 19 January 2021 – via Crew List Index Project.
  6. Nicol 2001, p. 203.
  7. The Marconi Press Agency Ltd 1913, p. 245.

Bibliography
  • The Marconi Press Agency Ltd (1913). The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony. London: The St Katherine Press.
  • Nicol, Stuart (2001). MacQueen's Legacy; A History of the Royal Mail Line. One. Brimscombe Port and Charleston, SC: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2118-2.
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