RMS Andania (1921)

RMS Andania was a British ocean liner launched in 1921. She was the first of six 14,000 ton "A"-class liners built for the Cunard Line in the early 1920s.[6] The other ships were Antonia, Ausonia, Aurania, Ascania, and Alaunia.

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

RMS Andania, on a postcard (c. 1921)
History
United Kingdom
Name: RMS Andania
Owner: Cunard Line
Builder: Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Hebburn[1]
Launched: 1 November 1921[2]
Sponsored by: Lady Perley[3]
Maiden voyage: 1 June 1922[4]
Fate: Sunk, 16 June 1940
General characteristics [5]
Class and type: "A"-class ocean liner
Tonnage: 13,950 GRT
Length: 158.55 m (520 ft 2 in)
Beam: 19.90 m (65 ft 3 in)
Propulsion: Double reduction steam turbines, 2 shafts
Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Capacity:
  • 1,700 passengers:
  • 500 cabin class, 1,200 3rd class
Armament:
  • As armed merchant cruiser:
  • 8 × 6 in (152 mm) guns
  • 2 × 3 in (76 mm) anti-aircraft guns
  • several machine guns
  • depth charges

Construction

The ship was constructed in Hebburn, England by the shipbuilders Hawthorn Leslie and Company, was 538 feet long, and measured just under 14,000 tons. She could carry more than 1,700 passengers and required 270 crew.[7] She firstly worked on the Hamburg to New York City route, and later between Liverpool and Montreal.[6]

Use during WW II

At the start of World War II, Andania was requisitioned for use as an armed merchant cruiser (as was her sister ship Aurania) and armed with six old 6-inch (152 mm) guns, two 3-inch (76 mm) anti-aircraft guns and several machine guns.[8] On 25 November 1939 she took up her naval duties as HMS Andania with the Northern Patrol.[9]

Fate

At 23:30 on 15 June 1940, HMS Andania was hit by a torpedo fired by the German submarine UA 70 miles (110 km) south of Reykjavík, Iceland. Three more torpedoes fired by UA missed. Andania stayed afloat for several hours but was too damaged to be saved. She sank early on 16 June. While other ships of the Northern Patrol were in the vicinity – HMS Derbyshire was actually within visual range – they had strict orders not to risk rescue when a submarine was suspected nearby. However, the entire crew on the Andania was rescued by the Icelandic fishing vessel Skallagrimur.[8][10]

References
  1. cunard 2012
  2. cunard 2012
  3. "Lady Perley launches S.S. Andania". British Pathé. 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  4. cunard 2012
  5. cunard 2012
  6. "R.M.S. Andania (II)". greatships.net. 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  7. Andania-II Independent website - Retrieved on 2007-07-25
  8. Hampshire 1980, p. 185-189.
  9. Hampshire 1980, p. 114.
  10. cunard 2012

Bibliography
  • Hampshire, A. Cecil (1980). The Blockaders. London: William Kimber. ISBN 0-7183-0227-3.
  • Osborne, Richard; Spong, Harry & Grover, Tom (2007). Armed Merchant Cruisers 1878–1945. Windsor, UK: World Warship Society. ISBN 978-0-9543310-8-5.
  • "Andania II". cunard.co.uk. 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.


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