SS Russian (1895)

SS Russian.
History
Name:	SS Victorian (1895–1914) SS Russian (1914–1916)
Namesake:	Russia
Owner:	Leyland Line
Operator:	White Star Line
Port of registry:	Liverpool, United Kingdom
Route:	Liverpool, UK to Boston, USA
Ordered:	1895
Builder:	Harland & Wolff Ltd.
Yard number:	291
Launched:	7 July 1895
Completed:	1895
Maiden voyage:	7 September 1895
In service:	7 September 1895
Out of service:	14 December 1916
Identification:	105334
Fate:	Torpedoed and sunk
General characteristics
Class and type:	Victorian class ocean liner
Type:	Cargo ship
Tonnage:	8,825 GRT
Length:	156.2 metres (512 ft 6 in)
Beam:	18.1 metres (59 ft 5 in)
Decks:	3
Installed power:	1 x 3 cyl. triple expansion engine, single shaft
Propulsion:	Screw propeller
Speed:	13 knots

SS Russian was a British Cargo ship of the 1895 Victorian class ocean liner 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.

Construction

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 one of a class of four ships. She was named Russia and completed her maiden voyage from Liverpool, United Kingdom, to Boston, United States. She sailed under the name Victorian from 1895 to August 1914. She served from 1895 until her demise in 1916.^[1]

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.

Boer War

SS Russian, then called SS Victorian, 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.

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 in the Mediterranean Sea. 28 crew members lost their lives during the sinking. ^[2]

Other Facts

SS Russian had 3 sister ships which all sank too:

• SS Armenian (Build 1895, Torpedoed 28 June 1915 with a loss of 33 crew)
• SS Cestrian (Built 1896, Torpedoed 24 June 1917 with a loss of 3 crew)
• SS Londonian (Built 1896, Capsized and sunk 29 November 1898 with a loss of 17 crew)

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

1. She completed her first journey to New York City, United States, on 24 April 1903.
2. She changed her name to Russian in August 1914 so there would be no confusion with the SS Victorian from Allan line.

Wreck

The current wreck position is unknown.

References

Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in December 1916
Shipwrecks	1 Dec: HMS E37 3 Dec: Kanguroo 6 Dec: Mount Temple, SM UC-19 7 Dec: SM UB-46 10 Dec: Georgic 11 Dec: Regina Margherita 13 Dec: SM UB-29 14 Dec: Russian 15 Dec: Powhatan 21 Dec: HMS Hoste, Murex 22 Dec: HMS E30 27 Dec: Gaulois 29 Dec: Alondra
Other incidents	7 Dec: Keltier 12 Dec: Saint Théodore 16 Dec: USS H-3
1915 1916 1917 November 1916 January 1917