SS Afric
History | |
---|---|
United Kingdom | |
Name | SS Afric |
Owner | White Star Line |
Builder | Harland and Wolff, Belfast |
Launched | 16 November 1898 |
Maiden voyage | 8 February 1899 |
Fate | Sunk by SM UC-66, 12 February 1917 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Jubilee-class ocean liner |
Tonnage | 11,948 GRT |
Length | 550 ft (167.6 m) |
Beam | 63.3 ft (19.3 m) |
Installed power | Two four-cylinder quadruple-expansion steam engines |
Propulsion | Two propellers |
Speed | 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph) service speed |
Capacity |
|
SS Afric was a
Afric was the first of five Jubillee-class ships built by White Star Line for their new service to Australia, the others were Medic, Persic, Runic and Suevic. Afric was a single-funnel liner with a capacity for 320 third-class passengers on three decks, she also had substantial cargo capacity with seven cargo holds, most of them refrigerated for the transport of Australian meat.[2][3]
Service history
Afric made her maiden voyage on 8 February 1899, between Liverpool and New York; this was considered a test run, and when she returned she underwent further work to prepare her for her intended career on the Australia service. She entered service between Liverpool and Sydney via Cape Town on 9 September 1899.[2]
During the
Following the conclusion of the war, Afric settled into the routine of normal peacetime service, which was mostly uneventful, except for one incident in November 1913 when she ran aground and became stuck on a
Following the outbreak of the
In April/May 1915, she was refitted at Sydney to carry 549 troops and 500 horses. She completed six troopship voyages up to November 1916,[5] however on 12 February 1917 she was sunk in the English Channel after being torpedoed by the German submarine SM UC-66, whilst sailing outbound between Liverpool and Plymouth, 12 miles (19 km) south south-west of the Eddystone Lighthouse,[6] there were 145 survivors, but 22 people lost their lives.[2][7]
Wreck
The wreck lies at the position (49°59′N 04°18′W / 49.983°N 4.300°W) at a depth of around 70 metres (229.7 feet), and has been filmed by divers.[8][6]
References
- ^ "Harland and Wolff – Shipbuilding and Engineering Works". www.theyard.info. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7110-3366-5.
- ^ "The S.S. Afric". Portland Guardian (Vic.: 1876 – 1953). 22 November 1899. p. 3. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- Daily Commercial News And Shipping List. No. 7127. New South Wales, Australia. 7 November 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 8 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "A19 AFRIC". Flotilla Australia. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Afric". uboat.net. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
- ^ "White Star liner 'Afric' - underwater video". YouTube. FinnborgBraga. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
External links
- Media related to Afric (ship, 1899) at Wikimedia Commons