SS Russian (1895)

SS Russian.
History
Name	SS Victorian (1895–1914) SS Russian (1914–1916)
Namesake	Russia
Owner	Leyland Line
Operator	Leyland Line (1895–1903) White Star Line (1903–1916)
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 by UB-43, 14 December 1916
General characteristics
Class and type	Victorian class cargo 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 (24 km/h; 15 mph)

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

History[]

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 the lead ship of a class of four ships. She was initially named Victorian and completed her maiden voyage from Liverpool, United Kingdom, to Boston, United States.

Boer War[]

As the SS Victorian, she 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.

White Star Line[]

In 1903 she was chartered to the White Star Line. She completed her first journey to New York City, United States, on 24 April 1903. Her name was changed to Russian in August 1914 to avoid confusion with the Allan Line's SS Victorian.^[1]

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

Sister ships[]

SS Russian had 3 sister ships which all sank too:

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

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

References[]