RMS Franconia (1910)

The RMS Franconia was an ocean liner operated by the Cunard Line. She was launched on 23 July 1910 at the Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Wallsend shipyard.[1] Franconia was intended for the line's Boston service, being the largest ship of the time to enter Boston harbor, with winter service in the New York-Mediterranean cruising service.[1]

This article is about the 1910–1916 ship. For other ships with the same name, see RMS Franconia.
RMS Franconia passing Castle Island in Boston Harbor
History
United Kingdom
Name: RMS Franconia
Owner: Cunard Line
Port of registry: United Kingdom
Builder: Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Newcastle upon Tyne
Launched: 23 July 1910
Fate: Sunk on 4 October 1916 by UB-47
General characteristics
Class and type: Ocean liner
Tonnage: 18,150 GRT
Length: 625 ft (191 m)
Beam: 71 ft (22 m)
Installed power: Quadruple expansion engines
Propulsion: Two propellers
Speed: 17 knots (31 km/h)
Capacity: 2,850 passengers

Her maiden voyage in February 1911, was between Liverpool and Boston, USA.[2] She was nicknamed the "bathroom ship" as she had more bathrooms and showers on board than the Mauretania. She was unusual, as she did not have staterooms on the upper deck, instead she had a library, gymnasium and a lounge and smoking room.[2]

After several years service primarily in the North Atlantic, she was taken into service as a troop transport in early 1915. On 4 October 1916, while heading for Salonika, she was torpedoed and sunk by the German U-boat UB-47 195 miles east of Malta. She was not carrying any troops but out of her 314 crew members, 12 died.[2] The others were saved by the hospital ship Dover Castle.[3]

References
  1. "The New Cunard Liner Franconia". International Marine Engineering. Marine Engineering, Inc., New York—London. 33 (September): 44–47. 1910. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  2. "The Lewiston Daily Sun". Maine: Sun Journal (Lewiston). 4 October 1916. p. 14. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  3. Hocking, C. (1969). Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the Age of Steam 1824–1962. London: London Stamp Exchange.
At dry dock, 1910


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.