SS Justicia
 The Justicia painted grey for wartime service. |
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| Career (UK) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | 1914-1916: Statendam 1917-1918: Justicia |
| Owner: | Holland America Line -1915 HM Government (1915-1918) |
| Operator: | White Star Line |
| Builder: | Harland and Wolff, Belfast |
| Laid down: | 1912 |
| Launched: | 9 July 1914 |
| Completed: | 7 April 1917[1] |
| In service: | 1918 as a troopship |
| Renamed: | Justicia |
| Fate: | Sunk after torpedoed six times on 19–20 July 1918. Four torpedoes were from UB-64, and two more torpedoes were from UB-124. |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Steamship |
| Tonnage: | 32,234 gross tons |
| Length: | 776 ft (237 m) |
| Beam: | 86 ft (26 m) |
| Propulsion: | triple expansion steam engines turning two outer propellers, plus an exhaust-steam turbine turning the centre propeller. |
| Speed: | 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h) |
| Capacity: | Intended passenger capacity of 3,430 people. |
| Troops: | Approximately 4,000 |
SS Justicia was a British troopship sunk during the First World War. She was laid down as the SS Statendam, a 32,234 gross-ton ocean liner built for the Holland America Line by Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast. Before the ship was completed she was acquired by the British government and operated on behalf of the shipping controller by the White Star Line.
After several trips as a troopship she was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the British Isles in 1918 while unladen.
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[edit] History
On July 9, 1914, Justicia was launched, christened and fitting out began. But before fitting out could be finished, the First World War started and work stopped for one year. In 1915, the British government requisitioned the Statendam for use as a troopship. The ship was at first given to the Cunard Line to manage because of the sinking of the Lusitania, and the ship was renamed Justicia (Latin for justice) because of their traditional ship suffix -ia. Cunard had difficulty in assembling a crew for the Justicia, so the ship was re-assigned to the White Star Line, who had the crew of the sunken Britannic available. The ship’s grey hull was repainted in a dazzle camouflage scheme, and transported troops successfully.
[edit] Torpedoing
On July 19, 1918, Justicia sailed unladen from Belfast to New York escorted by destroyers.[2] The ship was 23 miles south of Skerryvore, Scotland, she was torpedoed by a German Type III Coastal U-boat, UB-64 under the command of Otto von Schrader. Justicia took on a list but the watertight doors were closed in time, temporarily preventing her from sinking. However, UB-64 then fired two more torpedoes at Justicia striking her side. The escorts were able to damage UB-64 which departed the area.[1] while radioing in Justicia's position. A fourth torpedo struck the wounded Justicia but she still remained afloat. Most of the crew were evacuated, leaving only a small number on board but the ship was unable to use its engines and taken in tow by the tug Sonia which intended to beach the stricken ship safely at a suitable location near Lough Swilly.
The following day, UB-124 found the Justicia and fired two more torpedoes just past 9:00 am which struck her amidships. By noon the remaining crew had been evacuated and the vessel rolled over onto its side and sank. In total, Justicia had been hit by six torpedoes. The destroyers Marne, Milbrook, and Pigeon attacked with depth charges and sank UB-124 with gunfire after she surfaced.
Today, Justicia lies 28 mi (45 km) north-west of Malin Head, Ireland in waters 68 metres (223 ft) deep.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Homepage for the red duster merchant navy maritime information archive". Red-duster.co.uk. http://www.red-duster.co.uk/WSTAR9.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
- ^ "White Star Line Ships and the U-boats". Titanic-whitestarships.com. http://www.titanic-whitestarships.com/WSL-Uboat.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Justicia (ship) |
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