View source for SS Dwinsk

{{short description|1897 ocean liner sunk by a U-boat in 1918}}
{{other ships|List of ships named SS Rotterdam}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}} 
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= Rotterdam 1897 by Fred Pansing.jpg
|Ship caption= The ship as ''Rotterdam'', in a painting by [[:de:Fred Pansing|Fred Pansing]]
}} 
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header= 
|Ship name= *1897: ''Rotterdam''
*1906: ''C. F. Tietgen''
*1913: ''Dwinsk''
|Ship namesake= *1897: [[Rotterdam]]
*1906: [[Carl Frederik Tietgen]]
*1913: Dwinsk, now [[Daugavpils]]
|Ship owner= *1897: [[Holland America Line]]
*1906: [[Scandinavian America Line]]
*1913: [[Russian American Line]]
*1917: [[Shipping Controller]]
|Ship operator= *1917: [[Cunard Line]]
|Ship registry= *1897 {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Port of Rotterdam|Rotterdam]]
*1906 {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Port of Copenhagen|Copenhagen]]
*1913 {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Liepāja|Libau]]
*1917 {{flagicon|UK|civil}} [[Port of London|London]]
|Ship route= *1897: Rotterdam – [[Port of New York and New Jersey|New York]]
*1906: Copenhagen – New York
*1914: Libau – New York
*1914: [[Port of Arkhangelsk|Archangel]] – New York
|Ship ordered= 
|Ship builder= [[Harland & Wolff]], [[Belfast]]
|Ship original cost= 
|Ship yard number= 312
|Ship laid down= 16 May 1896
|Ship launched= 18 February 1897
|Ship completed= 29 July 1897
|Ship acquired= 
|Ship commissioned= 
|Ship decommissioned= 
|Ship maiden voyage= 18 August 1897
|Ship refit= 
|Ship in service= 
|Ship out of service= 
|Ship identification= *1897: [[code letters]] WLJR
*{{ICS|Whiskey}}{{ICS|Lima}}{{ICS|Juliet}}{{ICS|Romeo}}
*1906: code letters NPRK
*{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Papa}}{{ICS|Romeo}}{{ICS|Kilo}}
*by 1913: [[Maritime call sign|call sign]] DCF
*1913: code letters IWAR
*{{ICS|India}}{{ICS|Whiskey}}{{ICS|Alpha}}{{ICS|Romeo}}
*by 1914: call sign RDK
*1918: UK [[official number]] 142312
*1918: code letters JSKH
*{{ICS|Juliet}}{{ICS|Sierra}}{{ICS|Kilo}}{{ICS|Hotel}}
|Ship fate= Torpedoed and sunk by {{SMU|U-151||2}}, 18 June 1918
|Ship notes= 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type= *1897: [[ocean liner]]
*1918: [[Troopship|troop ship]]
|Ship tonnage= {{GRT|8139}}, {{NRT|5160}}, {{DWT|9390}}
|Ship displacement= 
|Ship length= {{cvt|470.3|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{cvt|53.2|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught= 
|Ship depth= {{cvt|22.3|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship decks= 3
|Ship power= 954 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]], 5,500 [[Horsepower#Indicated horsepower|ihp]]
|Ship propulsion= *2 × [[Propeller|screws]]
*2 × [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple-expansion engines]]
|Ship speed= {{convert|15|kn|km/h}}
|Ship capacity= *'''passengers, 1897:''' 212 × [[First class travel|1st class]], 112 × 2nd class, 837 × 3rd class
*'''passengers, as refitted:''' 191 × [[First class travel|1st class]], 90 × 2nd class, 610 × 3rd class
*'''cargo:''' {{cvt|323000|cuft}} bale
|Ship crew= 
|Ship armament= by 1918: [[Defensively equipped merchant ship|defensively armed]]
|Ship sensors= 
|Ship notes= 
}}
|}

'''SS ''Dwinsk''''' was a [[Transatlantic crossing|transatlantic]] [[ocean liner]] that was launched in [[Ireland]] in 1897 as '''''Rotterdam''''', renamed '''''C. F. Tietgen''''' in 1906, and renamed ''Dwinsk'' in 1913. A [[U-boat]] sank her in 1918, with the loss of 23 lives. The ship was built for [[Holland America Line]] (Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij, or NASM), but was successively owned by [[Scandinavian America Line]] and [[Russian American Line]], and after the [[Russian Revolution]] she was [[Ship management|managed]] by [[Cunard Line]].

She was the third of several NASM ships to be named after the city of [[Rotterdam]]. She was also the first ship that [[Harland & Wolff]] built for NASM.

==Building==
Harland & Wolff built the ship in Belfast as yard number 312 on slipway number 9.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theyard.info/ships/ships.asp?entryid=312 |title=Rotterdam |work=Harland and Wolff Shipbuilding & Engineering Works |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref> Her [[Keel laying|keel was laid]] on 16 May 1896, she was launched on 18 February 1897 as ''Rotterdam'', and she was completed on 29 July 1897.<ref name=SMHD>{{cite web |url= https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip&id=5591 |title=Rotterdam – ID 5591 |work=Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank |language=nl |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref> Her registered length was {{cvt|470.3|ft|abbr=on}}, her beam was {{cvt|53.2|ft|abbr=on}} and her depth was {{cvt|22.3|ft|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1900|loc=ROT–ROW}} Her [[tonnage]]s were {{GRT|8139}}, {{NRT|5160}} and {{DWT|9390}}.<ref name=SMHD/>

''Rotterdam'' had berths for 212 passengres in [[First class travel|first class]], 112 in second class, and 837 in third class. Her holds had capacity for {{convert|323000|cuft}} of baled cargo.<ref name=SMHD/>

The ship had twin [[Propeller|screws]], each driven by a three-cylinder [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple-expansion steam engine]]. The combined power of her twin engines was rated at 954 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]]{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1900|loc=ROT–ROW}} or 5,500 [[Horsepower#Indicated horsepower|ihp]], and gave her a speed of {{convert|15|kn|km/h}}. She made her [[sea trial]]s on 29 July 1897.<ref name=SMHD/>

==Career==
NASM [[Ship registration|registered]] ''Rotterdam'' at [[Port of Rotterdam|Rotterdam]]. Her [[code letters]] were WLJR.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1900|loc=ROT–ROW}} On 18 August 1897 she left Rotterdam on her maiden voyage, which was to [[Port of New York and New Jersey|New York]] via [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]]. Her final voyage in this route began from Rotterdam on 17 February 1906.<ref name=Swiggum>{{cite web |url= https://www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions/ShipsR.shtml |last1=Swiggum |first1=Susan |last2=Kohli |first2=Marjorie |title=Ship Descriptions – R: Rotterdam 1908 |work=TheShipsList |date=6 June 2008 |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref>

On 5 April 1906 [[Scandinavian America Line]] bought ''Rotterdam'' and renamed her ''C. F. Tietgen'',<ref name=SMHD/> after the Danish industrialist [[Carl Frederik Tietgen]]. She was registered in [[Port of Copenhagen|Copenhagen]], and her code letters were NPRK.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1907|loc=C.}} On 29 April she began her first voyage from Copenhagen to NewYork via [[Oslo Port Authority|Christiania]] and [[Kristiansand]].<ref name=Swiggum/>

On 28 June 1906 ''C. F. Tietgen'' collided with the {{convert|70|ft|m|1|adj=on}}, {{GRT|63}} US [[schooner]] ''E. C. Hay'' in the [[North River (Hudson River)|North River]] off the [[Desbrosses Street Ferry]] terminal in New York City. ''E. C. Hay'' sank, but all four people aboard her survived.{{sfn|Bureau of Navigation|1907|p=375}}

By 1910 ''C. F. Tietgen'' was equipped for [[wireless telegraphy]].{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1910|loc=C.}} On 7 July 1910 she left Copenhagen on a [[Cruise ship|cruise]] to the [[North Cape (Norway)|North Cape]], calling at [[Bergen Port|Bergen]] and [[Trondheim]].<ref name=Norway>{{cite web |url= http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=cftie |title=S/S C. F. Tietgen, Scandinavian America Line |work=Norway~Heritage |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref> By 1913 her [[Maritime call sign|call sign]] was DCF.{{sfn|The Marconi Press Agency Ltd|1913|p=226}} On 29 July 1913, [[Nordisk Film]] [[Chartering (shipping)|chartered]] her to appear in the film ''[[Atlantis (1913 film)|Atlantis]]''.<ref name=Norway/> On 6 November 1913 she began her final voyage from Copenhagen to New York.<ref name=Swiggum/> She completed 110 transatlantic crossings for Scandinavian America Line.<ref name=Norway/>

[[File:C F Tietgen postcard stern colorised.jpg|thumb|left|Postcard of ''C. F. Tietgen'', mailed in 1910]]
On 24 December 1913 [[Russian American Line]] bought ''C. F. Tietgen'' and renamed her ''Dwinsk'' (Двинск), which is a Russian name for the city of [[Daugavpils]] in what was then the [[Vitebsk Governorate]] of the [[Russian Empire]]. She was registered in Libau (now [[Liepāja]] in Latvia), her code letters were IWAR,{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1917|loc=DUR–DYS}} and her wireless telegraph call sign was RDK.{{sfn|The Marconi Press Agency Ltd|1914|p=429}}

On 10 February 1914, ''Dwinsk'' began her first voyage from Libau to New York. Her final voyage on this route began on 28 July 1914, the day the [[World War I|First World War]] began. On 20 September 1914 she began her first voyage from [[Port of Arkhangelsk|Archangel]] to New York via [[Hammerfest]].<ref name=Swiggum/>

After the [[October Revolution]] in the Russian Empire, the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] government seized ''Dwinsk''. The [[Shipping Controller]] appointed [[Cunard Line]] to [[Ship management|manage]] her. Her UK [[official number]] was 142312 and her code letters were JSKH.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1917|loc=DUR–DYS}} She was [[Defensively equipped merchant ship|defensively armed]] with one or more [[Naval artillery|naval guns]]. On at least one voyage she carried troops from [[Port of Halifax|Halifax]], [[Nova Scotia]] to [[Great Britain]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.norwayheritage.com/articles/templates/ships.asp?articleid=49&zoneid=5 |title=Pictures from the S/S Dwinsk (ex. C. F. Tietgen) |work=Norway~Heritage |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref>

==Loss==
On 18 June 1918 ''Dwinsk'' was making {{convert|13|kn|km/h}} en route from [[Brest, France]] to the USA. Sources differ as to whether her destination was [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]]<ref name=SMHD/> or New York.<ref name=Helgason>{{cite web |url= https://www.uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/1765.html |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=Dwinsk |work=uboat.net |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref> The weather was fine, the sea was smooth, with a slight swell, and visibility was good. At about 09:20 hrs {{SMU|U-151||2}} fired a torpedo at her about {{convert|400|nmi|km}} north of [[Bermuda]]. ''Dwinsk''{{'}}s lookouts sighted the torpedo on her port quarter at a range of {{convert|200|yard}}. Her helm was put hard to port, but the torpedo hit her and exploded in her number 4 hold. ''U-151'' then surfaced and opened fire with her two [[8.8 cm SK L/30 naval gun|88 mm deck guns]]. One round hit ''Dwinsk''{{'}}s [[Magazine (artillery)|magazine]], which exploded. Her [[Master mariner|Master]] gave the order to abandon ship, and her crew launched seven of her lifeboats. ''Dwinsk'' sank at about 11:15 hrs at position {{coord|39|10|N|63|10|W|display=inline,title}}.<ref name=Helgason/>

[[File:Dwinsk survivors rescued by USS Siboney.jpg|thumb|upright|One of ''Dwinsk''{{'}}s lifeboats alongside {{USS|Siboney|ID-2999|6}} on 21 June 1918]]
''U-151'' interrogated the occupants of the boat commanded by the [[Second mate|Second Officer]], but took no prisoners. The U-boat remained in the area, waiting to attack any ship that came to rescue survivors. Later on 18 June, the troopship [[SS Kronprinz Wilhelm|USS ''Von Steuben'']] approached the lifeboats. ''U-151'' fired a torpedo at her, but by changing course ''Von Steuben'' avoided being hit, and the troop ship returned fire, firstly with her [[5-inch/51-caliber gun|5-inch guns]], and then with [[depth charge]]s.{{sfn|Blazich|2016|pp=176–177}}

In the ensuing days, the lifeboats became separated. On 21 June the westbound troop ship {{USS|Siboney|ID-2999|6}} found two of ''Dwinsk''{{'}}s boats and rescued their occupants.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/siboney-i.html |title=Siboney I (ID–2999) |publisher=[[Naval History and Heritage Command]] |date=11 November 2016 |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref> Four more boats were found and their occupants rescued. One boat, commanded by the [[boatswain|boatswain's mate]], was found after eight days. The boat commanded by the [[Chief mate|Chief Officer]] lost one occupant to drowning.<ref name=Helgason/> On 28 June {{USS|Rondo|ID-2488|6}} found the boat and rescued its remaining occupants.{{sfn|Gleaves|1921|p=214}} The boat commanded by the Second Officer was never found. Including the Second Officer, it carried 22 people.<ref name=Helgason/>

In January 1919 ''Dwinsk''{{'}}s Chief Officer, Robert Pritchard, and Boatswain's Mate, Philip Larbalastier, were awarded the [[Distinguished Service Medal (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Service Medal]]<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31130 |date=14 January 1919 |page=885 |supp=y |city=London |title=To receive the Distinguished Service Medal}}</ref> for their "good seamanship, management and fortitude" in command of their respective boats.<ref name=Helgason/>

==References==
{{sfn whitelist|CITEREFGleaves1921}}
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last=Blazich |first=Frank R |year=2016 |title=United States Navy and World War I: 1914–1922 |place=Washington, DC |publisher=[[Naval History and Heritage Command]] |url= https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/library/online-reading-room/war-and-conflict/wwi/pdf/us_navy_wwi_chron.pdf}}
*{{cite book |year=1907 |author=Bureau of Navigation |title=Thirty-Ninth Annual List of Merchant Vessels of the United States for the Year Ending June 30, 1907 |place=Washington, DC |publisher=Government Printing Office |url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3330071&view=1up&seq=389 |via=[[HathiTrust]] Digital Library}}
*{{Gleaves 1921}}
*{{cite book |year=1900 |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping |volume=I.–Steamers |place=London |publisher=[[Lloyd's Register]] of Shipping |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROSS1901/page/n650/mode/1up |via=[[Internet Archive]] |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1900}} }}
*{{cite book |year=1907 |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping |volume=I.–Steamers |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1908ST/page/n189/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1907}} }}
*{{cite book |year=1910 |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping |volume=I.–Steamers |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1911ST/page/n200/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1910}} }}
*{{cite book |year=1917 |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |volume=II.–Steamers |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1918ST/page/n287/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1917}} }}
*{{cite book |author=The Marconi Press Agency Ltd |author-link=Marconi Company |year=1913 |title=The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony |place=London |publisher=The St Katherine Press}}
*{{cite book |author=The Marconi Press Agency Ltd |author-link=Marconi Company |year=1914 |title=The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony |place=London |publisher=The Marconi Press Agency Ltd}}

{{Holland America Ships}}
{{1906 shipwrecks}}
{{June 1918 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dwinsk}}
[[Category:1897 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1906]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1918]]
[[Category:Ocean liners]]
[[Category:Passenger ships of Denmark]]
[[Category:Passenger ships of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Passenger ships of Russia]]
[[Category:Ships built by Harland and Wolff]]
[[Category:Ships built in Belfast]]
[[Category:Ships of the Holland America Line]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by German submarines in World War I]]
[[Category:Steamships of Denmark]]
[[Category:Steamships of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Steamships of Russia]]
[[Category:World War I shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]