RMS Andania (1921)

For other ships with the same name, see RMS Andania.

300px RMS Andania, on a postcard (c. 1921)
History
United Kingdom
Name:	RMS Andania
Owner:	Cunard Line
Builder:	Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Hebburn
Launched:	1 November 1921
Sponsored by:	Lady Perley
Maiden voyage:	1 June 1922
Fate:	Torpedoed 15 June 1940, sank 16 June 1940
General characteristics
Class & type:	"A"-class ocean liner
Tonnage:	13,950 GRT
Length:	158.55 m (520 ft 2 in)
Beam:	19.90 m (65 ft 3 in)
Propulsion:	Double reduction steam turbines, 2 shafts
Speed:	16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Capacity:	1,700 passengers: 500 cabin class, 1,200 3rd class
Armament:	As armed merchant cruiser: 8 × 6 in (152 mm) guns 2 × 3 in (76 mm) anti-aircraft guns several machine guns depth charges

RMS Andania was a British ocean liner launched in 1921. She was the first of six 14,000 ton "A"-class liners built for the Cunard Line in the early 1920s. The other ships were Antonia, Austonia, Aurania, Ascania, and Alaunia.

Construction

The ship was constructed in Hebburn, England by the shipbuilders Hawthorn Leslie and Company, was 538 feet long, and weighed just under 14,000 tons. She could carry more than 1,700 passengers and required 270 crew. She firstly worked on the Hamburg to New York route, and later between Liverpool and Montreal.

Use during WW II

At the start of World War II, Andania was requisitioned for use as an armed merchant cruiser (as was her sister ship Aurania) and armed with six old 6 in (152 mm) guns, two 3 in (76 mm) anti-aircraft guns and several machine guns. On 25 November 1939 she took up her naval duties as HMS Andania with the Northern Patrol.

Fate

At 23.30 on 15 June 1940 HMS Andania was hit by a torpedo fired by the German submarine U-A 70 miles (110 km) south of Reykjavík, Iceland. Three more torpedoes fired by U-A missed. Andania stayed afloat for several hours but was too damaged to be saved. She sank early on 16 June. While other ships of the Northern Patrol were in the vicinity - HMS Derbyshire was actually within visual range - they had strict orders not to risk rescue when a submarine was suspected nearby. However, the entire crew on the Andania was rescued by the Icelandic fishing vessel Skallagrimur.