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RMSVictorian

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Victorianin a 1904 magazine illustration
History
United Kingdom
Name
  • Victorian(1904–22)
  • Marloch(1922–29)
Owner
Operator
  • Allan Line (1904–09)
  • Allan Bros & Co (UK) Ltd (1909–14)
  • United KingdomRoyal Navy(1914–18)
  • Canadian Pacific (1920–29)
Port of registryUnited KingdomGlasgow
RouteLiverpool–Montreal
OrderedOctober 1903
BuilderWorkman, Clark and Company
Yard number206
Launched25 August 1904
CompletedMarch 1905
Maiden voyage23 March 1905
Refit1919, re-engined 1922
Identification
FateScrapped 1929
General characteristics
TypeOcean liner
Tonnage10,629GRT 6,744NRT
Length520.0 ft (158.5 m)
Beam60.4 ft (18.4 m)
Draught
  • 26 ft 11 in (8.2 m) forward
  • 29 ft 5 in (9.0 m) aft
Depth38.0 ft (11.6 m)
Decks3
Installed power12,000SHP
Propulsion
Speed19.5 knots (36.1 km/h)
Capacity
  • as built:
  • 470 1st class
  • 240 2nd class
  • 940 3rd class
  • cargo: 8,000 tons
Armament
NotesSister ship:Virginian

RMSVictorianwas the world's firstturbine-poweredocean liner.She was designed as atransatlanticliner andmail shipforAllan Lineand launched in 1904.

Victorianwas built in Belfast. She had asister ship,Virginian,which was built inScotlandand launched four months later.

Throughout theFirst World WarVictorianwas anarmed merchant cruiser(AMC). In 1918 she also carried cargo and troops.

In 1920, she returned to civilian service with theCanadian Pacific Steamship Company,but in 1921, the British Government chartered her as atroop ship.In 1922, Canadian Pacific renamed herMarloch.She was scrapped in 1929 after a quarter of a century of successful service.

Background

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Charles Parsonshad demonstrated the speed of his marine steam turbines inTurbinialaunched in 1894 and their reliability in theClydeexcursion steamerKing Edwardlaunched in 1901. ButKing Edward's fuel costs were higher than those of herreciprocating-enginedand as a result so were her fares. Passengers accepted the higher cost onKing Edward's day trips down the Clyde,[1]but ocean liner companies did not know whether passengers, cargo customers and post offices would accept the higher cost on Atlantic crossings lasting several days.

Canadian Pacific entered the North Atlantic Trade by buyingElder Dempster Lines' Beaver Line subsidiary early in 1903.[2]Allan Line responded by ordering a pair of new express liners. Allan Line originally planned to order conventional twin-screw ships withreciprocating steam engines,[citation needed]but in October 1903 it announced that it had ordered a pair of ships with turbines driving three screws as onKing Edward.[3][4]

On 28 January 1904, seven months beforeVictorianwas launched, theGovernment of Canadaannounced it had awarded Allan Line a transatlantic mail contract. Four Allan Line ships were to provide a regular scheduled service: the 10,576GRTlinersBavarianandTunisian,and the newVictorianandVirginian.The subsidy would be $5,000 per trip forBavarianandTunisian,and $10,000 per trip for each of the new turbine ships.[5]

Design

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Victorian's propulsion system was a scaled-up version ofKing Edward's. She had threescrews.Victorian'sScotch marine boilershad coal-fired furnaces whose smoke was exhausted through a large single funnel. Her boilers fed steam at 180 pounds per square inch (12 bar) to the high-pressureParsons turbinedriving her centre shaft. Exhaust steam from the high-pressure turbine drove the low-pressure Parsons turbines on herport and starboard(wing) shafts. All three screws were driven directly at turbine speed.[3]

Victorianwas 520.0 ft (158.5 m) long, her beam was 60.4 ft (18.4 m) and her depth was 38.0 ft (11.6 m). Hertonnageswere 10,629GRTand 6,744NRT.[6]She hadorlop decksfore and aft of her machinery spaces, and three full decks in her hull with berths for 240 second-class passengers on the main and upper deck and up to 940 in third class. Atop the hull, herforecastlewas followed by forward holds, a long superstructure with cabins and public saloons for 470 first-class passengers on the bridge and promenade decks, an after hold, and apoop deck.Her holds had space for 8,000 tons of cargo and included refrigerated space for perishable produce.[3]

Building and performance

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Despite unsatisfactory initialsea trials,Charles Parsonscorrectly predicted thatVictorianand her sister would be a success

Workman, Clark and CompanybuiltVictorianinBelfast,launching her on 25 August 1904.[7]On 5 December it was reported that onsea trialsshe had failed to reach the 17 knots (31 km/h) Allan Line had stipulated in her contract, and as a resultJohn Brown & CompanyandSwan, Hunter & Wigham Richardsonhad suspended building of the much larger turbine shipsRMSLusitaniaandMauretaniaforCunard Line.[8]However, there were conflicting reports as to whetherVictorian's initial failure was caused by a shortcoming of her turbines or the design of her hull.[9]

On 16 January 1905, in an address to theInstitute of Marine Engineers,Parsons confidently predicted that turbines would supersede reciprocating engines in ships of more than 16 knots (30 km/h) and more than 5,000IHP,and would probably be adopted for ships above 13 knots (24 km/h) and 2,000GRT.[10]

On 16 March, it was reported thatVictorianhad achieved 19.5 knots (36 km/h) on sea trials on theFirth of Clyde,[11]with her turbines developing some 12,000shaft horsepowerand turning the screws at 260RPM.[3]She entered service a week later, and before the end of the year had set an eastbound record of five days and five hours fromRimouskiinQuebectoMovilleinIreland,which stood for some time.[3]

Allan Line service

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Victorian'ssister shipVirginian

On 23 March 1905,Victorianbegan her maiden voyage fromLiverpoolto Canada.[3][12]Two days of bad weather prevented her from breaking any record, but she reachedHalifax, Nova Scotiavia Moville at noon on 1 April after a crossing of seven days and 22 hours.[13]A fortnight later, on 6 April, her sister shipVirginianjoined her on the route. The pair were a commercial success, and after some adjustments to her machinery, they maintained a regular transatlantic service between Britain, Ireland and Canada until August 1914.[3]

On 1 September 1905,Victorianwas reported to have run aground atCape St. Charles,Labradoron an eastbound crossing, as dense smoke from forest fires had impaired navigation. She had 19 feet (6 m) of water in her number two hold, her 350 passengers were taken off to continue their journey on Allan Line's 10,576GRTlinerBavariana week later,[14][15]and her mails were taken off and sent eastbound viaNew York.[16]

On a westbound voyage on the morning of 11 August 1911, 57 of the stewards ofVictorian's first and second class dining saloons refused an instruction to help put ashore mail atRimouski.The stewards later agreed to obey the instruction, but then refused to serve breakfast or lunch to the passengers. WhenVictorianreached Montreal that evening fiveMontreal Policevehicles met the ship and officers arrested all 57 stewards for mutiny. Allan Line suggested that the incident could be linked with the ongoingLiverpool transport strike[17]that had begun on 14 June.

By 1912,Victorianwas equipped forwireless telegraphy,operating on the 300 and 600 metre wavelengths. Hercall signwas MVN.[18]

When RMSTitanicsank on 15 April 1912Victorianwas about 300 nautical miles (560 km) astern of her, travelling in the same direction.Victorian's wireless operator received news of the sinking "fromRMSCarpathiaviaRMSBaltic".The operator toldVictorian'sMaster,Captain Outram, but her passengers were not told until she reached Halifax. Outram said thatVictorianhad to divert "very far south" to avoid icebergs, and that his lookouts saw a great field of ice and 13 icebergs at one time.[19][20]

First World War

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On 28 July 1914, the First World War began. TheBritish Admiraltyhad been converting passenger liners into armed merchant cruisers since shortly before the war, and on 6 August listed eight more to be requisitioned, includingVictorian.[21]She was atQuebecthat day and was detained accordingly.[22]But she seems to have been allowed to proceed to Liverpool in civilian service, as she was requisitioned on 17 August,[20]and was commissioned atChatham Dockyardon 21 August. Initially her armament was eight4.7-inch QF guns:[23]two on herforecastle,two on her forward house, two on her after house and two on herpoop deck.Herpennant numberwas M 56.[24]

TheFrench cruiserCassard,with whichVictorianbombarded Moroccan villages in September 1914

Victorianserved with the9th Cruiser Squadronfrom September 1914 until March 1915. In September 1914, she was ordered to the coast ofMorocco,whichFrance had invaded in 1907and forced to become aFrench protectorate in 1912.Victorianjoined theFrench cruiserCassardoffCape Jubyon 26 September,[25]the two cruisers bombarded Moroccan villages the next day, andVictorianwithdrew on 28 September.[24]

From October 1914 until January 1915,Victorianpatrolled near theCanary Islands.She called atFreetowninSierra Leoneon 23–24 November. She patrolled the coast of Portugal in February, returned to home waters in March and was out of commission in April and May.[24]

In June 1915,Cammell LairdreplacedVictorian's forecastle guns with twosix-pounder gunsthat had been removed fromHMSCaribbean,anRMSPliner that had briefly been an AMC but had then been deemed unsuitable. At about the same timeVictorian's other six 4.7-inch guns were replaced with sixBL 6-inchandQF 6-inch naval guns.[23]Also in June 1915,Victorianjoined the10th Cruiser Squadron.[24]

With the 10th Cruiser SquadronVictorianwas on theNorthern Patrolfrom June 1915 until July 1917. Her patrols took her to theNorwegian Seain 1915, around theFaroe Islandsand the northern part of theWestern Approachesin 1916 and the same plus the Icelandic coast of theDenmark Straitin the first half of 1917.[24]

In May 1916, the two six-pounders were removed from her forecastle and replaced with a pair of anti-aircraft guns. By October 191,6 her armament also includeddepth charges.[24]

From August 1917 until November 1918Victorianescorted convoys. In 1918 her pennant number was changed twice: to MI 91 in January and to MI 51 in April. From January 1918 she carried cargo and from April she carried troops, includingUS ArmyandAustralian Army.[24]

On 4 November 1918Victorianarrived in theRiver Merseyto be decommissioned from theRoyal Navy.Her guns were removed on 27 November and her unused ammunition was unloaded on 27–29 November.[24]

Canadian Pacific service

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Canadian Pacific had taken over Allan Line in 1917. Cammell, Laird refittedVictorianfor civilian service, and on 13 April 1920 she resumed her old route between Liverpool, Quebec and Montreal.[20]

In 1921, the UK governmentcharteredVictorianas a troop ship toIndia.[26]In 1922, theFairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Companyconverted her to oil-burning and replaced her original direct-drive turbines with new ones withsingle-reduction gearing,and Canadian Pacific renamed herMarloch.[20][27]

Marlochin the 1920s

In the mid-1920s, Canadian Pacific putMarlochin reserve, but she often saw service.[28]

On 26 June 1925,Marlochwas in theSaint Lawrence Riverat Quebec when thetugOcean Kingapproached to receive a hawser and tow her.Ocean KingcrossedMarloch's bow too close and the liner rammed the tug.Ocean Kingcapsized, the cold water of the river caused her boilers to explode, and all nine crew of the tug were killed.[29][30]

On 3 February 1926, in fog in theScheldtoffVlissingen,Marlochcollided with the 1,655GRTUKcargo shipWhimbrel,which was holed on her starboard quarter and sank.[31][32]Marlochwas damaged and was towed toSouthamptonfor repair.[20]

On 19 September 1928,Marlochwas laid up atSouthend-on-Sea.On 17 April 1929, Canadian Pacific sold her toThos. W. WardLtd, who scrapped her at eitherMilford HavenorPembroke Dock.[6][20][28]

References

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  1. ^McCrorie 1986,p. 48.
  2. ^"Deal with Allan Line expected".The New York Times.26 February 1903. p. 9.Retrieved16 November2020.
  3. ^abcdefgBaker & Tryckare 1965,p. 114.
  4. ^Maber 1980,p. 34.
  5. ^"Canada gets turbine ships".The New York Times.29 January 1904. p. 2.Retrieved16 November2020.
  6. ^ab"Victorian".Shipping and Shipbuilding.Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust.Retrieved15 November2020.
  7. ^"Turbine liner launched".The New York Times.26 August 1904. p. 6.Retrieved16 November2020.
  8. ^"Turbine liner's failure".The New York Times.6 December 1904. p. 1.Retrieved15 November2020.
  9. ^"Turbine engines".The New Zealand Herald.1 February 1905. p. 1.Retrieved15 November2020– viaPapers Past.
  10. ^Harnack 1930,pp. 243–244.
  11. ^"Successful trial of turbine liner".The New York Times.17 March 1905. p. 1.Retrieved15 November2020.
  12. ^"Turbine liner begins first voyage".The New York Times.24 March 1905. p. 5.Retrieved16 November2020.
  13. ^"First turbine steamer to cross the Atlantic".The New York Times.2 April 1905. p. 1.Retrieved15 November2020.
  14. ^"Turbine liners ashore".The New York Times.2 September 1905. p. 1.Retrieved15 November2020.
  15. ^"Smoke and fog stop St. Lawrence traffic".The New York Times.3 September 1905. p. 2.Retrieved15 November2020.
  16. ^"Allan liner still aground".The New York Times.4 September 1905. p. 3.Retrieved15 November2020.
  17. ^"Jail 57 ship stewards".The New York Times.12 August 1911. p. 4.Retrieved16 November2020.
  18. ^The Marconi Press Agency Ltd 1913,p. 262.
  19. ^"Kept bad news secret".The New York Times.21 April 1912. p. 8.Retrieved15 November2020.
  20. ^abcdef"Victorian".Titanic Inquiry Project.Retrieved15 November2020.
  21. ^Corbett 1920,pp. 29–30.
  22. ^"Hold Allan liner".The New York Times.6 August 1914. p. 5.Retrieved15 November2020.
  23. ^abDittmar & Colledge 1972,p. 121.
  24. ^abcdefghThomas & Smith.
  25. ^Corbett 1920,p. 266.
  26. ^"S/S Marloch, Canadian Pacific Line".Norway~Heritage.Retrieved15 November2020.
  27. ^Wilson 1956,p. 37.
  28. ^abBaker & Tryckare 1965,p. 116.
  29. ^"Casualty reports".The Times.No. 44000. London. 29 June 1925. col E, p. 22.
  30. ^"Liner Sinks Quebec Tug With Nine Aboard; Boilers Explode as Tiny Craft Is Cut in Two".The New York Times.27 June 1925. p. 1.Retrieved15 November2020.
  31. ^"British steamer sunk".The Times.No. 44187. London. 4 February 1926. col B, p. 21.
  32. ^Lettens, Jan; Patjedive; Mitchell, Tim."SS Whimbrel [+1926]".Wrecksite.eu.Retrieved15 November2020.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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  • Dowling, R (1909) [1903].All About Ships & Shipping(2nd ed.). London: Alexander Moring Ltd.
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