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SSAfric

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History
United Kingdom
NameSSAfric
OwnerWhite Star Line
BuilderHarland and Wolff,Belfast
Launched16 November 1898
Maiden voyage8 February 1899
FateSunk bySMUC-66,12 February 1917
General characteristics
Class and typeJubilee-classocean liner
Tonnage11,948GRT
Length550 ft (167.6 m)
Beam63.3 ft (19.3 m)
Installed powerTwofour-cylinder quadruple-expansion steam engines
PropulsionTwo propellers
Speed13.5knots(25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph) service speed
Capacity
  • 320 passengers
  • 15,000DWTof cargo capacity

SSAfricwas asteamshipbuilt forWhite Star LinebyHarland and Wolffshipyards. She was of theJubilee class,had a reportedgross register tonnageof 11,948, and had a port of registry ofLiverpool,England.[1]Africwas launched on November 16, 1898, and was involved in shipping between Liverpool and Australia.[2]

Africwas the first of five Jubillee-class ships built by White Star Line for their new service to Australia, the others wereMedic,Persic,RunicandSuevic.Africwas a single-funnelliner with a capacity for 320 third-class passengers on three decks, she also had substantial cargo capacity with seven cargo holds, most of them refrigerated for the transport of Australian meat.[2][3]

Service history

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Africmade her maiden voyage on 8 February 1899, between Liverpool andNew York;this was considered a test run, and when she returned she underwent further work to prepare her for her intended career on the Australia service. She entered service between Liverpool andSydneyviaCape Townon 9 September 1899.[2]

During theBoer Warfrom 1900 to 1902,Africwas used to transport troops and horses toSouth Africaon the outbound part of her journey, returning them to the UK on the return journey.[2]

Following the conclusion of the war,Africsettled into the routine of normal peacetime service, which was mostly uneventful, except for one incident in November 1913 when she ran aground and became stuck on asandbankin theRiver Merseywhilst leaving theCanada Dockat Liverpool. After several unsuccessful attempts to free her, she was eventually pulled off the sandbank bytugsat high tide after her cargo had been removed by barges to lighten the ship.[4]

Side view ofAfric

Following the outbreak of theFirst World Warin 1914,Africwas requisitioned by the Australian government in October 1914 for use as atroopshipand was given the designation HMAT (His Majesty's Australian Transport) A19.

SSAfricin Sydney during the First World War

In April/May 1915, she was refitted atSydneyto carry 549 troops and 500 horses. She completed six troopship voyages up to November 1916,[5]however on 12 February 1917 she was sunk in theEnglish Channelafter being torpedoed by the German submarineSMUC-66,whilst sailing outbound between Liverpool andPlymouth,12 miles (19 km) south south-west of theEddystone Lighthouse,[6]there were 145 survivors, but 22 people lost their lives.[2][7]

Wreck

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Footage of the wreck ofAfric,filmed in 2012

The wreck lies at the position (49°59′N04°18′W/ 49.983°N 4.300°W/49.983; -4.300) at a depth of around 70 metres (229.7 feet), and has been filmed by divers.[8][6]

References

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  1. ^"Harland and Wolff – Shipbuilding and Engineering Works".theyard.info.Retrieved18 May2018.
  2. ^abcdeKerbrech, Richard De (2009).Ships of the White Star Line.Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 78–79.ISBN978-0-7110-3366-5.
  3. ^"The S.S. Afric".Portland Guardian (Vic.: 1876 – 1953).22 November 1899. p. 3.Retrieved18 May2018.
  4. ^"THE GROUNDING OF THE AFRIC".Daily Commercial News And Shipping List.No. 7127. New South Wales, Australia. 7 November 1913. p. 4.Retrieved8 September2018– via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^"A19 AFRIC".Flotilla Australia.Retrieved24 July2018.
  6. ^ab"Afric".uboat.net.Retrieved19 July2018.
  7. ^"LINER AFRIC SUNK; 17 MEN MISSING; 12,000-Ton White Star Steamer Is Believed to Have Been in Admiralty Service. 145 OF CREW ARE LANDED American on Saxonian Reaches Queenstown Wounded;- Other Ships Sunk. Three Other Ships Sunk. BERLIN REPORTS SINKINGS. Tells of Destruction of Ten Vessels on Feb. 12. LINER AFRIC SUNK; 17 MEN MISSING THE RYNDAM GETS BACK. Was Near English Coast When She Was Ordered Back. TWO MORE CUNARDERS HERE. The Laconia and the Ascania Saw No Submarines on Their Way Over".The New York Times.14 February 1917.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved16 May2018.
  8. ^"White Star liner 'Afric' - underwater video".YouTube.FinnborgBraga.Retrieved23 July2018.
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