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SSArmenian

Coordinates:50°40′N06°24′W/ 50.667°N 6.400°W/50.667; -6.400
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Armenian
History
United Kingdom
NameArmenian
NamesakeArmenians
OwnerF Leyland & Co
Operator1903:White Star Line
Port of registryLiverpool
Route
BuilderHarland & Wolff,Belfast
Yard number292
Launched25 July 1895
Completed19 September 1895
Maiden voyage28 September 1895
Identification
FateSunk by torpedo, 28 June 1915
General characteristics
TypeCargo liner
Tonnage8,765GRT,5,714NRT
Length512.5 ft (156.2 m)
Beam59.2 ft (18.0 m)
Depth35.0 ft (10.7 m)
Decks3
Installed power718NHP
Propulsion
Sail planfour-mastedschooner
Speed13 knots (24 km/h)
Crew1915: 72 + 96hostlers
Notessister ships:Victorian,Cestrian

SSArmenianwas a Britishcargo linerthat was launched inIrelandin 1895. In her first few years she carried cattle fromBostontoLiverpool.From 1903 she carried cattle fromNew Yorkto Liverpool.Leyland Lineowned her throughout her career, butWhite Star Linemanagedher from 1903. She carriedprisoners of warin theSecond Boer War,and horses and mules in the First World War.

AGermanU-boat sank her in the NorthAtlanticin 1915, killing 29 people. The victims included 23 United States citizens, which prompted much comment in the US.Armenianwas sunk less than two months after thesinking of RMSLusitania,whose 1,195 victims included 123 US citizens. However,RMSLusitaniawas anocean linerwith 1,300 passengers, whereasArmenianwas a cargo ship carryingmulesfor theEntente Powers' war effort. The US citizens aboard her were not passengers, buthostlershired to care for the mules.

The US Government continued to disagree with the way that theImperial German Navyengaged Entente orneutralmerchant ships,but also accepted that the U-boat was entitled to attack asArmenianhad tried to flee instead of stopping to be searched.

Building and registration

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In 1895Harland & WolffinBelfastlaunched three cargo liners forFrederick Leyland & Co.Yard number 291 was launched on 6 July asVictorian,and completed on 31 August.[1]Yard number 292 was laid down asIndian,[2]but launched on 25 July asArmenian,and completed on 19 September.[3]Yard number 296 was launched on 21 September asCestrian,and completed on 5 March 1896.[4]

Armenian's registered length was 512.5 ft (156.2 m), herbeamwas 59.2 ft (18.0 m), and her depth was 35.0 ft (10.7 m). Hertonnageswere 8,765GRTand 5,714NRT.[5]When new,Victorian,Armenian,andCestrianwere noted for being of "exceptionally large tonnage" among newly-built ships, second only toWhite Star Line'sGeorgic.[6]Armenianhad a singlescrew,driven by a three-cylindertriple-expansion enginethat was rated at 718NHP[5]and gave her a speed of 13 knots (24 km/h).[3]She also had four masts, and could be rigged as aschooner.

LeylandregisteredArmenianatLiverpool.HerUnited Kingdomofficial numberwas 105338 and hercode letterswere PBVC.[7]

1895 to 1899

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On 28 September 1895Armenianleft Liverpool on her maiden voyage.[8]She met continuous bad weather from 29 September, and on 10 October she reachedBoston.[9]In January 1896 she left Boston carrying 10,424 bales of cotton. At the time it was the largest consignment of cottonever shipped there.[10]

On 2 February 1899 the British steamshipHuronaleft England forPortland,Maine.She met a series of storms, and on 14 February her rudder broke down. She set a small amount of sail, and anchored 60 nautical miles (110 km) offSable Island.The next day the weather moderated, and she tried to get underway, but made little progress. On 16 FebruaryArmeniansightedHurona150 nautical miles (280 km) southwest ofHalifax,Nova Scotia.HuronaacceptedArmenian's offer of a tow, and on 17 February the pair reached Halifax.[11]

Boer War

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On 2 October 1899 theAdmiraltycharteredArmenianasTransportnumber 25 for the Second Boer War.[12]AtTilburyin Essex on 23 October she embarked elements of theRoyal Field Artillery(RFA), including threebatteries,oneammunition train,and the Brigade Divisional Staff. She also embarked a troop ofRoyal Engineersand a detachment of theRoyal Army Medical Corps(RAMC).[13]She called atCape TowninCape Colonyon 13 November, and reachedDurbaninNatalon 16 November.[14]On 1 DecemberArmenianhad a minor collision with theCastle LinesteamshipRoslin Castle.[15]On 4 December she was returned to her owners. The Admiralty paid £45,577 for chartering, port dues andbunkering.[12]

On 28 December 1900 Leyland announced that it would start a new weekly service between Liverpool andNew York,using six ships includingArmenian.[16]However, on 3 January 1900 the Admiralty chartered her a second time.[12]On the afternoon of 8 February she leftSouthamptoncarrying 24 officers, 500 men, and 475 horses of the7th Dragoon Guards;100 men of the 2nd Battalion, theNorthamptonshire Regiment;acompanytheArmy Service Corps;and a company of the RAMC. By 17 February she had called atSão Vicente, Cape Verde,[17]and on 1 March she reached Cape Town.[18]On 9 AprilArmenianreachedSydney,New South Wales.On 23 April she embarked 750 officers and men and 800 horses of theNew South Wales Imperial Bushmen.[19]On 9 AugustArmenianleft Tilbury carrying nine officers, 303 men and 900 horses. They included the 2nd Battalion, theKing's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment);50 men of the10th Royal Hussars;124 men of theBlack Watch;51 men of the13th Hussars;and 50 men of theSeaforth Highlanders.On 10 August she called at Southampton, where she embarked 120 men of theGordon Highlandersand the 1st Battalion, theHighland Light Infantry;and 70 horses.[20]By 7 September she had reachedTable Bayin Cape Colony. On 15 September she left for England carrying six army officers, three civilians, a chaplain, and a nurse. On 24 September she called atSaint Helena.[21]

On New Year's Day 1901 in DurbanArmenianembarked the 1st Battalion, theDevonshire Regiment,and the next day she embarked the 2nd Battalion, theGordon Highlanders.On 18 January she arrived in Bombay (nowMumbai) inIndia,and disembarked both battalions.[12]In 1901 she was briefly aprison shipforBoerprisoners of war (PoWs) inSimon's TowninCape Colony.[22]On 29 May 1901 she left Cape Town carrying 963 Boer PoWs, guarded by four officers and 184 men of the 2nd Battalion, theWarwickshire Regiment.She was due to call at São Vicente on 20 June, and she landed her PoWs onBermudaon 28 June.[23]On 22 July she reached Southampton, where she disambarked six officers and 93 men.[24]On 22 August she left Tilbury carrying more than 8,000 tons of oats.[25]On 21 September she left Durban carrying 1,017 Boer PoWs[26]toIndia.[22]On 3 November she left Durban with more than 1,017 Boer PoWs: 36 officers and 981 men, escorted by two RFA batteries. On 15 November she called at theSeychelles,and on 26 November she reached Bombay.[27]

On 2 January 1902Armenianleft Durban carrying 15 officers, one warrant officer and 694 men of the 2nd Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders, and 16 officers and 916 men of the 1st Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. On 19 January she reached Bombay. On 25 January she left Bombay carrying elements of the 2nd Battalion, theRoyal Inniskilling Fusiliers,and 150 men of theOxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.[28]On 6 February she reached Durban.[29]Also in 1902 she took another 150 prisoners of war to India.[22][30]On 2 May theWar Officeannounced that it would send another 10,000 officers and men and 2,000 horses to South Africa in 14 ships.Armenianwas scheduled to leave Southampton on 10 May carrying 1,657 troops, including 250 men for Saint Helena.[31]Instead, on 9 May she was returned to her owners. She had repatriated a total of 139 officers, 6,441NCOsand men, and 27 horses. The Admiralty paid £298,643 for chartering, port dues, and bunkering.[12]

1902 to 1912

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Armenianreturned to her route between Liverpool and Boston. On 3 December 1902 she was due to leave Boston carrying 650 head of cattle and 1,000 sheep. However, on 28 NovemberJames Wilson,United States Secretary of Agriculture,suspended all livestock shipments through Boston for two months to suppress an outbreak offoot-and-mouth disease.[32]Leyland'sagentin Boston said she would sail without cattle.[33]

From May 1903White Star LinemanagedArmenianand her sister shipVictorian.[8]The pair were transferred to White Star's route between Liverpool and New York,[34]where its terminal was Pier 48 on theNorth River.[35]Sailings left New York for Liverpool on alternate Tuesdays,[36]and included a call at Queenstown (nowCobh) in Ireland.[35]

In June 1908 White Star Line suspended its New York cargo and livestock service from New York for three months. This was due partly to transcontinental railroads setting freight rates that disadvantaged that port,[37]and partly to the depressed level of trade.[38]White Star laid upArmenian,Victorian,and three other ships until the service resumed in September.[39][40]

By 1912Armenianwas equipped withwireless telegraphy,supplied and operated by theMarconi Company.[41]By 1914 her wirelesscall signwas MYR.[42]

Abessiniaincident

[edit]
HAPAG'sAbessinia

In a storm in the North Atlantic on 2 January 1913 theHamburg America Line(HAPAG) steamshipAbessinialost her rudder; broke either her propeller shaft or crankshaft (sources differ); and was drifting.[43][44]On 11 January theWhite Star LinerRMSCedricsightedAbessiniaat position42°40′N53°21′W/ 42.667°N 53.350°W/42.667; -53.350,about 100 nautical miles (190 km) southwest ofCape Race,flyingdistresssignal flags.Cedricwas unable to towAbessinia,but stood by her and signalled for help bywireless telegraph.Armenianreceived the signal, andCedricresumed her course.[45][46]

Armeniansteamed 29 or 50 nautical miles (54 or 93 km) (accounts differ) toAbessinia's position, but took five hours to arrive due to rough weather.Armenianthen encountered fog, in which she was unable to findAbessinia.By midnight on 12 JanuaryArmenianwas still searching.[45][46]Armenianfiredsignal rocketsand burned light signals, but received nor reply fromAbessinia,soArmenianresumed her course.[47]

On 14 January the linerMinnetonkareported that HAPAG'sPisawould look forAbessiniaand take her in tow.[45][46]However,Abessinia's crew rigged an emergency rudder and repaired whichever shaft had broken, which enabled her to proceed slowly under her own power.[48]On 15 January she reachedHalifax,Nova Scotiaunaided.[43][44]

First World War

[edit]

After the First World War began in 1914,Armenianwas laid up for a few weeks. She then made trips fromNewport News, Virginiato Liverpool; fromNew OrleanstoAvonmouth;and from New York to Avonmouth andCardiff.[49]

On 17 June 1915Armenianleft Newport News carrying 1,422 mules for theFrench Army,and 1,771 bales of hay and other fodder. She carried a crew of 72, plus 96 hostlers to care for the mules. Her officers and some of her crew were British; herships's doctorwasPuerto Rican;and 87 of the hostlers were US citizens – most of themAfrican Americans.Her crew included other nationalities, including Norwegians.[49][50][51]Her destination was Avonmouth in theBristol Channel.[52]She was unarmed.[53]

SMU-24

At about 18:48 hrs on 28 JuneArmenianwas in theSouthwestern Approachesabout 20 nautical miles (37 km) west ofTrevose Head,Cornwall,when herhelmsmansightedU-24on the surface about 4 nautical miles (7 km) away. The U-boat fired twowarning shotswith her deck gun acrossArmenian's bow, indicating that the ship should stop.Armenian'sMaster,CaptainJames Trickey, ordered his ship to turn her stern to the submarine,andtelegraphed the engine roomfor full speed ahead. He also ordered the crew to prepare her lifeboats, ready to be lowered quickly if required.[51][54]

U-24then shelledArmenianand closed on her. The first shell hit her starboard quarter and killed ten men. One ofArmenian's Marconi wireless officers transmitted adistress signal,but then a shell destroyed her wireless cabin. Other shells smashed herengine roomskylight, destroyed her funnel, and disabled her steering gear. One shot cut one of the falls of her number 3 lifeboat, leaving it hanging from the otherdavit.U-24fired a total of about 20 shells. Fires started in three places on the ship. After a chase of an hour or twoArmenianhove to, and gave three blasts of her whistle to signal her surrender.[54]

At least two lifeboats capsized either while being launched or shortly afterward, throwing their occupants into the sea. Five lifeboats were launched successfully. They rescued some of the men in the sea, but did not manage to reach all of them.U-24rescued three men, including the ship's doctor. The U-boat then hitArmenianwith two torpedoes, and she sank at 20:07 hrs[54]at position50°40′N06°24′W/ 50.667°N 6.400°W/50.667; -6.400.[55]13 men aboardArmenianwere killed before Captain Trickey surrendered, and others were wounded. Four men in the lifeboat commanded by Captain Trickey died of their wounds and wereburied at sea.[54]The total number of deaths was 29.[55]23 of them were US citizens, including 14 African-Americans.[56]

Leyland'sWinifredian

The next morning the Belgian steam trawlerPresident Stevensrescued the occupants of the five lifeboats. She transferred them to two British vessels. Most of the survivors were landed at Avonmouth, except for six who were landed at Cardiff.[54]On 2 July, 60 US survivors left Avonmouth aboard Leyland ships to return to the US: 56 aboardWinifredianand four aboardVictorian.[57]Victorianreached Newport News on 13 July.[58]

Context and consequences

[edit]

J. P. Morgan'sInternational Mercantile Marine Companyheld a controlling 52 percent of Leyland Line stock.Armenianwas thus 52 percent US-owned.[59]However, PresidentWoodrow Wilsonreacted cautiously, asArmenianwas carrying cargo for the Entente war armed forces,[60]and had tried to escape instead of heaving to whenU-24ordered her to do so.[61]Armenian's sinking was likened to that of another British ship,Falaba,on 28 March. 111 ofFalaba's passengers and crew were killed, including one US citizen, which gave rise to theThrasher incident.Falaba,likeArmenian,had tried to flee instead of stopping when ordered to do so.[62]Germany's diplomatic response did not satisfyUS Secretary of StateRobert Lansing,but he continued to negotiate for Germany to make an "amicable adjustment" to conduct its submarine warfare according to international law.[63]

AfterArmenianwas sunk, two other Leyland ships tried to escape from U-boats.Anglo-Californianwas shelled on 4 July 1915, and 21 people including her Master were killed, but she succeeded in fleeing to Queenstown (nowCobh) in Ireland.Iberianwas shelled on 30 July, her attempt to escape failed, and she was sunk by torpedo. Seven of her crew were killed, including one US citizen. The US Government still sought to persuade Germany always to stop and search merchant ships instead of attacking them. To this end, the US accepted that if a merchant captain refused to stop, he did so at the risk of his ship and all persons aboard her.[52]

On 8 JulyLabor's National Peace Councilprotested to Lansing that the US was violating its neutrality by supplying the Entente with items including munitions, vehicles, submarine parts, horses, and mules. They contended thatArmenianhad violated US neutrality, and Newport News'Collector of Customsshould not have cleared her to leave. It called on the US government to stop seven merchant ships that were then preparing to sail from the US to France or the UK, including three whose cargo was horses or mules.[64]

By the timeArmenianwas sunk, an estimated two million horses and mules had been shipped from Newport News to the Entente Powers, and another 100,000 were due to be shipped in the ensuing three months. On 1 July the British steamshipTurcomanwas in theWestern Approacheswith a cargo of mules, andIndorewas leaving Newport News for Avonmouth with another load. All ofIndore's hostlers were African-American, overseen by white foremen and assistant foremen.[65]

Wreck

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In 2002 divers discovered a shipwreck that they believed to beArmenian.One said "There were an awful lot of bones", and another said "the mule bones provided the easiest means of identifying the wreck. They were everywhere."[66]However, the wreck they found may have been thearmed boarding steamerHMSPatia.[citation needed]In 2008marine archaeologistInnes McCartneyfoundArmenian,using German naval archives fromFreiburg im Breisgauto determine the search area. The wreck is on an even keel on the seabed, at a depth of 312 feet (95 m), 45 nautical miles (83 km) from the position where the British had reported it sunk.[67]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Victorian".Harland & Wolff The Yard.Retrieved28 March2024.
  2. ^"Armenian".Shipping and Shipbuilding.Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust.Retrieved28 March2024.
  3. ^ab"Armenian".Harland & Wolff The Yard.Retrieved28 March2024.
  4. ^"Cestrian".Harland & Wolff The Yard.Retrieved28 March2024.
  5. ^abLloyd's Register1896,ARL–ARP.
  6. ^"Wharf and wave".The Pacific Commercial Advertiser.Honolulu. 17 April 1896. p. 8.Retrieved4 April2024– via Library of Congress.
  7. ^Mercantile Navy List1896,p. 21.
  8. ^abHaws 1979,p. 121.
  9. ^"Armenian's Maiden Trip".The Providence News.Providence, RI. 10 October 1895. p. 6.Retrieved4 April2024– via Library of Congress.
  10. ^"Telegraphic brevities".The Providence News.Providence, RI. 31 January 1896. p. 6.Retrieved4 April2024– via Library of Congress.
  11. ^"The Hurona Disabled".The Portland Daily Press.Portland, ME. 18 February 1899. p. 2.Retrieved4 April2024– via Library of Congress.
  12. ^abcdeC, Neville (March 2022)."No. 25 - Armenian".AngloBoerWar.Retrieved4 April2024.
  13. ^"Shipping records - October 1899".AngloBoerWar.Retrieved4 April2024.
  14. ^"Shipping records - November 1899".AngloBoerWar.Retrieved4 April2024.
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  22. ^abc"Transportation of Boer POWs from South Africa".AngloBoerWar.Retrieved6 January2020.
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  30. ^Benbow 1994[page needed]
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  32. ^"Two months' quarantine".New-York Tribune.29 November 1902. p. 6.Retrieved4 April2024– via Library of Congress.
  33. ^"The reports are not encouraging".TheWorcester Spy.Worcester, MA. 2 December 1902. p. 10.Retrieved4 April2024– via Library of Congress.
  34. ^"Incoming steamers".New-York Tribune.21 June 1903. p. 14.Retrieved4 April2024– via Library of Congress.
  35. ^ab"A.— White Star Line".New-York Tribune.20 June 1903. p. 10.Retrieved4 April2024– via Library of Congress.
  36. ^"May cut ocean rates".New-York Tribune.21 June 1903. p. 1.Retrieved4 April2024– via Library of Congress.
  37. ^"Discrimination In Freight Rates Said to Have Caused Withdrawal".Daily Kennebec Journal.Augusta, ME. 15 June 1902. p. 1.Retrieved4 April2024– via Library of Congress.
  38. ^"White Star Line explains".The New York Times.16 June 1908. p. 5.Retrieved4 April2024– via Times Machine.
  39. ^"Freight boats quit on White Star Line".The New York Times.4 June 1908. p. 1.Retrieved4 April2024– via Times Machine.
  40. ^"To resume cargo service".The New York Times.17 September 1908. p. 1.Retrieved4 April2024– via Times Machine.
  41. ^Lloyd's Register1912,ARM–ARN.
  42. ^The Marconi Press Agency Ltd 1914,p. 382.
  43. ^ab"Abessinia arrives in Halifax harbor under own steam".The Evening World.New York. 15 January 1913. p. 2.Retrieved5 April2024– via Library of Congress.
  44. ^ab"Makes port disabled".The Evening Star.Washington, DC. 15 January 1913. p. 18.Retrieved5 April2024– via Library of Congress.
  45. ^abc"Cedric brings aid to helpless ship".The New York Times.14 January 1913. p. 12.Retrieved5 April2024– via Times Machine.
  46. ^abc"Crippled ship lost in fog".The New York Times.15 January 1913. p. 6.Retrieved5 April2024– via Times Machine.
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  49. ^ab"Freight liner carrying mules sent to bottom".Richmond Times-Dispatch.Richmond, VA. 1 July 1915. pp. 1, 2.Retrieved28 March2024– via Library of Congress.
  50. ^"87 Americans on board".The New York Times.1 July 1915. p. 2.Retrieved28 March2024– via Times Machine.
  51. ^ab"Armenian's crew brave".The New York Times.3 July 1915. p. 3.Retrieved28 March2024– via Times Machine.
  52. ^ab"Legal, says Washington".The New York Times.1 August 1915. pp. 1, 2.Retrieved28 March2024– via Times Machine.
  53. ^"22 American Citizens Drowned as U-38 Sinks British Freighter; Report Hints Attempt to Escape".New-York Tribune.1 July 1915. pp. 1, 2.Retrieved28 March2024– via Library of Congress.
  54. ^abcde"Armenian captain tells of chase; 13 killed as he tried to escape; Germans rescued some of the crew".The New York Times.2 July 1915. pp. 1, 2.Retrieved28 March2024– via Times Machine.
  55. ^abHelgason, Guðmundur."Armenian".uboat.net.Retrieved28 March2024.
  56. ^"Germany's acts of war against people of U. S."The Washington Times.Washington, D.C. 7 April 1917. p. 2.Retrieved28 March2024– via Library of Congress.
  57. ^"Armenian sailed without a charter".The New York Times.4 July 1915. p. 5.Retrieved28 March2024– via Times Machine.
  58. ^"Armenian survivors here".The New York Times.14 July 1915. p. 3.Retrieved28 March2024– via Times Machine.
  59. ^Cropley, RE (3 July 1915)."The Mules. To the Editor of The New York Times".The New York Times.p. 6.Retrieved28 March2024– via Times Machine.
  60. ^"Wilson relieved over the Armenian".The New York Times.2 July 1915. p. 2.Retrieved28 March2024– via Times Machine.
  61. ^"Not Like the Lusitania".Richmond Times-Dispatch.Richmond, VA. 2 July 1915. p. 6.Retrieved28 March2024– via Library of Congress.
  62. ^"Washington awaits facts".The New York Times.2 July 1915. p. 2.Retrieved28 March2024– via Times Machine.
  63. ^"Lansing to explain policy".The New York Times.15 July 1915. pp. 1, 2.Retrieved28 March2024– via Times Machine.
  64. ^"Asks U.S. to stop war supply ships".The New York Times.9 July 1915. p. 1.Retrieved28 March2024– via Times Machine.
  65. ^"Another mule ship sails".The New York Times.2 July 1915. p. 2.Retrieved28 March2024– via Times Machine.
  66. ^"Divers discover mule graveyard".Divernet News.2 September 2002. Archived fromthe originalon 10 July 2011.
  67. ^"Search for the Bone Wreck".Deep Wreck Mysteries.Season 2. Episode 2. 8 January 2009.History Channel.Retrieved 27 June 2010

Bibliography

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