RMS ''Transylvania'' was a British
Ocean Liner
An ocean liner is a passenger ship primarily used as a form of transportation across seas or oceans. Ocean liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes (such as for pleasure cruises or as hospital ships).
Ca ...
. She was
launched on 11 March 1925 for the
Anchor Line and was the
sister ship
A sister ship is a ship of the same class or of virtually identical design to another ship. Such vessels share a nearly identical hull and superstructure layout, similar size, and roughly comparable features and equipment. They often share a ...
to the
SS ''California'', and
RMS ''Caledonia''. She was converted into an
armed merchant cruiser,
pennant F56 during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. On 10 August 1940, HMS ''Transylvania'' was torpedoed and sunk by the German
U-boat
U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare role ...
.
History
Construction
''Transylvania'' was built in
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
,
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
, by the
Fairfield company, Yard No. 595. She was long and wide. The liner had twin propellers with a service speed of .
''Transylvania'' had three
funnel
A funnel is a tube or pipe that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for guiding liquid or powder into a small opening.
Funnels are usually made of stainless steel, aluminium, glass, or plastic. The material used in its construct ...
s but only required one; three funnels were more visually appealing and attracted more passengers than her similar-looking fleetmates which only had one funnel each.
Ocean Liner Career
''Transylvania'' was completed on 2 September 1925 and sailed from Glasgow to
New York on her maiden voyage ten days later. ''Transylvania'' could carry 279 passengers in First Class, 344 in Second Class and 800 in Third Class for a total of 1,423 people. On 28 March 1929, ''Transylvania'' ran aground in the fog at La Coeque Rocks, west of
Cherbourg. In Cherbourg, she disembarked her passengers and then sailed to the Clyde for repairs. In 1930, there was a change in ship passenger accommodation with the increase in international tourism.
Second World War
In September 1939, the liner was requisitioned by the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
as an
armed merchant cruiser and ''Transylvania'' was assigned to the 10th Cruiser Squadron and served in the Northern Patrol, which was responsible for the
naval blockade
A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It includ ...
against the Germans. On 10 August 1940, off
Malin Head, Ireland, she was torpedoed by . ''Transylvania'' was towed by the stern but sank before reaching land. A total of 36 people died.
The wreck lies at a depth of about north of