SS Tuscania (1921)
Passenger ship
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SS Tuscania was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, and launched on 4 October 1921 for the Anchor Line.
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- Tuscania (1922–1939)
- Nea Hellas (1941–1947)
- Anchor Line (1922–1939)
- British Government (1941–1947)
- Anchor Line (1922–1939, 1941–1947)
- Cunard Line (1926–1931, summer only)
Tuscania (2) under way | |
| History | |
|---|---|
  United Kingdom | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake | Tuscania |
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry | Glasgow (1922–1939, 1941–1947) |
| Route | |
| Builder | Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, Glasgow |
| Yard number | 595 |
| Launched | 4 October 1921 |
| Maiden voyage | 16 September 1922 |
 Greece | |
| Name |
|
| Owner | General Steam Navigation Company of Greece (1939–1941, 1947–1961) |
| Port of registry | Andros (1939–1941, 1947–1961) |
| Route | |
| Fate | Broken up at Onomichi, Hiroshima in 1961 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ocean liner |
| Tonnage | 16,991 GRT |
| Length | 575 feet (175 m) |
| Beam | 70 feet (21 m) |
| Installed power | Steam turbines |
| Propulsion | Twin propellers |
| Speed | 16 knots |
| Capacity | 1,400 passengers |
| Crew | 200 |
Building and description
During the First World War, several large liners of Glasgow-based Anchor Line (Henderson Bros) Ltd were lost, including the earlier Tuscania of 1914. Embarking on a replacement programme even before the end of 1918, the replacement Tuscania for the Mediterranean-New York service was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company at Govan, Glasgow, as yard number 595.[1][2] She measured 16,991 gross register tons (GRT) and 10,016 net register tons (NRT), was 552.3 ft (168.3 m) long between perpendiculars by 70.3 ft (21.4 m) beam and had a depth of 38.6 ft (11.8 m).[3] She had six Brown-Curtis steam turbines, also made by Fairfield, driving twin screws via double reduction gearing, giving her a speed of 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h; 17.8 mph).[2][3][4]
The ship was formally named Tuscania when launched on 4 October 1921, in the midst of the post-war economic slump, when many shipowners, Anchor Line included, had asked builders to slow or suspend building work.[4] Tuscania was not completed until almost a year later; she ran sea trials on 8 September 1922 and was registered at Glasgow with Official Number 146307.[2][5] As completed, she has capacity for 2462 passengers (267 1st class, 377 2nd and 1818 3rd) and a complement of 342 officers and crew.[5]
History
Anchor Line
Earlier plans to deploy Tuscania on the company's Mediterranean-New York service were changed, and she began her career on the Glasgow-Moville-New York route, leaving the Clyde on her maiden voyage on 16 September 1922.[5][6] She continued on the North Atlantic, with occasional New York-Mediterranean voyages, until May 1926.[7]
In May 1926, Tuscania was chartered to the Cunard Line for its service between London and New York, via Southampton and Le Havre, and repainted in the charterer's colours.[7] She was returned for service with Anchor Line in 1931. She was later employed on their Liverpool-India service and cruising until sold in 1939 to the Goulandris brothers' General Steam Navigation Company of Greece.[8]
Nea Hellas
Upon arrival in Piraeus on 8 March 1939 the ship was renamed Nea Hellas (Νέα Έλλας, meaning "New Greece") and refitted for service between Piraeus and New York City beginning on 19 May 1939.[8] Service between these two ports was interrupted for the duration of World War II for use as a troopship for Allied soldiers. The ship was renamed New York and placed on a New York to Bremen service in 1955. Due to her age, the ship was retired in 1959 and scrapped in 1961.[9]