HMS Calgarian (1913)

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HMS Calgarian
HMS Calgarian
Career (UK) Royal Navy Ensign
Name: HMS Calgarian
Builder: Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Ltd., Glasgow
Launched: April 1913
Fate: Sunk 1 March 1918
General characteristics
Tonnage: 17,500 tons
Length: 568.8 ft (173.4 m)
Beam: 70.3 ft (21.4 m)
Draught: 41.6 ft (12.7 m)
Propulsion: 21,000 shaft horsepower (16,000 kW) turbine engines
Speed: 20 knots (37 km/h)

HMS Calgarian was an armed merchant cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was sunk by the U-boat Template:SMU off Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland on 1 March 1918. The initial strike did not sink her and the crew managed to contain the damage. The U-boat torpedoed her again, despite the protection of other ships. She was hit by 4 torpedoes and quickly sank with the loss of two officers and 47 ratings.

SS Calgarian, was originally built for the Allan Line, making her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Canada on 8 May 1914. Her sister ship was the Alsatian.

On 15 September 1914 Calgarian was taken over as an armed merchant cruiser. Her naval career saw her take part in the blockades of the ports of Lisbon and New York and acts as a troop and passenger transport across the Atlantic.

She was officially transferred to Canadian Pacific in July 1917 on its acquisition of Allan. However, she continued in Royal Navy use until her sinking.

See also