SS Oceania (1907)

History
Austria-Hungary
NameOceania
OwnerUnione Austriaca
Operator
Port of registryTrieste
Route
  • 1907: Trieste – South America
  • 1908: Trieste – New York
BuilderA Stephen & Sons, Linthouse
Yard number423
Launched10 September 1907
CompletedNovember 1907
Maiden voyage26 November 1907, to South America
Refit1915, as hospital ship
Identification
Fatemined & torpedoed, October 1918
General characteristics
Typecargo liner
Tonnage5,497 GRT, 3,488 NRT
Length391.1 ft (119.2 m)
Beam50.0 ft (15.2 m)
Depth23.2 ft (7.1 m)
Decks2
Installed power2 × triple-expansion engines, 584 NHP
Propulsion2 × screws
Speed14 knots (26 km/h)
Notessister ship: Argentina

SS Oceania was a steam cargo liner. She was built in Scotland in 1907 for the Austro-Hungarian shipping line Unione Austriaca, to take emigrants from Trieste to South America. From 1908 she worked a route between Trieste and New York. In the First World War, she was a hospital ship from 1915 until 1916, and again from May 1918. In October 1918, she struck a mine off the coast of Albania, and was beached. Ten days later, an Austro-Hungarian torpedo boat torpedoed her, to prevent Italian forces from capturing her.

Argentina and Oceania

In 1907, two shipyards on the River Clyde built a pair of sister ships for Unione Austriaca. Russell and Company of Port Glasgow launched yard number 582 on 26 August as Argentina,[1] and completed her that October. Alexander Stephen and Sons of Linthouse in Glasgow launched yard number 423 on 10 September as Oceania, and completed her that November.[2][3]

Oceania's registered length was 391.1 ft (119.2 m), her beam was 50.0 ft (15.2 m), and her depth was 23.2 ft (7.1 m). Her tonnages were 5,497 GRT and 3,488 NRT.[4] Her passenger capacity may have been similar to Argentina's: 45 berths in first class, 75 in second class, and 1,230 in third class.[3] She had twin screws, driven by a pair of three-cylinder triple-expansion engines. The combined power of her twin engines was rated at 584 NHP, and gave her a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h).[3] Unione Austriaca registered her at Trieste. Her code letters were HPJN. By 1910 she was equipped with wireless telegraphy.[5] By 1914 her call sign was OKO, and her wireless was operated and controlled by the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Inspectorate of the radiotelegraph service, based in Trieste.[6]

On 26 November 1907, Oceania began her maiden voyage, which was to South America. Most of her passenger capacity was third class, in which she carried emigrants from Austria-Hungary and Italy. From 26 September 1908, she was transferred to a route from Trieste to New York,[7] via Patras and Palermo.[8] In January 1910, she also called at Naples.[9] In June 1911, her ports of call included the Azores and Naples.[10] In 1913, her outward voyages from Trieste were typically via Patras, Palermo, and Algiers. Her return voyages were via Algiers, Naples, and Patras; and sometimes included a call at Venice.[11]

Hospital ship

In October 1915, the Austro-Hungarian Navy requisitioned Oceania to be a hospital ship. She was returned to her owners in March 1916. In May 1918 she was requisitioned again, for the same purpose.[2]

The Cobra-class torpedo boat Tb 16

On 4 October 1918, Oceania struck a mine at position 41°35′N 19°26′E / 41.583°N 19.433°E / 41.583; 19.433, off the Cape of Rodon in Albania. She was beached to prevent her sinking. On 14 October, the Cobra-class torpedo boat Tb 16 torpedoed her, sinking her to prevent Italian forces from capturing her.[2]

Oceania's sister ship Argentina was also requisitioned as a hospital ship in 1918. She survived both world wars, and was scrapped in 1960.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Argentina". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Oceania". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Haws 2001, p. 103
  4. ↑ Lloyd's Register 1908, OCE
  5. ↑ Lloyd's Register 1910, OCE.
  6. ↑ The Marconi Press Agency Ltd 1914, p. 348.
  7. ↑ Haws 2001, p. 104.
  8. ↑ Biddulph, Bruce; Strathdee, Paul (2014). "SS Oceania". Ships built on the Clyde That Were Abandoned. Clyde-Built Ships. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "Naples, Jan. 27". The New York Times. 28 January 1910. p. 2 – via Times Machine.
  10. ↑ "Cholera on New York Ship". The New York Times. 1 July 1911. p. 4 – via Times Machine.
  11. ↑ "Cosulich Line". marine timetable images. Björn Larsson. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.

Bibliography

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