SS Laurentic (I)

SS Laurentic (I) -- Pub. State Publishing Co.

Built: 1908, Harland & Wolff, Belfast.    Yard No: 394 Funnels: 1   Masts: 2 Tonnage: 14,892 GRT Dimensions: 172.2 x 20.5 m / 565 x 67.3 ft. Engines: Triple Expansion by builders, plus Low Pressure Turbine by Brown. Triple Screw;  11,000 IHP;  16, max 16.5 kn. Hull: Steel, 3 Decks Passengers: 230-1st Class, 430-2nd Class, 1,000-3rd Class Crew: Not Listed.

In 1907 she was laid down as Alberta for the Dominion Line to match the Allen and Canadian Pacific competition. Her propulsion was new and became very successfully introduced into ensuing White Star liners. She was launched on September 9, 1908 as Laurentic for the White Star Line. She was one of the largest liners on the Canadian route, but not the fastest, and marked White Star's entry on the berth. The Laurentic and Megantic were marketed as 'The White Star - Dominion Joint Service'. When Laurentic vacated her slip it was earmarked for Olympic. She was delivered April 15, 1909 and made her maiden voyage on April 29, 1909 from Liverpool to Montreal via Quebec. In 1911 the Laurentic held the record for the Canadian route with a round trip time of 13 days, 4 hours. On September 13, 1914 at Montreal, she became a Canadian Expeditionary Force troop transport for 1,800 men. On September 26th she made her first troop sailing from Montreal. On October 3rd she joined the famed 32 troopship convoy in Gaspe Bay which carried 35,000 Canadian troops to Europe. With four others of the 'Blue Squadron', Royal George, Lapland, Virginian, and Tunisian, she anchored at Plymouth on October 14th. In 1915 she was converted into an Armed Merchant Cruiser. On January 25, 1917, on a voyage from Liverpool to Halifax, the Laurentic ran into two mines of a field laid by the German submarine U-80 off Malin Head, Northern Ireland. The ship capsized and sank very quickly in 120 ft. of water with a loss of 354 lives out of 475 aboard. Fifteen boats got clear but many men died of exposure in bitter winter conditions. The Laurentic was carrying a cargo of gold bullion worth 5 million British Pounds, the recovery of which by diving teams lasted until 1924. Only 25 out of 3,211 bars of gold were not recovered after 5,000 dives.

SS Laurentic (I) -- Pub. State Publishing Co.

SS Laurentic (I) -- Pub. Raphael Tuck & Sons'

SS Laurentic (I) -- Abstract of Log Card -- Liverpool to Montreal -- September 17 thru 23, 1910

SS Laurentic (I) -- Fold Over Menu Card -- September 23, 1910

SS Laurentic (I) -- 2nd Class Breakfast Menu/Postcard -- May 29, 1910 Back of card mentions "The Largest Steamers in the World -- Building, Olympic & Titanic"

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