The Holland-Amerika Line wanted to promote their shipping compnay and give some much needed attention to their country. They approached Belfast shipbuilders Harland and Wolff to build them a new 30,000 tonne liner, Statendam, and in 1912, the keel was laid. She was launched two years later on June 9th, 1914 and fitting out began almost immediatly. Holland-Amerika looked on exitedly and looked forward to entering their new ship into Atlantic service.
After the beginning of the First World War, the Statendam sat idle in the Belfast shipping yards. In 1915, the Statendam was chosen as a trooper for the British government because of her size. Harland and Wolff began work again on the ship. To save on sheet metal, her funnels were made smaller, giving the ship a strange look, but she was still a graceful beauty.
Statendam was ready for trooping by April 9th, 1917, being able to carry 4000 troops. She was also given a new name, Justicia, latin for Justice. The ship was going to be sailed by Cunard, hence the 'ia' suffix, and was to be handed over to them after the war.
Cunard however were unable to muster a crew for the ship, and the admiralty wanted the ship in service as soon as possible, so they offered it to White Star. White Star had the recently sunken Britannic's crew available, and Justicia was soon in service.
In 1918, the Justicia's hull was painted in dazzle paint to confuse enemy U-boats. On July 19th, Justicia was travelling from Belfast to New York. When she was 23 miles south of Skerryvore, Scotland, a torpedo slammed into her side, fired from the U-boat UB-64. Justicia developed a serious list, but her compartments kept her afloat and she continued on her way, aided by destroyers and escourts. Dispite the protection UB-64 was able to get another clean shot. Two more torpedoes streaked towards Justicia, both slamming into her side. She still refused to sink, although most of the crew was evacuated, leaving only a small crew force on the ship.
Unable to use her engines, she was taken in tow by the HMS Sonia to the waters of Lough Swilley where is was shallow enough to beach her. The UB-64 was still stalking its prey and fired a fourth torpedo towards the ship. The U-boat, now damged scuttled away from the listing ship, but had already radioed her position to other U-Boats. The next day, Justicia, still afloat was greeted angrily by UB-124. At 9:00am, the U-boat fired two more torpedoes into her side. Unable to survive the last two hits, by noon, she had rolled over and sank. Sixteen people in the engine room were lost.
Today, Justicia lies in just 68 metres of water 28 miles off Malin Heads, and is in very good condition. She is often visited by divers, however, no photos of her wreck could be obtained. |
