SS Celtic (II)

SS Celtic (II)

SS Celtic (II) -- Pub. State Publishing Co., Liverpool

Built: 1901, Harland & Wolff, Belfast.
Yard No: 335
Funnels: 2 Masts: 4
Tonnage: 21,035 GRT
Dimensions: 213.4 x 22.9 m / 700 x 75.3 ft.
Engines: Quadruple Expansion by builders.
Twin Screw; 14,000 IHP; 16, max 16.5 kn.
Hull: Steel, 4 Decks, fcsle-105 ft, Bridge-334 ft, Poop-81 ft.
Cargo: 17,000 Tons.
Passengers: 347-1st Class, 160-2nd Class, 2,350-3rd Class
Crew: Not Listed

The company pronounced her name as Sel-tic.

When the Celtic was launched on April 4, 1901, she was the last ship ordered by Thomas Ismay. She was the first of the class known as the 'Big Four'. She was delivered July 11, 1901 and made her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York on July 26, 1901. Until 1903 the Celtic was the largest ship in the world. In February 1902 she made a five week Mediterranean cruise with 800 passengers. In September 1904 she carried 2,957 passengers westbound. At that time that was the largest number carried by the company. On August 4, 1914 she was taken over at Liverpool for war service. On October 20 she was commissioned as an Armed Merchant Cruiser with 8 x 6 in guns. She was then assigned to the 10th Cruiser Squadron on December 4, 1914. In January 1916 she was decommissioned and converted for trooping. On February 15, 1917 off the Isle of Man she was mined. Seventeen killed. Passengers were taken to Holyhead and she was towed to Peel Bay. She was repaired at Belfast and recommissioned at Liverpool. In April 1917 she worked under the Liner Requisition Scheme. On May 19th an attack by the U-57 failed. On March 31, 1918 she was torpedoed in the Irish Sea by UB-77. Six killed. On April 2nd she was towed to Liverpool and repaired there by Harland & Wolff. In 1919 she was returned to her owners and reconditioned at Belfast. In January 1920 she resumed the Liverpool to New York service. Her passenger accommodation had been altered to: 350-1st Class, 250-2nd Class, 1,000-3rd Class. On April 21, 1925 she collided in the Irish Sea with Hampshire Coast of the Coast Line. The Celtic suffered only superficial damage. The Hampshire Coast was much worse off, but made port safely. On January 29, 1927 she collided, off Long Island, with the US Anaconda of the US Shipping Board. Little damage was done to either vessel. In 1928 she was converted to Cabin Class only with accommodation for 2,500. On December 10, 1928, when entering Cobh harbor in a gale, Celtic was driven ashore and eventually became a total loss. The wreck was sold to Petersen and Albeck of Copenhagen and dismantled as she lay. The demolition was finally completed in 1933.