RMS Carinthia (1925)

RMS "Carinthia" was first laid down in Barrow-in-Furness in 1924 with the yard number Hull 586. Originally she had the name "Servia" but was renamed at the time of her launching on 24 February 1925. She made her maiden voyage on August 22, 1925 from Liverpool to New York. At her launch she was the largest of the five post First World War intermediate size liners. [Famous Liners and their stories By Alan L. Cary. Page 40, published: London . Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd. ]

Features

RMS "Carinthia" was noted for her comfortable accommodation in 3rd class. The dining room provided small tables for travelling parties of family and friends, an innovation at the time. [Famous Liners and their stories By Alan L. Cary. Page 40, published: London . Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd. ] There was also a smoking room and small library and a shop for the third class passengers needs. The first class restaurant was called the Adams room and had silver lamps on each table. The ship was also well equipped for sport with an arena that covered 5,000 square feet over two decks and included a swimming pool, gymnasium, racket courts and shower and bath rooms for massage treatments. On the “A” deck there was the 1st class smoke room which had been modelled after the house of El Greco, the Spanish painter, the room also contained an American bar. The first class lounge was furnished and decorated to represent the period of King William of Orange. On the boat deck there were thirty lifeboats and two motor launches.

ervice

The "Carinthia" plied the Atlantic on the Liverpool-Boston-New York route. She was also used for cruising. In 1931 her passenger accommodation was altered. Instead of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Classes, she now had Cabin Class, Tourist Class and 3rd Class. During 1933 she made a world cruise calling at 40 ports including Tristan da Cunha, (known as the remotest island on the planet) covering 40,000 miles. In 1933 RMS "Carinthia" received an SOS from the Latvian steamer "Andromeda" which had struck an unknown submerged object. The incident had happened eighty miles from Ushant in the English Channel but "Carinthia" had been too far away to make a rescue and the ship sank. The crew of the steamer were rescued by the steamship "Hartside".

In 1934 she was transferred to the London – Le Havre – Southampton – New York route. From 1935 till 1939 she was reverted to New York and used for Winter cruising. Her hull was painted white with a green boot-topping for the cruising duties. In 1939 she was converted into an armed merchant cruiser and was re-named HMS "Carinthia". On June 6, 1940 the "Carinthia" was torpedoed off the Irish Coast in coordinates 53º 13’ N - 10º 40’ W by the German submarine "U-46". The badly damaged ship remained afloat for 30 hours before she sank during the evening of June 7. Four of the crew lost their lives.

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