RMS Transylvania (1925)

Postcard of the Transylvania
History
United Kingdom
Name	RMS Transylvania
Namesake	Transylvania
Owner	Anchor Line
Builder	Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, Glasgow
Launched	11 March 1925
In service	September 1925
Out of service	August 1939
Fate	Acquired by the Royal Navy
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Transylvania
Operator	Royal Navy
Acquired	August 1939
Commissioned	5 October 1939
Identification	Pennant number: F56
Fate	Torpedoed and sunk 10 August 1940
General characteristics
Type	Ocean Liner
Tonnage	16,923 GRT
Length	552 ft (168 m)
Beam	70.2 ft (21.4 m)
Propulsion	twin steam turbine engines
Speed	15.5 knots (28.7 km/h; 17.8 mph)
Armament	8 × 6 in (152 mm) Mk. VII guns 2 × 3 in (76 mm) anti-aircraft guns

RMS Transylvania was a British ocean liner. She was launched on 11 March 1925 for the Anchor Line and was the sister ship to the SS California and RMS Caledonia. She was converted into an armed merchant cruiser, pennant F56 during World War II. On 10 August 1940, HMS Transylvania was torpedoed and sunk by the German U-boat U-56.^[1]

Transylvania was built in Glasgow, Scotland, by the Fairfield company, Yard No. 595. She was 552 feet (168 m) long and 70.2 feet (21.4 m) wide. The liner had twin propellers with a service speed of 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h; 17.8 mph).^[2] Transylvania had three funnels but only required one; three funnels were more visually appealing and attracted more passengers than her similar-looking fleetmates which only had one funnel each.^[2]

Transylvania was completed on 2 September 1925 and sailed from Glasgow to New York on her maiden voyage ten days later. Transylvania could carry 279 passengers in First Class, 344 in Second Class and 800 in Third Class for a total of 1,423 people. On 28 March 1929, Transylvania ran aground in the fog at La Coeque Rocks, 10 nmi (19 km; 12 mi) west of Cherbourg. In Cherbourg, she disembarked her passengers and then sailed to the Clyde for repairs. In 1930, there was a change in ship passenger accommodation with the increase in international tourism.^[3]

In September 1939, the liner was requisitioned by the Royal Navy as an armed merchant cruiser and Transylvania was assigned to the 10th Cruiser Squadron and served in the Northern Patrol, which was responsible for the naval blockade against the Germans. On 10 August 1940, off Malin Head, Ireland, she was torpedoed by U-56. Transylvania was towed by the stern but sank before reaching land. A total of 36 people died.^[4] The wreck lies at a depth of 134 m (440 ft) about 30 nmi (56 km; 35 mi) north of Tory Island.

• Osborne, Richard; Spong, Harry & Grover, Tom (2007). Armed Merchant Cruisers 1878–1945. Windsor, UK: World Warship Society. ISBN 978-0-9543310-8-5.

55°47′06″N 8°13′12″W / 55.785°N 8.22°W / 55.785; -8.22 (Location of the wreck of the RMS Transylvania (1925))