RMS Transylvania (1925)

British ocean liner, later armed merchant cruiser

See also: SS Transylvania (1914)

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]

## History

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### Construction

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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]

### Ocean Liner Career

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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]

### Second World War

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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.

## References

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1. ^ "Transylvania (2), Anchor Line". Norway Heritage.
2. ^ a b "HMS Transylvania (F56)". Wreck site.
3. ^ "S.S. TRANSYLVANIA". Technical and historical data.
4. ^ "HMS Transylvania (F56)". uboat.net. Retrieved 21 November 2010.

## Bibliography

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

* v
* t
* e

Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in August 1940

Shipwrecks|

* 1 Aug: HMS Oswald, HMS Spearfish
* 3 Aug: U-25
* 7 Aug: Mohamed Ali El-Kebir
* 8 Aug: Ajax, Empire Crusader, Ouse
* 10 Aug: HMS Transylvania
* 15 Aug: Elli
* 19 Aug: HMS Corfu
* 20 Aug: U-51
* 21 Aug: Anglo Saxon
* 22 Aug: Iride
* 23 Aug: HMS Hostile
* 24 Aug: USS Peacock, HMS Penzance
* 25 Aug: Stakesby
* 28 Aug: HMS Dunvegan Castle
* 29 Aug: I-67
* 30 Aug: Mill Hill
* 31 Aug: HMS Esk, Har Zion
* Unknown date: J. W. Clise

Other incidents|

* 11 Aug: Ceramic, Testbank
* 18 Aug: Von der Groeben
* 23 Aug: Düsseldorf
* 26 Aug: I-58
* 31 Aug: HMS Express, Volendam

1939 1940 1941
July 1940 September 1940

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))
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