RMS Fort Victoria
Encyclopedia
Fort Victoria was a 7,784 GRT cruise ship which was built in 1912 as Willochra. During the First World War she was requisitioned for use as a troopship
. In 1920 she was sold and renamed Fort Victoria, serving until lost in a collision in 1929.
, Dalmuir
, West Dunbartonshire
. She was yard number 507 and was launched on 14 August 1912. Completion was on 7 February 1913. Willochra was built for the Adelaide Steamship Company
. Her identical sister ships, also built by William Beardmore and Company, were SS Warilda
(1911) and Wandilla
(1912).
In 1913, Willochra was chartered
by the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand
. She was used as a troopship. In November 1914, Willochra was requisitioned, continuing her trooping duties. In 1919, Willochra was sold to Furness Withy
. She was refitted and renamed Fort Victoria. Initially, she was operated by the Quebec Steamship Co, Montreal
but in 1921 she was transferred to the Bermuda & West Indies Steamship Co, Hamilton
, Bermuda
. Both companies were owned by Furness Withy.
On 18 December 1929, Fort Victoria sailed from New York Harbor
for Hamilton with just over 200 passenger on board. The weather at the time was dense fog, and Fort Victoria stopped to await an improvement in conditions. While anchored, she was hit by the Clyde-Mallory Line's , a liner which was on a voyage from Galveston, Texas
to New York
. Algonquin cut into the port side of Fort Victoria. Distress calls were made by both ships, which were answered by the United States Coast Guard
and other ships in the area. All on board Fort Victoria were rescued before the ship sank later that day. The position of the wreck is 40°28′27"N 73°53′13"W. To replace Fort Victoria, a contract was given to Vickers-Armstrong's
to build the , which entered service in 1933.
.
Troopship
A troopship is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime...
. In 1920 she was sold and renamed Fort Victoria, serving until lost in a collision in 1929.
History
Willochra was built by William Beardmore & Co LtdWilliam Beardmore and Company
William Beardmore and Company was a Scottish engineering and shipbuilding conglomerate based in Glasgow and the surrounding Clydeside area. It was active between about 1890 and 1930 and at its peak employed about 40,000 people...
, Dalmuir
Dalmuir
Dalmuir is an area on the western side of Clydebank, in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland.-Location:It is neighboured by the village of Old Kilpatrick, the Mountblow and Parkhall areas of Clydebank, as well as the town centre...
, West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland. Bordering onto the west of the City of Glasgow, containing many of Glasgow's commuter towns and villages as well as the city's suburbs, West Dunbartonshire also borders onto Argyll and Bute, Stirling, East...
. She was yard number 507 and was launched on 14 August 1912. Completion was on 7 February 1913. Willochra was built for the Adelaide Steamship Company
Adelaide Steamship Company
The Adelaide Steamship Company was formed by a group of South Australian businessmen in 1875. Their aim was to control the transport of goods between Adelaide and Melbourne and profit from the need for an efficient and comfortable passenger service...
. Her identical sister ships, also built by William Beardmore and Company, were SS Warilda
HMAT Warilda
HMAT Warilda was a 7713 ton vessel, built by William Beardmore and Company in Glasgow as the SS Warilda for the Adelaide Steamship Company...
(1911) and Wandilla
HMAT Wandilla
The SS Wandilla 7785 tons, was built in 1912 by William Beardmore and Company, Glasgow for the Adelaide Steamship Company.-Design and construction:...
(1912).
In 1913, Willochra was chartered
Bareboat charter
A bareboat charter is an arrangement for the chartering or hiring of a ship or boat, whereby no crew or provisions are included as part of the agreement; instead, the people who rent the vessel from the owner are responsible for taking care of such things....
by the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand
Union Company
The Union Company, Union Steam Ship Company , or Union Line was started in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1875, when it was floated by James Mills, who had been clerk to Johnny Jones and his Harbour Steam Company....
. She was used as a troopship. In November 1914, Willochra was requisitioned, continuing her trooping duties. In 1919, Willochra was sold to Furness Withy
Furness Withy
Furness Withy was a major British transport business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange.-History:The Company was founded by Christopher Furness and Henry Withy in 1891 in Hartlepool. This was achieved by the amalgamation of the Furness Line of steamers with the business of Edward Withy and...
. She was refitted and renamed Fort Victoria. Initially, she was operated by the Quebec Steamship Co, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
but in 1921 she was transferred to the Bermuda & West Indies Steamship Co, Hamilton
Hamilton, Bermuda
Hamilton is the capital of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. It is the territory's financial centre and a major port and tourist destination.-Geography:...
, Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
. Both companies were owned by Furness Withy.
On 18 December 1929, Fort Victoria sailed from New York Harbor
New York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
for Hamilton with just over 200 passenger on board. The weather at the time was dense fog, and Fort Victoria stopped to await an improvement in conditions. While anchored, she was hit by the Clyde-Mallory Line's , a liner which was on a voyage from Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Algonquin cut into the port side of Fort Victoria. Distress calls were made by both ships, which were answered by the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
and other ships in the area. All on board Fort Victoria were rescued before the ship sank later that day. The position of the wreck is 40°28′27"N 73°53′13"W. To replace Fort Victoria, a contract was given to Vickers-Armstrong's
Vickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
to build the , which entered service in 1933.
Description
The ship was a 7,714 GRT cruise ship. She was 411 in 7 in (125.45 m) long with a beam of 56 in 7 in (17.25 m). She was powered by two quadruple expansion steam engines which could propel her at 16 knots (31.4 km/h). As Fort Victoria she was fitted up for 400 first class passengers, no lower class accommodation being provided.Model
A boardroom model of Willochra is in the possession of the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, Newport Beach, CaliforniaNewport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
.