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RMS Georgic (1932)
Encyclopedia
Built at Harland and Wolff
shipyard in Belfast
, the RMS
Georgic was the last ship built for the White Star Line
before its merger with the Cunard Line
. She was the running mate of the Britannic
. Like Britannic, Georgic was a motorship, and not a steamer
, fitted with a diesel
electric powerplant.
–New York
route. She was launched in 1931, and, after fitting out sailed her maiden voyage on 25 June 1932. In 1933, she replaced the aging RMS Olympic
on the Southampton
–New York route for a brief time while that vessel was overhauled. Her design was very similar to that of Britannic
, with a sleek profile and two squat smokestacks. She was equipped with a diesel powerplant which powered electric motors, which in turn drove the propellers. She recorded a top speed of 19 knots on her speed trials. At 711 ft (216.7 m), and a gross tonnage of 27,759 gross tons, she wasn't the greatest liner of her time, but she assisted in keeping the White Star Line
afloat during the Great Depression.
during her major overhaul. On 10 May 1934 the ship became part of the fleet of the newly amalgamated Cunard-White Star Line, and Georgic joined the Britannic
on the London, Southampton, New York route. This made the ship the largest to use the River Thames
. In August 1939 the Georgic returned to the Liverpool to New York route and made five round trips before being requisitioned for trooping duties in the conflicts of World War II
.
, the Georgic was requisitioned by the Admiralty for troopship duties. On 7 July 1941, the Georgic was docked at Port Tewfik
. German aircraft were sweeping the skies in that area and spotted the Georgic, which they proceeded to attack, resulting in two bombs being dropped, with one striking Georgics stern. A large fire ensued, spreading to the ship's dummy funnel which was holding ammunition. This ammunition exploded, seriously damaging the stern area of the vessel. The order was given to abandon ship, with Georgic now sinking by the stern. The ship settled at the bottom of the shallow water and was left to burn out.
On 14 September, the damage to the Georgic was assessed and during October the ship had its holes and openings temporarily plugged and then the water was pumped out to refloat the vessel. An inspection of the ship structure and its engines was then carried out and a decision was made to send the ship back to Harland and Wolff
in Belfast for complete refurbishment into a troopship.
would give her a complete refit. After December 1944, her exterior was altered considerably, with the forward funnel removed and the foremast shortened to a stump. Georgic resumed service as a troop transport, carrying out war duties between Italy, the Middle East and India until 1948, after which she was returned to Cunard-White Star to begin the immigrant service between Liverpool, Australia
, and New Zealand
. In May 1950, however, the ship had returned to the Liverpool to New York service for Cunard. Both she and her sister would retain their White Star Line
colours, and flew their original company flags until both vessels were retired. During the summer of 1951, the ship sailed on the Southampton to New York route. In November 1951, the Georgic was commissioned to carry troops for the Commonwealth Division, fighting for the United nations in the Korean War. She made her final voyage in 1954, and after a brief stint transporting troops home from Japan, she was laid up at Kames Bay, Isle of Bute
, pending disposal. She was scrapped in February 1956 at Faslane.
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
shipyard in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, the RMS
Royal Mail Ship
Royal Mail Ship , usually seen in its abbreviated form RMS, a designation which dates back to 1840, is the ship prefix used for seagoing vessels that carry mail under contract by Royal Mail...
Georgic was the last ship built for the White Star Line
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
before its merger with the Cunard Line
Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
. She was the running mate of the Britannic
RMS Britannic (1929)
RMS Britannic was an ocean liner of the White Star Line, the company's third ship to bear the name. She was built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast. She was launched on 6 August 1929. Like her running mate , Britannic was a motorship powered by diesel engines. She measured 26,943 gross tons and was ...
. Like Britannic, Georgic was a motorship, and not a steamer
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
, fitted with a diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
electric powerplant.
Construction
She was built for the LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
–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...
route. She was launched in 1931, and, after fitting out sailed her maiden voyage on 25 June 1932. In 1933, she replaced the aging RMS Olympic
RMS Olympic
RMS Olympic was the lead ship of the Olympic-class ocean liners built for the White Star Line, which also included Titanic and Britannic...
on the Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
–New York route for a brief time while that vessel was overhauled. Her design was very similar to that of Britannic
RMS Britannic (1929)
RMS Britannic was an ocean liner of the White Star Line, the company's third ship to bear the name. She was built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast. She was launched on 6 August 1929. Like her running mate , Britannic was a motorship powered by diesel engines. She measured 26,943 gross tons and was ...
, with a sleek profile and two squat smokestacks. She was equipped with a diesel powerplant which powered electric motors, which in turn drove the propellers. She recorded a top speed of 19 knots on her speed trials. At 711 ft (216.7 m), and a gross tonnage of 27,759 gross tons, she wasn't the greatest liner of her time, but she assisted in keeping the White Star Line
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
afloat during the Great Depression.
Early career
In January 1933 the Georgic began to sail the Southampton to New York route. This was mainly in order to replace the larger RMS OlympicRMS Olympic
RMS Olympic was the lead ship of the Olympic-class ocean liners built for the White Star Line, which also included Titanic and Britannic...
during her major overhaul. On 10 May 1934 the ship became part of the fleet of the newly amalgamated Cunard-White Star Line, and Georgic joined the Britannic
RMS Britannic (1929)
RMS Britannic was an ocean liner of the White Star Line, the company's third ship to bear the name. She was built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast. She was launched on 6 August 1929. Like her running mate , Britannic was a motorship powered by diesel engines. She measured 26,943 gross tons and was ...
on the London, Southampton, New York route. This made the ship the largest to use the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
. In August 1939 the Georgic returned to the Liverpool to New York route and made five round trips before being requisitioned for trooping duties in the conflicts of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Wartime career
After the outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Georgic was requisitioned by the Admiralty for troopship duties. On 7 July 1941, the Georgic was docked at Port Tewfik
Gulf of Suez
The northern end of the Red Sea is bifurcated by the Sinai Peninsula, creating the Gulf of Suez in the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east. The Gulf of Suez is formed within a relatively young, but now inactive rift basin, the Gulf of Suez Rift, dating back about 28 million years...
. German aircraft were sweeping the skies in that area and spotted the Georgic, which they proceeded to attack, resulting in two bombs being dropped, with one striking Georgics stern. A large fire ensued, spreading to the ship's dummy funnel which was holding ammunition. This ammunition exploded, seriously damaging the stern area of the vessel. The order was given to abandon ship, with Georgic now sinking by the stern. The ship settled at the bottom of the shallow water and was left to burn out.
On 14 September, the damage to the Georgic was assessed and during October the ship had its holes and openings temporarily plugged and then the water was pumped out to refloat the vessel. An inspection of the ship structure and its engines was then carried out and a decision was made to send the ship back to Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
in Belfast for complete refurbishment into a troopship.
Refurbishment and later service
In the next month Georgic had her hull made watertight and more temporary plugging of the hull was carried out. Georgic was then towed stern first to Port Sudan where she had major structual repairs carried out, and her hull and engines were made ready for service. After a year she arrived in Bombay, where further repairs were carried out. In January, 1943 she left Bombay for Belfast, where Harland and WolffHarland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
would give her a complete refit. After December 1944, her exterior was altered considerably, with the forward funnel removed and the foremast shortened to a stump. Georgic resumed service as a troop transport, carrying out war duties between Italy, the Middle East and India until 1948, after which she was returned to Cunard-White Star to begin the immigrant service between Liverpool, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. In May 1950, however, the ship had returned to the Liverpool to New York service for Cunard. Both she and her sister would retain their White Star Line
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
colours, and flew their original company flags until both vessels were retired. During the summer of 1951, the ship sailed on the Southampton to New York route. In November 1951, the Georgic was commissioned to carry troops for the Commonwealth Division, fighting for the United nations in the Korean War. She made her final voyage in 1954, and after a brief stint transporting troops home from Japan, she was laid up at Kames Bay, Isle of Bute
Isle of Bute
Bute is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Formerly part of the county of Buteshire, it now constitutes part of the council area of Argyll and Bute. Its resident population was 7,228 in April 2001.-Geography:...
, pending disposal. She was scrapped in February 1956 at Faslane.
Further reading
- Kerbrech, Richard P de. The Last Liners of the White Star Line. Shipping Press Books. 2002.