Sussex (French passenger ferry)
Encyclopedia
Sussex was a cross-channel passenger ferry, which was built in 1896 by William Denny and Brothers
, Dumbarton for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
(LBSCR). She became the focus of an international incident when she was torpedoed by a German U-Boat
in 1916. Although severely damaged, she was repaired post-war and sold to Greece in 1919, being renamed Aghia Sophia. Following a fire in 1921, the ship was scrapped.
. These could propel her at 20.5 knots (40.2 km/h).
- Dieppe
route. In 1913, Sussex was replaced by the and was laid up. She was sold in 1914 to the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l'État Français, remaining under the management of the LBSCR. During the First World War, shipping from Newhaven was diverted to operate from Folkestone
in order to free Newhaven for supplying British troops on the Western Front.
On 24 March 1916, Sussex was on a voyage from Folkestone
to Dieppe when she was torpedo
ed by . The ship was severely damaged, with the entire bow forward of the bridge blown off. Some of the lifeboats
were launched, but at least two of them capsized and some passengers were drowned. Of the 53 crew and 325 passengers, at least 50 were killed, although a figure of between 80 and 100 is also suggested. Sussex remained afloat and was eventually towed stern-first into Boulogne
harbour.
The dead including the celebrated Spanish composer Enrique Granados
and his wife Amparo. Several Americans were injured, but none were killed. However, although no US citizens were killed, the incident enraged public opinion in the United States of America, and caused a heated diplomatic exchange between the US and German governments. In May 1916, Germany issued a declaration, the so-called Sussex pledge
, which effectively represented the suspension of the "intensified"
U-boat campaign.
Between 1 and 3 January 1917, , , , , assisted in the salvage of Sussex, each ship receiving a portion of the salvage money. Sussex remained in France, and was used by the Marine Nationale at Le Havre
. She was repaired post-war, and in 1920 was sold to D Demetriades, Piraeus
, being renamed Aghia Sophia. She was scrapped in 1921 following damage sustained in a fire.
William Denny and Brothers
William Denny and Brothers Limited, and often referred to simply as Denny, were a Scottish shipbuilding company.-History:The Company was founded by Peter Denny in 1840 and based in Dumbarton, on the River Clyde. Although the Denny yard was situated near the junction of the River Clyde and the River...
, Dumbarton for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
(LBSCR). She became the focus of an international incident when she was torpedoed by a German U-Boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
in 1916. Although severely damaged, she was repaired post-war and sold to Greece in 1919, being renamed Aghia Sophia. Following a fire in 1921, the ship was scrapped.
Description
Sussex was 275 in 0 in (83.82 m) long, with a beam of 34 in 1 in (10.39 m). She had a GRT of 1,565 and a NRT of 328. She was powered by two four-cylinder triple expansion steam engines, of 308 nhpNHP
NHP may refer to:* National Historical Park* Necrotising hepatopancreatitis* Nevada Highway Patrol* Nominal Horse Power* Non-human primate* New Harbinger Publications...
. These could propel her at 20.5 knots (40.2 km/h).
History
Sussex was built by William Denny & Bros Ltd for the LBSCR. She was launched on 30 April 1896. She served on the NewhavenNewhaven, East Sussex
Newhaven is a town in the Lewes District of East Sussex in England. It lies at the mouth of the River Ouse, on the English Channel coast, and is a ferry port for services to France.-Origins:...
- Dieppe
Dieppe, Seine-Maritime
Dieppe is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in France. In 1999, the population of the whole Dieppe urban area was 81,419.A port on the English Channel, famous for its scallops, and with a regular ferry service from the Gare Maritime to Newhaven in England, Dieppe also has a popular pebbled...
route. In 1913, Sussex was replaced by the and was laid up. She was sold in 1914 to the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l'État Français, remaining under the management of the LBSCR. During the First World War, shipping from Newhaven was diverted to operate from Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
in order to free Newhaven for supplying British troops on the Western Front.
On 24 March 1916, Sussex was on a voyage from Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
to Dieppe when she was torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
ed by . The ship was severely damaged, with the entire bow forward of the bridge blown off. Some of the lifeboats
Lifeboat (shipboard)
A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable watercraft carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard ship. In the military, a lifeboat may be referred to as a whaleboat, dinghy, or gig. The ship's tenders of cruise ships often double as lifeboats. Recreational sailors sometimes...
were launched, but at least two of them capsized and some passengers were drowned. Of the 53 crew and 325 passengers, at least 50 were killed, although a figure of between 80 and 100 is also suggested. Sussex remained afloat and was eventually towed stern-first into Boulogne
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
harbour.
The dead including the celebrated Spanish composer Enrique Granados
Enrique Granados
Enrique Granados y Campiña was a Spanish pianist and composer of classical music. His music is in a uniquely Spanish style and, as such, representative of musical nationalism...
and his wife Amparo. Several Americans were injured, but none were killed. However, although no US citizens were killed, the incident enraged public opinion in the United States of America, and caused a heated diplomatic exchange between the US and German governments. In May 1916, Germany issued a declaration, the so-called Sussex pledge
Sussex pledge
The Sussex pledge was a promise made in 1916 during World War I by Germany to the United States prior to the latter's entry into the war. Early in 1916, Germany had instituted a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, allowing armed merchant ships – but not passenger ships – to be torpedoed...
, which effectively represented the suspension of the "intensified"
Intensified submarine warfare
Intensified submarine warfare is the English-language term used to describe the form of submarine warfare practiced by Germany in the first months of 1916...
U-boat campaign.
Between 1 and 3 January 1917, , , , , assisted in the salvage of Sussex, each ship receiving a portion of the salvage money. Sussex remained in France, and was used by the Marine Nationale at Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
. She was repaired post-war, and in 1920 was sold to D Demetriades, Piraeus
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
, being renamed Aghia Sophia. She was scrapped in 1921 following damage sustained in a fire.