SS ''Zealandic'' was a British

ocean liner An ocean liner is a type of passenger ship primarily used for transportation across seas or oceans. Ocean liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes (such as for pleasure cruises or as hospital ships). The ...

initially operated by

White Star Line The White Star Line was a British shipping line. Founded out of the remains of a defunct Packet trade, packet company, it gradually grew to become one of the most prominent shipping companies in the world, providing passenger and cargo service ...

. She was used both as a passenger liner and a cargo ship as well as serving during both world wars. As "Fleet tender C" she was used as a decoy for the British aircraft carrier HMS ''Hermes''. She was sunk en route to the dock where she was to be converted back to cargo use.

History

''Zealandic'' was constructed by

Harland and Wolff Harland & Wolff Holdings plc is a British shipbuilding and Metal fabrication, fabrication company headquartered in London with sites in Belfast, Arnish yard, Arnish, Appledore, Torridge, Appledore and Methil. It specialises in ship repair, ship ...

in Belfast, launched on 29 June 1911, and made her maiden voyage on 30 October 1911, from

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

Wellington Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand (second largest in the North Island ...

, New Zealand. She was used in joint service with the Shaw Savill and Albion Line for the Liverpool to Wellington route. During one such voyage on 22 January 1913, ''Zealandic'' departed Wellington with a then record cargo of exported wool, while also being chartered as an immigrant carrier by the Australian government.

First World War

On 2 July 1915 she had a close encounter with German submarine '' U-39'' which pursued her; the ship's speed enabled her to escape. She remained in White Star Line service on the route until 1917 when, due to the First World War, she was commandeered by the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

for the transportation of troops. On 15 June 1919, she was released from military service and returned to the White Star Line.

Between the wars

The ship was awarded £6,350 following the successful rescue of the disabled sailing vessel ''Garthsnaid'' in 1923. ''Zealandic'' towed ''Garthsnaid'' to safety between

Cape Howe Cape Howe is a coastal headland in eastern Australia, forming the south-eastern end of the Black-Allan Line, a portion of the border between New South Wales and Victoria. History Cape Howe was named by Captain Cook Captain James Cook ...

and

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

. The

Aberdeen Line The Aberdeen Line was a shipping company founded in 1825 by George Thompson (shipowner), George Thompson of Aberdeen to take sailing vessels to the St. Lawrence river, carrying some passengers and returning with cargoes of timber. The business ...

purchased ''Zealandic'' in 1926 and subsequently renamed her ''Mamilius''. The ship was later transferred back to Shaw Savill and Albion in 1932, and renamed ''Mamari''. When White Star line merged with

Cunard The Cunard Line ( ) is a British shipping and an international cruise line based at Carnival House at Southampton, England, operated by Carnival UK and owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. Since 2011, Cunard and its four ships have been r ...

in 1934 she served on Shaw, Savill & Albion's Australian route, bearing the name ''Mamari III''.

Second World War

The ship was sold in September 1939 to the

Admiralty Admiralty most often refers to: *Admiralty, Hong Kong * Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964 *The rank of admiral *Admiralty law Admiralty can also refer to: Buildings * Admiralty, Tra ...

for military service during the Second World War, and was refitted to be disguised as the British carrier HMS ''Hermes''. In this form she carried the name " Fleet Tender C". On 4 June 1941, while on course for Chatham Docks in

Kent Kent is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Essex across the Thames Estuary to the north, the Strait of Dover to the south-east, East Sussex to the south-west, Surrey to the west, and Gr ...

to be converted back to a cargo vessel, she was attacked by German aircraft off the English coast near

Cromer Cromer ( ) is a coastal town and civil parish on the north coast of the North Norfolk district of the county of Norfolk, England. It is north of Norwich, northwest of North Walsham and east of Sheringham on the North Sea coastline. The local ...

Norfolk Norfolk ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in England, located in East Anglia and officially part of the East of England region. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and eas ...

. While trying to evade the attack she struck a submerged wreck (the ''Ahamo'' at 53-22N, 0-59E which had struck a mine on 8 April that year) and ran aground. She was intended to be salvaged and refloated; however, before this was possible the beached ship was torpedoed by German

E-boat E-boat was the Western Allies' designation for the fast attack craft (German: ''Schnellboot'', or ''S-Boot'', meaning "fast boat"; plural ''Schnellboote'') of the Kriegsmarine of Nazi Germany during World War II; ''E-boat'' could refer to a pat ...

s. The crew were taken off by the rescue tug ''Sabine'' and landed at

Grimsby Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town in Lincolnshire, England with a population of 86,138 (as of 2021). It is located near the mouth on the south bank of the Humber that flows to the North Sea. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes dir ...

Notes

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Zealandic Passenger ships of the United Kingdom Ships of the White Star Line 1911 ships Ships built in Belfast Ocean liners of the United Kingdom Troop ships of the Royal Navy Maritime incidents in June 1941 World War II shipwrecks in the North Sea Ships built by Harland and Wolff Ships of the Aberdeen Line