RMS Moldavia

Coordinates: 50°23.13′N 0°28.72′W / 50.38550°N 0.47867°W / 50.38550; -0.47867

RMS Moldavia
Career (UK)
Name:	RMS Moldavia
Owner:	P&O Steam Navigation Co
Port of registry:
Builder:	Caird & Company, Greenock, Scotland
Yard number:	301
Fate:	Bought by the Admiralty in 1915 and converted into an armed merchant cruiser.
Career (UK)
Name:	HMS Moldavia
Port of registry:
Acquired:	1915
Fate:	Torpedoed and sunk 23 May 1918. 56 soldiers from the USA died.
Status:	Wreck
General characteristics
Class and type:	P&O M-class passenger liner
Tonnage:	9,500 tons
Length:	520 ft (160 m)
Beam:	58.3 ft (17.8 m)
Draught:	24.8 ft (7.6 m)
Installed power:	2 triple expansion steam engines
Speed:	18.5 knots (34.3 km/h)
Capacity:	348 first class passengers 166 saloon class passengers

The RMS Moldavia was a passenger steamship owned by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.^[1] She was launched on 28 March 1903 and travelled the England — Australia route via the Suez Canal.

The Moldavia was purchased by the Admiralty in 1915 and converted into an armed merchant cruiser. She was torpedoed and sunk on 23 May 1918 off Beachy Head in the English Channel by a single torpedo from the German Type UB III submarine SM UB-57. At the time she was serving as a troopship for United States troops.^[1][2] Moldavia's sinking resulted in the deaths of 56 soldiers on board, and all of them were from the United States of America.

Building

The Moldavia was built by Caird & Company of Greenock, Scotland for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. Her yard number was 301 and she was launched on 28 March 1903. The completed ship was 520 ft (160 m) in length, a beam of 58.3 ft (17.8 m) and a draught of 24.8 ft (7.6 m). Her gross tonnage was 9,500.^[1] Coal bunkerage was 2,000 tons and cargo about 3,500 tons. Moldavia was built for 348 first and 166 saloon class passengers.^[3]

See also

• 58th Infantry Regiment (United States)
• List of shipwrecks
• Recreational diving
• Shipwrecks

References