SS Simla

SS Simla

P&O PH-05538-00
History
Name	SS Simla
Owner	Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, Greenock
Builder	Caird & Company, Greenock
Yard number	275
Launched	13 Oct 1894
Completed	1895
In service	1895
Out of service	2 Apr 1916
Fate	Torpedoed & sunk
General characteristics
Type	Passenger / cargo
Tonnage	5,884 tons
Length	430.0 ft (131.06m)
Beam	49.3 ft (15.03m)
Depth	29.9 ft (9.07m)
Propulsion	single screw
Speed	15 knots (27.78 km/h)
Capacity	160 crew + 90 x 1st; 66 x 2nd class

Remarks

Built for the P & O Line in 1895 and used on the India route. Seems to have been originally known as SS Madras but was launched as SS Simla. She was used on Indian services and trooping as required.

SS Simlar was torpedoed & sunk by the German submarine U-49 on 2 Apr 1916 - obviously after disembarking Thomas Herbert Ludlow and others in Marseilles, 3 days earlier.

"The British SS Simla, while making 11 knots, 45 miles West North West of Gozo, Malta when outward from Marseille, was torpedoed without warning in the Mediterranean. The explosion made a hole in her port side 30 feet by 8 feet in size, and the engines stopped of themselves. This took place at 1 pm. Boats were lowered, and 150 of the crew embarked, the remaining 10, who were Asiatic firemen, having been killed by the explosion. After the ship had been abandoned a submarine appeared and fired seven shells into her, sinking her at 2.30 pm The survivors were picked up by a French patrolboat at 5 pm on the same day. "

Soldiers carried

Alexandria to Marseilles 23 - 30 Mar 1916

• Thomas Herbert Ludlow