The R.M.S. Campania

Built in Glasgow, its maiden voyage was on 22 April 1893. In less than two months, the Campania set new speed records for the Atlantic crossing. With a maximum speed of 23 knots, the trip from Queensland (Cobh), Ireland to New York now took just 5 days 17 hours and 27 minutes. Then in August 1894 she made her fastest crossing in 5 days, 9 hours, and 21 minutes at an average speed of 21.59 knots. In 1900 while traveling at 10 knots, she collided with the barque Embleton in thick fog in St. George’s Channel in the Irish Sea. The Embleton was sliced into two and sank with the loss of 11 lives.

The Campania set the standard for transatlantic travel for the next four years. In 1901 she became the first ship ever to be fitted with a Marconi Wireless Telegraph. By April 1914 she had completed 250 round voyages. In 1914, the ship was converted to an aircraft carrier and used in the Great War.

On October 15, 1914 she was sold to T.W. Ward for breaking up, but on November 27, 1914 the British Admiralty bought the ship and had her re-built as an aircraft carrier by Cammell, Laird & Co, Birkenhead. In April 1916 she entered service as the HMS Campania. On November 5, 1918 the Campania’s anchor chain broke in a storm in the Firth of Forth. The ship was driven against the projecting forefoot of the HMS Revenge, and was so badly damaged that she sank. All crew were saved.