SS Ajax (1889)

Ajax.
History
Name:	SS Antiquary (1889–1901) SS Ajax (1901–1917)
Owner:	Torm Dampskibselsskabet
Port of registry:	Newcastle, United Kingdom
Builder:	W. Dobson & Co.
Yard number:	32
Completed:	1889
Maiden voyage:	1889
In service:	1889
Out of service:	25 December 1917
Identification:	95216
Fate:	Torpedoed and sunk
Notes:	Sailed under the name SS Antiquary until 1901
General characteristics
Type:	Cargo ship
Tonnage:	1,018 GRT
Length:	64 metres (210 ft 0 in)
Beam:	9.2 metres (30 ft 2 in)
Depth:	5 metres (16 ft 5 in)
Installed power:	Triple expansion steam engine
Propulsion:	Screw propeller

The SS Ajax was a Danish cargo ship that was torpedoed by SM U-104 in the Bay of Biscay off Audierne, France, while she was travelling from Bilbao, Spain, to Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.

Construction

SS Ajax was constructed in 1889 with yard no. 32 at the W. Dobson & Co. shipyard in Newcastle, United Kingdom. She was completed in 1889 and sailed under the name SS Antiquary under the British flag. She was sold in 1901 to Torm Dampskibselsskabet in Copenhagen, Denmark, where she remained operative until her sinking in 1917.

The ship was 64 metres (210 ft 0 in) long, with a beam of 9.2 metres (30 ft 2 in). She had a depth of 5 metres (16 ft 5 in). The ship was assessed at 1,018 GRT. She had a triple expansion steam engine driving a single screw propeller. The engine was rated at 111 nhp.

Sinking

On 25 December 1917, Ajax was on a voyage in a convoy from Bilbao, Spain, to Cardiff, Wales. At 0200 hrs the Ajax was struck by one torpedo from SM U-104 off Audierne, France (47°53′N 4°32′W / 47.883°N 4.533°W / 47.883; -4.533Coordinates: 47°53′N 4°32′W / 47.883°N 4.533°W / 47.883; -4.533). The torpedo struck in the engine room which made the boilers explode a few seconds later and sent the ship to the bottom of the Bay in just 30 seconds. The survivors reached land in a badly damaged life boat. At the time of her sinking the Ajax was carrying a cargo of iron ore. The ship sank to a depth of over 58 metres (190 ft), along with its cargo and the eleven sailors. It is unknown how many men survived the sinking.^{[1][Note 1]}

Wreck

The wreck sits 54 to 58 metres (177 to 190 ft) deep at 47°53′N 4°32′W / 47.883°N 4.533°W / 47.883; -4.533.

References

Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in December 1917
Shipwrecks	1 Dec: Washington 2 Dec: SM UB-81 6 Dec: USS Jacob Jones, Mont-Blanc, SM UC-69 8 Dec: USS Rush 9 Dec: SM UB-18 10 Dec: SM UB-75, SMS Wien 12 Dec: USS Elizabeth, HMS Partridge, HMS Wolverine 13 Dec: SM U-75 14 Dec: Châteaurenault, SM UC-38 17 Dec: USS F-1 19 Dec: SM UB-56 24 Dec: HMS Penshurst 25 Dec: Ajax, Espagne , SM U-87 30 Dec: HMT Aragon, HMS Attack 31 Dec: USS Fli-Hawk, Vigrid
Other incidents	6 Dec: Halifax Explosion, Imo, Stella Maris, SM U-96 17 Dec: USS F-3 Unknown date: HMS Carysfort
1916 1917 1918 November 1917 January 1918