Carolina (1/2)

Shipwreck SS Carolina
Type:
shipwreck, liner, USA
Built:
1896, Newport News VA USA, as La Grande Duchesse
Specs:
( 380 x 47 ft ) 5017 gross tons, 330 passengers & crew
Sunk:
Sunday June 2, 1918
shelled by U-151 - 13 casualties
Depth:
250 ft
NJ Scuba
Black Sunday

A Brief History of the SS Carolina

by John Yurga
Shipwreck SS Carolina

The ship known as the SS Carolina had an interesting history prior to its sinking on June 2, 1918 by the U-151. Between her birthing pains, ownership by three different companies, and a total refit, she made the press time and time again. This history covers the highlights of her career.

In April 1895, The Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company received a $500,000 contract for a passenger/cargo vessel from the Plant Investment Co. Hull No.15 was the first passenger vessel to be built at what was to become one of the pre-eminent shipyards on the East coast. Because competition for shipbuilding work was so fierce at the time, it was said that there would be no profit in building her. The 404' ship was to be powered by twin quadruple-expansion engines with 4 water-tube boilers. She was christened on January 30, 1896, as La Grande Duchesse. Following her completion, she made three local sea trials and then sailed for New York in late November. She was refused by the Plant Co., due to boiler and propeller problems. She came back to the shipyard, adjustments were made, and was finished in September of 1897. Again, she was refused. This time, Newport News decided to get rid of the water-tube boilers in favor of more conventional fire-tube boilers.

Shipwreck SS Carolina
Shipwreck SS Carolina

La Grande Duchesse successfully completed her sea trials in June of 1898, at which point the US government chartered her as a transport during the Spanish-American War. She was finally accepted by the Plant Co. on April 9, 1899 - over 3 years late and $536,000 over contract price. To this day she represents the largest percentage of loss on a contract the yard has ever suffered.

Incredibly, after all the trouble in getting her, La Grande Duchesse was passed to the Ocean Steamship Co. in November 1901 and renamed City of Savannah. Under this name, she ran a coastal service between New York and Charleston, SC. In January 1906, she was sold to the New York and Porto Rico Steamship Co., and renamed Carolina. The NYPR Co. had a regular service to Puerto Rico ( called Porto Rico in those days ) and Cuba involving several vessels. The ship had found a home at last.

Unfortunately, Carolina seemed not to be able to shake off her unlucky past. She had continual problems with her machinery; it seemed that something broke down almost every voyage. She also suffered from excess vibration and had poor steering and handling qualities due to the twin-screw design of the stern. While in drydock at Shooter's Island, NY on November 21, 1907, she was badly damaged by fire.

Shipwreck SS Carolina

By 1913, Carolina needed new boilers. It was decided to completely rebuild the stern of the vessel, changing her from twin-screw to single-screw. This represented the most complete and complex rebuilding of a vessel her size in the US. The entire stern was taken apart, as was her upper and main decks, to access her boilers and engines. Carolina was refitted with one triple-expansion engine and four single-ended boilers. Even with one engine and 3000 horsepower less than before, she now was faster, steered better, and did not suffer from any vibration problems. This was all due to the shape of the stern, allowing her to slip through the water much more gracefully. The work was done by her original building yard, Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., which was happy to finally turn a profit on the ship. She was delivered to New York on March 2, 1914. Just to show she was still the same ship, less than two months later she collided with the Hamburg American liner Cleveland in New York harbor. From then on Carolina seemed content to quietly sail back and forth along her given route until she met up with the U-151 four years later.

Shipwreck SS Carolina
Shipwreck SS Carolina
The boiler of the Carolina
Shipwreck SS Carolina
A porthole
Shipwreck SS Carolina
A broken teapot on the Carolina
Shipwreck SS Carolina
The same teapot, with some other pieces

Original NJScuba website by Tracy Baker Wagner 1994-1996

Shipwreck SS Carolina
C for Carolina
Shipwreck SS Carolina
Some more letters
Shipwreck SS Carolina
Proof positive
Shipwreck SS Carolina
Anchor chain and anchor
Shipwreck SS Carolina
Shipwreck SS Carolina
Shipwreck SS Carolina
Shipwreck SS Carolina
The bridge telegraph
Shipwreck SS Carolina

images: John Chatterton

Courtesy of Dan Crowell

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barge beached
Notice the blocky shape and structure of this stranded but otherwise typical old wooden barge. Barges usually have minimal crews, to tend the lines.

A barge is a vessel that does not have its own means of propulsion ( usually. ) Barges are towed or pushed from place to place by tugboats, or anchored in place to serve as temporary work platforms, floating docks, or storage. Some barges are self-propelled, in a limited way. These are known as scows, and their limited propulsive power restricts them to protected waters without the assistance of a tugboat.

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