HMHS Rewa
From Our Contribution
 | |
 U-55 on being taken over by the Japanese Navy in 1919 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMHS Rewa |
| Owner | British India Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., Glasgow |
| Builder | William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton |
| Yard number | 762 |
| Launched | 14 Feb 1906 |
| Completed | 7 Jun 1906 |
| In service | 1906 |
| Out of service | 4 Jan 1918 |
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Steamship |
| Tonnage | 7,308 tons |
| Length | 456.0 ft (138.99m) |
| Beam | 56.2 ft (17.13m) |
| Depth | 30.0 ft (9.14m) |
| Propulsion | Three screws |
| Speed | 18 Knots (33.34 km/h) |
Remarks
Built for the British-India Steam Navigation Company, and used on the Britain to India route. She was requisitioned in 1914 for use as a Troop ship, and later as a Royal Naval Hospital Ship (YA 5) during WW1. SHe saw heavy use during the Dardalles campaign, transferring wounded to Alexandria, Malta or back to the UK.
On 4 January 1918, while approaching the Bristol Channel off Lundy Island, she was torpedoed and sunk by U_Boat U-55. She had sailed from Malta carrying 279 cot and walking wounded cases, and was fully illuminated as a Hospital Ship. Taking almost three hours to sink, casualties were light and all were saved except for four engine room crew killed in the explosion.