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HMHS Rewa

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HMHS Rewa
HMHS Rewa.jpg
U-Boat U-55 1.jpg
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.

Soldiers carried

Gallipoli to Malta 24 - 27 October 1915