TSS The Queen

The Queen was a 1,676 GRT steamship which was built in 1903 for the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR). In 1908, she was involved in a collision with another SECR ship. In 1916, she was captured by a German destroyer, following which she was torpedoed and sunk by another.

Description
The ship was built by William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton. She bore yard number 682 and was launched on 4 April 1903, with completion in June 1903. She was powered by two Parsons steam turbines driving three screws, which could propel her at a speed of 21 kn. Her GRT was 1,676, with a NRT of 345.

History
The Queen was the first turbine powered steamship built for the SECR. She entered service on the Dover – Calais service, making her maiden voyage on 27 June 1903. In 1907, she was transferred to the Folkestone – Boulogne route. On 1 June 1908, The Queen was involved in a collision with SS Onward which badly damaged both ships. The collision occurred during thick fog.

In 1914, The Queen helped evacuate refugees from Ostend, Belgium. She was later used as a troop transport. On 26 October 1914, The Queen rescued over 2,000 people from the French ship SS Amiral Ganteaume, which had been torpedoed. In September 1916, she came to the rescue of the disabled SS Queen Empress, towing her to safety.

On 26 October 1916, The Queen was captured by German destroyer V-80 some 3 nmi off the Varne Lightvessel. She was then torpedoed and sunk by destroyer S-60, at 50.9°N, 1.31667°W.

Official number and code letters
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. The Queen had the United Kingdom Official Number 118293.