HMS Calgarian (1913)

HMS Calgarian was an armed merchant cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was sunk by the U-boat SMU U-19 (Germany) off Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland on 1 March 1918. The initial strike did not sink her and the crew managed to contain the damage. The U-boat torpedoed her again, despite the protection of other ships. She was hit by 4 torpedoes and quickly sank with the loss of two officers and 47 ratings.

SS Calgarian was originally built for the Allan Line, making her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Canada on 8 May 1914. Her sister ship was the Alsatian.

On 15 September 1914 Calgarian was taken over as an armed merchant cruiser. Her naval career saw her take part in the blockades of the ports of Lisbon and New York and acts as a troop and passenger transport across the Atlantic. Calgarian was at Halifax when the Halifax Explosion took place on December 6, 1917. Her crew assisted with rescue and medical relief.

She was officially transferred to Canadian Pacific in July 1917 on its acquisition of Allan. However, she continued in Royal Navy use until her sinking.