HS Koningin Regentes

HS Koningin Regentes was a Dutch hospital ship that was torpedoed by the Imperial German Navy submarine SM UB-107 on 6 June 1918 while returning to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from Boston, Lincolnshire, England.[1]

HS Koningin Regentes during her service as a hospital ship in World War I.
History
 Netherlands
Name:
  • PSS Koningin Regentes (1895-1914)
  • () HS Koningin Regentes (1914-1918)
Owner: Stoomvaart Maatschappij Zeeland
Port of registry:  Netherlands, Vlissingen
Route: Rotterdam - Boston, Lincolnshire
Ordered: 1895
Builder: Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd.
Yard number: 385
Laid down: 1895
Launched: 9 July 1895
Completed: 1895
Maiden voyage: 1895
In service: 1895
Fate: Torpedoed and sunk 6 June 1918
General characteristics
Type: Passenger ship/Hospital ship
Tonnage: 1.970 GRT
Length: 97.5 metres (319 ft 11 in)
Beam: 11 metres (36 ft 1 in)
Depth: 4.9 metres (16 ft 1 in)
Propulsion: Triple-expansion steam engine, paddle wheel
Speed: 20 knots

Construction

HS Koningin Regentes was built as the paddle steamer PSS Koningin Regentes at the Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd. shipyard in Govan, Scotland, in 1895. She was launched on 9 July 1895, and completed later that year. The ship was 97.5 metres (319 ft 11 in) long, had a beam of 11 metres (36 ft 1 in), and had a depth of 4.9 metres (16 ft 1 in). She was assessed at 1.970 GRT and had triple-expansion engines driving her paddle wheel. The engine was rated at 1.305 nhp and the ship could reach a maximum speed of 20 knots.[2]

Early career

The Koningin Regentes was used as a ferry boat between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom until the outbreak of World War I. She sometimes also carried mail as cargo.

World War I

After World War I began, Koningin Regentes was refitted with special accommodations and a new layer of paint for service as a hospital ship. Her name was therefore also changed to HS Koningin Regentes. The Koningin Regentes now served on a new route between Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Boston, Lincolnshire, England, and operated on this route for nearly the entire war.[3]

Sinking

On 6 June 1918 Koningin Regentes departed Boston bound for Rotterdam. When she was 21 miles east of Leman lightship, she was torpedoed by the Imperial German Navy submarine SM UB-107 and sank shortly afterwards. Seven people lost their lives in the sinking and the survivors were saved soon after.[2]

Wreck

The wreck of Koningin Regentes lies at a depth of 30 metres (98 ft 5 in) and is broken in several pieces. It lies close to an English drilling site, and the sea floor is level with only sand and shells; visibility is also very good. One of the ship′s steam engines lies on top of the ship and her decks have collapsed and are under a lot of sand.[2]

References
  1. "Koningin Regentes". uboat.net. 1995. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  2. "PSS Koningin Regentes [+1918]". wrecksite.eu. 22 October 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  3. "Stoomvaart Maatschappij "Zeeland"". simplonpc.co.uk. 6 December 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
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