View source for RMS Alcantara (1913)

{{distinguish|RMS Alcantara (1926)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= StateLibQld 1 125487 Alcantara (ship).jpg
|Ship caption=RMS ''Alcantara''
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country= [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|government}}
|Ship name=*RMS ''Alcantara'' (1914–15)
* HMS ''Alcantara'' (1915–16)
|Ship owner= [[File:Royal Mail Lines House Flag.svg|15px]] [[Royal Mail Steam Packet Company|Royal Mail Steam Packet Co]]
|Ship operator= {{flagicon|United Kingdom|naval}} [[Royal Navy]] (1915–16)
|Ship registry= {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}} [[Belfast Harbour|Belfast]]
|Ship route=[[Port of Southampton|Southampton]] – [[Port of Rio de Janeiro|Rio de Janeiro]] – [[Port of Montevideo|Montevideo]] – [[Port of Buenos Aires|Buenos Aires]]
|Ship ordered=
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder= [[Harland and Wolff]], [[Govan]]
|Ship yard number=435G
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched=30 October 1913
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed=28 May 1914
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=16 April 1915
|Ship maiden voyage=19 June 1914
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship identification= *UK [[official number]] 132050
* [[Code letters]] JFPR
* {{ICS|Juliet}}{{ICS|Foxtrot}}{{ICS|Papa}}{{ICS|Romeo}}
* [[Pennant number]] M 94
|Ship renamed=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship refit=
|Ship fate= Sunk 29 February 1916
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class= A-series
|Ship type=*[[Ocean liner]] (1914–15)
* [[Armed merchantman#Armed merchant cruisers|Armed merchant cruiser]] (1915–16)
|Ship displacement=
|Ship tonnage= {{GRT|15831}}
|Ship length= {{convert|570|ft}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|67.2|ft}}
|Ship draught=
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=*2 × [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple-expansion engines]]
* 1 × low-pressure [[Steam turbine#Marine propulsion|steam turbine]]
* 3 × [[Propeller|screw propellers]]
|Ship speed={{convert|18|kn|km/h}}<ref name=Poole>{{harvnb|Poole|1975|pp=52–57}}</ref>
|Ship range=
|Ship endurance=
|Ship boats=
|Ship capacity=
|Ship complement=
|Ship time to activate=
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*8 × [[QF 6-inch naval gun|6-inch guns]]
* 2 × [[QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss|6-pounder guns]]
|Ship armour=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=
|Ship notes=*[[sister ship]]s:
* {{RMS|Arlanza|1911|2}}, ''[[SS Atlantis (1913)|Andes]]'', {{RMS|Almanzora||2}}
}}
|}

'''RMS ''Alcantara''''' was an [[ocean liner]] which entered service just weeks before the start of [[World War I]], was converted to an [[Armed merchantman#Armed merchant cruisers|armed merchant cruiser]] in 1915, and was sunk in combat with the German armed merchant cruiser {{SMS|Greif|1914|6}} in the [[Action of 29 February 1916]].

==Ocean liner==
[[Harland and Wolff]] in [[Govan]] built ''Alcantara'' for the [[Royal Mail Steam Packet Company]].<ref name=SBS>{{cite web |title=Alcantara |work=Scottish Built Ships |publisher=Caledonian Maritime Research Trust |url= http://clydeships.co.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=9008&vessel=ALCANTARA |access-date=16 February 2021}}</ref> She was one of the later members of RMSP's "A-series" of liners, which had begun with [[HMT Aragon|RMS ''Aragon'']] launched in 1905. In common with all of the last four "A-series" ships, ''Alcantara'' had triple [[Propeller|screws]]. A pair of four-cylinder [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple-expansion steam engines]] drove the [[port and starboard]] pair. Exhaust steam from their low-pressure cylinders powered a [[C. A. Parsons and Company|Parsons]] low-pressure [[Steam turbine#Marine propulsion|steam turbine]] that drove the middle screw propeller.{{sfn|Nicol|2001|p=101}}

''Alcantara'' was launched on 30 October 1913 and made her maiden voyage in June 1914 on RMSP's route from [[Port of Southampton|Southampton]] to [[Port of Rio de Janeiro|Rio de Janeiro]], [[Port of Montevideo|Montevideo]] and [[Port of Buenos Aires|Buenos Aires]].<ref name=SBS/> ''Alcantara'' was registered at [[Belfast Harbour|Belfast]]. Her UK [[official number]] was 132050 and her [[code letters]] were JFPR.<ref>{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |year=1916 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=13 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Alcantara&steamsail=Steam&submit=Enter&year=1916 |publisher=Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen [[Board of Trade]] |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=16 February 2021}}</ref>

==HMS ''Alcantara''==
In April 1915 the [[British Admiralty]] requisitioned ''Alcantara'' and her "A-series" sisters {{RMS|Avon||2}}, {{RMS|Arlanza|1911|2}} and ''[[SS Atlantis (1913)|Andes]]'' to be armed merchant cruisers.{{sfn|Nicol|2001|p=113}} She was armed with eight [[QF 6-inch naval gun|6-inch guns]], two [[QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss|six-pounder]] [[anti-aircraft gun]]s, and [[depth charges]]. On 17 April at [[Port of Liverpool|Liverpool]] she was commissioned into the [[Royal Navy]]'s 10th Cruiser Squadron as HMS ''Alcantara'', with the [[pennant number]] M 94.<ref name=Log>{{cite web |url= https://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-08-HMS_Alcantara.htm |work=Royal Navy Log Books of the World War 1 Era |editor-last=Smith |editor-first=Kay |title=HMS Alcantara – April 1915 to January 1916, Northern Patrol (10th Cruiser Squadron) |publisher=naval-history.net |access-date=27 January 2015}}</ref> ''Arlanza'' and ''Andes'' were also commissioned into the 10th Cruiser Squadron, which joined the [[Northern Patrol]] that was part of the First World War [[Blockade of Germany (1914–1919)|Allied naval blockade of the Central Powers]]. The Squadron patrolled about {{convert|200000|sqmi}} of the [[North Sea]], [[Norwegian Sea]] and [[Arctic Ocean]] to prevent German access to or from the [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic]].{{sfn|Nicol|2001|p=113}}

German submarine attacks on ships voyaging to and from [[Archangelsk]] created a suspicion that the [[Imperial German Navy]] had established a submarine base somewhere in the Arctic. In the summer of 1915 ''Alcantara'' was sent to [[Jan Mayen]] Island to investigate. She arrived on 3 July and sent a landing party ashore.<ref name=Log/> It found no evidence of enemy activity; only the remains of the [[Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition]] base built in 1882 and three [[Arctic fox]] cubs, which for a short time were taken aboard as pets.{{sfn|Nicol|2001|p=113}}

===Battle with ''Greif''===
{{main|Action of 29 February 1916}}
{{location map|British Isles Oceans|width=240
|lat= 61.45
|long= 00.58
|relief= yes
|caption= Position of ''Alcantara'' when she was ordered to rendezvous with ''Andes''
}}
In January 1916 ''Alcantara'' embarked on the 10th Cruiser Squadron's G patrol.{{sfn|Nicol|2001|p=114}} She was due to return to port on 1 March, but on the morning of 29 February 1916 she was northeast of [[Shetland]] ''en route'' to a rendezvous with ''Andes'' she intercepted the [[Imperial German Navy]] [[merchant raider]] ''Greif'' disguised as the Norwegian [[merchant ship]] ''Rena'' with a [[home port]] of [[Tønsberg]], [[Norway]].<ref name=Poole/> At 0915 hrs at a range of {{convert|6,000|yd|m|sigfig=2}} ''Alcantara'' ordered ''Greif'' to stop for inspection, which she did. ''Alcantara''{{'}}s [[ship's company]] went to [[General quarters|action stations]], she trained her guns on ''Greif'',<ref name=Wardle>{{cite web |url= http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/Letters/ReportbyCaptainWardleHMSA.html |last=Wardle |first=Thomas |title=Report by Captain Wardle, HMS Alcantara |work=Letters |publisher=Mackenzie J Gregory |access-date=27 January 2015}}</ref> closed to 2,000 yards and slowed to lower a [[Cutter (boat)|cutter]] to put an armed guard aboard the suspect ship.<ref name=Poole/>

At 0940 hrs ''Greif'' increased speed and opened fire.<ref name=Wardle/> One source claims she raised the Imperial German war [[Reichskriegsflagge#Imperial Germany|ensign]] (''"Kriegsflagge"'').<ref name=Poole/> However, ''Alcantara''{{'}}s [[commanding officer]], [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] [[Thomas Erskine Wardle|Thomas Wardle]], reported that after lowering the [[Flag of Norway|Norwegian ensign]] ''Greif'' fought under no flag. The first shell hit ''Alcantara''{{'}}s [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]], disabling her steering gear, [[engine order telegraph]] and all telephones and killing or wounding a number of men. Wardle ordered full speed and opened fire at a range of {{convert|2,000|yd|m|sigfig=2}}. A messenger was sent aft and got ''Alcantara''{{'}}s after emergency steering gear connected.<ref name=Wardle/>

''Greif'' turned to starboard<ref name=Wardle/> and closed range to {{convert|750|yd|m|sigfig=2}}.{{sfn|Nicol|2001|p=114}} Several German shells hit ''Alcantara'' near her waterline, entering her stokehold [[Fuel bunker|bunkers]] and [[engine room]].<ref name=Wardle/> ''Greif'' tried to [[torpedo]] ''Alcantara''. Wardle reported that evasive action at 1002 hrs allowed the torpedo to pass clear under ''Alcantara''{{'}}s [[stern]], but another source states that a torpedo detonated amidships against ''Alcantara''{{'}}s [[Port and starboard|port]] side. A [[Shell (projectile)|shell]] from ''Alcantara''{{'}}s port after {{convert|6|in|mm|0|adj=on}} gun hit and detonated the ready ammunition for  ''Greif''{{'}}s after gun, putting it out of action.<ref name=Wardle/> By 1015 hrs ''Greif'' was badly afire by her bridge and seemed to have stopped. At 1022 hrs ''Alcantara'' saw boats leaving ''Greif'' and ceased fire.<ref name=Wardle/>

[[File:Alcantara 1916.jpg|thumb|240px|An artist's impression of HMS ''Alcantara'' and SMS ''Greif'' engaging each other]]
''Greif'' then fired one more shot, and ''Alcantara'' returned fire. The one shot was later attributed to a shell left in the breech of an abandoned gun being fired by the heat of the fire now raging aboard ''Greif''.<ref name=Wardle/>

By 1035 hrs ''Alcantara'' was reduced to about {{convert|3|kn|km/h}}<ref name=Wardle/> and her after steering gear was disabled.{{sfn|Nicol|2001|p=115}} Her helm seemed to be jammed hard over to [[Port and starboard|starboard]] but she was turning to starboard. Wardle ordered his company to cease fire, stop engines, and go to [[Muster drill|boat stations]]. The order to stop engines was not received, but flooding in the engine room stopped them. Several of ''Alcantara''{{'}}s [[Lifeboat (shipboard)|lifeboat]] falls had been damaged by enemy fire, so that attempts to launch some boats caused men to be dropped into the sea.<ref name=Wardle/> ''Alcantara'' rolled, capsized and sank{{sfn|Nicol|2001|p=115}} at 1102 hrs. At least 15 of her boats and a large [[Lifeboat (shipboard)#Liferaft versus lifeboat|liferaft]] floated clear.<ref name=Wardle/>

The {{sclass2|C|cruiser|0}} [[light cruiser]] {{HMS|Comus|1914|6}} and [[Admiralty M-class destroyer|M-class destroyer]] {{HMS|Munster}} then arrived. ''Comus'' proceeded to rendezvous with ''Andes'' about {{convert|8,000|yd|m|sigfig=2}} away, while ''Munster'' started rescuing survivors.<ref name=Wardle/> ''Greif'' was carrying a large amount of [[Cork (material)|cork]] that at first kept her afloat.{{sfn|Nicol|2001|p=115}} ''Andes'' and ''Comus'' reopened fire on ''Greif''.<ref name=Wardle/> Eventually a large explosion, possibly of ammunition, sank the German ship.{{sfn|Nicol|2001|p=115}}

The battle killed 230 men from ''Greif'' and 68 from ''Alcantara''.{{sfn|Nicol|2001|p=115}} Two hundred ten German survivors were rescued.{{sfn|Schmalenbach|1977|p=24}}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Nicol |first=Stuart |year=2001 |title=MacQueen's Legacy; Ships of the Royal Mail Line |volume=Two |place=Brimscombe Port and Charleston, SC |publisher=[[The History Press|Tempus Publishing]] |isbn=0-7524-2119-0 |pages=101, 113–115 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Poole |first=Francis |title=Alcantara vs. Greif: Duel of the Merchant Cruisers |journal=Proceedings |publisher=[[United States Naval Institute]] |location=Annapolis, MD |date=July 1975 |pages=52–57 }}
* {{cite book |last=Schmalenbach |first=Paul |year=1977 |title=German Raiders |location=Annapolis, MD |publisher=[[United States Naval Institute|Naval Institute Press]] |isbn=0-85059-351-4 }}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last1=Osborne |first1=Richard |last2=Spong |first2=Harry |last3=Grover |first3=Tom |year=2007 |title=Armed Merchant Cruisers 1878–1945 |place=Windsor |publisher=World Warship Society |isbn=978-0-9543310-8-5 }}

==External links==
* {{cite web |url= http://www.ahoy.tk-jk.net/MaraudersWW1/Grief.html |last=Gregory |first=Mackenzie J |title=Greif |work=Marauders of the Sea, German Armed Merchant Raiders During World War I |access-date=27 January 2015}}

{{February 1916 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alcantara (1913)}}
[[Category:1913 ships]]
[[Category:World War I Auxiliary cruisers of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Ocean liners]]
[[Category:Ships built in Belfast]]
[[Category:Ships of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company]]
[[Category:Ships built by Harland and Wolff]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1916]]
[[Category:World War I shipwrecks in the North Sea]]