Bulgaria

Hamburg-America Line

(as Phillipines)

Length:	501.4 ft.
Breadth:	62.2 ft.
Draft (or Depth):	42.6 (depth)
Tonnage:	10,237 tons (gross), 7,306 (net)
Engines:	Quadruple expansion, 8 cyl. (2) 21.33", (2) 31.67", (2) 46", (2) 66.5" x 48" stroke.
Speed:
Builder:	Blohm and Voss, Hamburg (Yard No. 125)
Launched:	February 5, 1898
Maiden Voyage:	April 10, 1898
Disposition:	1934 (scrapped)
Particulars:	Port of Registry: Hamburg, Germany Flag of Registry: German Funnel color: Buff Company flag: Blue and white, diagonally quartered, yellow shield on black anchor, black block letters on shield H A P A G Signal Letters: Wireless call letters: D D G Details: Steel hull, one funnel, two masts, twin screws, three decks, shelter deck.

Relationship to Titanic disaster / inquiries.

April 9, 1912 - While westbound, Hamburg - Southampton - Baltimore, received a wireless message from Caledonia warning of ice at the same location that, accounting for drift, was likely the ice field subsequently encountered by Titanic.

Data:

February 5, 1898

Launched.

April 10, 1898

Maiden voyage, Hamburg - New York and return.

February 1, 1899

Severely damaged by storm in eastern Atlantic; numerous rescue attempts failed. Vessel given up as lost. After three weeks the ship was able to get to Ponta Delgada, Azores. Later returned to Hamburg.

1906

Refitted. Tonnage listed as 11,494. Accommodation reconfigured to third class and steerage only.

April, 1913

Sold to Unione Austriaca of Trieste. Renamed Canada. First voyage, Trieste - Quebec City - Montreal and then return.

April 6, 1917

Formally seized by the U. S. Government. Refitted as Army transport. Renamed Hercules.

1919

In response to the need to bring large numbers of American service personnel home from Europe, the ship was converted to a transport and turned over to the Navy.

1920

Laid up.

1924

The ship was broken up at Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

1930

Sold to Bernstein Line. Renamed Drachtenstein.

1934

Out of Register; scrapped in Germany.

Courtesy: John P. Eaton. Used with permission.
Image Courtesy: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command.