RMS Empress of India (1908)

History
Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm

Name:	1908–1919: SS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm 1919: USS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm 1919–1921: SS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm 1921: SS Empress of China 1921–1923: RMS Empress of India 1923–1925: SS Montlaurier 1925: SS Monteith 1925–1929: SS Montnairn
Owner:	1908–1919: North German Lloyd (NDL) 1919–1919: US Navy 1919–1921: US Shipping Board 1920–1929: Canadian Pacific Steamships
Port of registry:	1908–1919: German Empire 1919–1919: United States 1920–1929: Canada
Builder:	J. C. Tecklenborg in Gestemunde, Germany
Launched:	October 21, 1907
Maiden voyage:	June 6, 1908
Fate:	Scrapped in 1929, Genoa
General characteristics
Class and type:	Ocean liner
Tonnage:	16,992 tons
Length:	590.1 ft
Beam:	68.3 ft
Propulsion:	Two masts twin propellers
Speed:	17 knots
Capacity:	46 1st class passengers 338 2nd class up to 1,726 steerage passengers

SS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm was an ocean liner for North German Lloyd (NDL) from her launch in 1907 until the end of World War I. After the war, she briefly served as USS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm (ID-4063) for the United States Navy returning American troops from France. The vessel was first chartered—and later purchased outright—by Canadian Pacific Steamships (CP) and operated under the names Empress of China, Empress of India, Montlaurier, Monteith, and Montnairn. She was scrapped in 1929.

The ship's keel was laid down to be the SS Washington, but she was renamed SS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm before her launch. She was built in 1907–1908 for Norddeutscher Lloyd Line by J. C. Tecklenborg in Gestemunde, Germany. The 16,992-ton vessel had a length of 590.1 feet, and her beam was 68.3 feet. She had two funnels, two masts, propellers and a service speed of 17-knots. The ocean liner provided accommodation for 46 first-class passengers and for 338 second class passengers. There was also room for up to 1,726 third-class passengers.

The SS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm was launched on October 21, 1907. The ship left Bremen on June 6, 1908 on her maiden voyage, stopping at Southampton, Cherbourg and New York City. She was one of several ships in the vicinity of the Titanic when the latter ship sank. Her last voyage as Prinz Frederick Wilhelm was begun on June 13, 1914. At the outbreak of war in August 1914, she cut short a pleasure cruise and sought refuge at Odda, Norway. After the war, the ship was surrendered on March 31, 1919 to the British.

For a short period, she was commissioned in the US Navy as a troop transport. From April into August Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm made five trips from France and the U.S., carrying over 15,000 passengers, mainly U.S. Army personnel. She was decommissioned in November 1919 and transferred to the U.S. Shipping Board.

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