SS Arabic (1902)
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Arabic |
| Owner: |
 White Star Line
|
| Port of registry: |  |
| Route: | Liverpool, Queenstown, New York |
| Builder: | Harland and Wolff, Belfast, Ireland |
| Yard number: | 340 |
| Launched: | 18 December 1902 |
| Completed: | 21 June 1903 |
| Maiden voyage: | 26 June 1903 |
| Fate: | Torpedoed and sunk by U-24 19 August 1915 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 15,801 gross register tons (GRT) |
| Length: | 600 ft 7 in (183.06 m) |
| Beam: | 65 ft 5 in (19.94 m) |
| Propulsion: | quadruple expansion steam engines, twin screws |
| Speed: | 16 kn (30 km/h) |
SS Arabic was a British-registered ocean liner that entered service in 1903 for the White Star Line. She was sunk on 19 August 1915, during the First World War, by German submarine SM U-24, 50 mi (80 km) south of Kinsale, causing a diplomatic incident.
Arabic was originally intended to be Minnewaska, one of four ships ordered from Harland and Wolff, Belfast, Ireland, by the Atlantic Transport Line (ATL), but fell victim to the recession and the shipbuilding rationalization following the ATL's 1902 incorporation into the International Mercantile Marine Company, and was transferred before completion to the White Star Line as Arabic. She was extensively modified before launch with additional accommodation which extended her superstructure aft of her third mast and forward of her second mast. She could accommodate 200 first class passengers and 1,000 third class.
Arabic commenced her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York City via Queenstown on 26 June 1903, arriving in New York on 5 July.
She spent most of her working life on the Liverpool, Queenstown, and New York route, occasionally sailing on the Liverpool to Boston run. In 1913 her first class accommodation was reclassified as second class and extra lifeboats were added following the new regulations instituted after the loss of RMS Titanic, and at the end of 1914 she resumed the Liverpool to New York route.
On 19 August 1915 U-24 sank the Arabic, outward bound for the United States, 50 mi (80 km) south of Kinsale. Arabic was zigzagging at the time, and the commander of U-24 said that he thought she was trying to ram his submarine. He fired a single torpedo which struck the liner aft, and she sank within 10 minutes, killing 44 passengers and crew, 3 of whom were American. On 22 August US President Wilson's press officer issued a statement to the effect that the White House staff was speculating on what to do if the Arabic investigation indicated that there had been a deliberate German attack. If true, there was speculation that the US would sever relations with Germany, while if it was untrue, negotiations were possible.
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