RMS Laconia Collection

RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, 1913. GGA Image ID # 1d643c92c2

Laconia (1912) Cunard Line

Built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Ltd., Newcastle, England. Tonnage: 18,098. Dimensions: 600' x 71' (625' O.I.). Twin-screw, 17 knots. Quadruple expansion engines. Two masts and two funnels. From keel to top of masts 200 feet; keel to top of deckhouse 90 feet high; height of funnels above grate bars 140 feet. Maiden voyage: Liverpool-New York, January 20, 1912. Transferred to Boston service. Fate: Torpedoed and sunk 160 miles from Fastnet, February 25, 1917, with the loss of 12 lives. Sister ship: Franconia.

Laconia (1922) Cunard Line

Built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Ltd., Newcastle, England. Tonnage: 19,695. Dimensions: 601' x 73' (624' o.l.). Twin-screw, 16J/£ knots. Six steam turbines. Two masts and one funnel. Passengers: 350 first, 350 second, 1,500 third. Note: First British liner fitted with anti-rolling tanks. Maiden voyage: Southampton-New York, May 25, 1922. Transferred to Liverpool-New York route. WWII Service: Converted to troopship in World War II. Fate: Torpedoed and sunk in South Atlantic, September 12, 1942, while bound from Egypt to England via Cape Town. Heavy loss of life resulted. Sister ships: Samaria and Scythia. Similar to Franconia and Carinthia.

Ephemera for the RMS Laconia are available at the GG Archives, including Passenger Lists, Menus, Brochures, Event Programs, and more.

 

Passenger Lists

 

 

1912-05-28 SS Laconia Passenger List

Second Cabin Passenger List for the SS Laconia of the Cunard Line, Departing on Tuesday, 28 May 1912 from Boston to Liverpool via Queenstown (Cobh) and Fishguard, Commanded by Captain W. R. D. Irvine.

 

 

1912-06-11 RMS Laconia Passenger List

Saloon Passenger List for the RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, Departing Tuesday, 11 June 1912 from Liverpool to Boston via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain W. R. D. Irvine, RD, RNR.

 

 

1912-08-06 RMS Laconia Passenger List

Saloon Passenger List for the RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, Departing Tuesday, 6 August 1912 from Liverpool to Boston via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain W. R. D. Irvine, RD, RNR.

 

 

1912-09-03 RMS Laconia Passenger List

Second Cabin Passenger List from the RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, Departing 3 September 1912 from Liverpool to Boston, Commanded by Captain W. R. D. Irvine, RD, RNR.

 

 

1912-10-01 RMS Laconia Passenger List

Second Cabin Passenger List for the RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, Departing 1 October 1912 from Liverpool to Boston, Commanded by Captain W. H. D. Irvine, RD, RNR.

 

 

1913-06-10 RMS Laconia Passenger List

First, Second, and Third Class Passenger List for the RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, Departing Tuesday, 10 June 1913 from Liverpool to Portland, ME and Boston via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain W. R. D. Irvine.

 

 

1914-09-01 RMS Laconia Passenger List

Second Cabin Passenger List from the RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, Departing 1 September 1914 from Liverpool to Boston, Commanded by Captain W. R. D. Irvine, RD, RNR.

 

 

1922-08-24 RMS Laconia Passenger List

Saloon and Second Cabin Passenger List for the RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, Departing Thursday, 24 August 1922 from Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain W. H. Hossack, RD, RNR.

 

 

1928-08-18 RMS Laconia Passenger List

Cabin Passenger List for the RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, Departing Saturday, 18 August 1928 from Liverpool to Halifax, Boston, and New York via Cobh, Commanded by Captain M. Doyle.

 

 

1929-08-10 RMS Laconia Passenger List

Cabin and Tourist Third Cabin Passenger Lists from the RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, Departing Saturday, 10 August 1929 from Liverpool to Boston and New York via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain M. Doyle.

 

 

1931-05-02 SS Laconia Passenger List

Cabin Passenger List for the SS Laconia of the Cunard Line, Departing Saturday, 2 May 1931 from New York and Boston to Liverpool via Queenstown (Cobh), Commanded by Captain M. Doyle.

 

 

1935-03-16 RMS Laconia Passenger List

Cabin and Tourist Class Passenger List from the RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, Departing Saturday, 16 March 1935 from Liverpool to Boston and New York via Cobh, Commanded by Captain B. B. Oram, RD, RNR.

 

 

1937-09-11 RMS Laconia Passenger List

Third Class Passenger List from the RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, Departing 11 September 1937 from Liverpool to Boston and New York via Dublin and Galway, Commanded by Captain C. H. Bate, RD, RNR.

 

 

1938-09-10 RMS Laconia Passenger List

Tourist Class Passenger List from the RMS Laconia of the Cunard Line, Departing Saturday, 10 September 1938 from Liverpool to Boston and New York via Dublin and Galway, Commanded by Captain W. C. Battle, DSC, RD, RNR.

 

Brochures

 

 

1911 - Franconia and Laconia For The Boston Service

Flyer created by Cunard to announce two new steamships for the Boston service, 18,000 tons each. The ships were of the intermediate class and accommodations described in this flyer pertain primarily to the First Class.

 

 

1912 - RMS Franconia and Laconia - Cunard Line

A scarce brochure provides a remarkable record of these two short-lived steamships that brought thousands of immigrants from Liverpool to Boston from 1912 to 1916. The Laconia was torpedoed and sunk by the German Submarine U-50 on 25 February 1917; and, the Franconia was torpedoed and sunk by German Submarine UB-47 on 4 October 1916.

 

 

1913 - Cunard Passenger Log Book

Rare Third-Class Accommodation on Cunard Liners featuring interior and exterior photographs of the ships and accommodations for third class/steerage passengers. Undated brochure circa 1913. Its contents were meant to entice the immigrants to book passage to the New World. Ships Featured: Lusitania and Mauretania, Caronia and Carmania, Franconia and Laconia, Campania, Ivernia and Saxonia, and the Ascania.

 

 

1914 - Cunard Service to Historic Boston

42-Page Brochure focused primarily on Boston, Massachusetts, with a brief summary of Cunard Line Fleet and Services to Boston. Some photographs of Cunard ships, offices, docks/piers, Boston Landmarks, and a Railroad advertisement. Ships Featured: Britania, Franconia, and Laconia.

 

 

1920s Cunard to Liverpool via Cobh (Queenstown)

Superb interior photographs of the Cunard steamships Carinthia, Franconia, Laconia, Samaria, and Scythia makes this an excellent brochure from the 1920s. The uniqueness of this booklet is greatly improved by the inclusions of context with photo captions.

 

 

1920s - Cunard Tourist Third Cabin Accommodations

Tourist Third Cabin replaced the old Third Class on the Cunard Steamships, the refinished accommodations attracted students, professors, young business people, and bargain-hunters filling the cabins left mostly empty from the decline of the immigrant trade. This is a photo journal of the accommodations found in the new Tourist Third Cabin class. Ships Featured: Andania, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Aurania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Caronia and Carmania, Laconia, Samaria, Scythia, Tuscania, and Lancastria.

 

 

1927 - Cunard Line Second Class to Europe

12-Page brochure covers the Boston to Europe route of the Cunard Line in 1927. Interior photographs help to illustrate the second class accommodations available on the Samaria, Scythia, and Laconia.

 

Passage Contract, Tickets, and Receipts

 

 

1912-06-03 Agent's Record - Cunard Steamship Company

This is the Agent's Receipt and Record of a Second Cabin Steamship Ticket for an Eastbound voyage on the new Cunard Laconia from Boston to Liverpool, England. The Agency was located in Boston, Cunard Building on 126 State Street.

 

 

1912-08-10 Agent's Record - Cunard SS Laconia

This is an Agent's Record of a Third Class -Steerage Ticket for one adult and one child from Liverpool, England to New York on the Cunard Steamship SS Laconia. Additional information and conversion to current dollar values is provided.

 

 

1913-05-13 Agents' Record - Cunard Line Third Class

Third Class Outward Passenger Ticket - Agents' Record for the Cunard RMS Laconia, May 13, 1913. Fare was $35. Ticket along with Agent's record would have been kept in a two-hole extra-long binder.

 

 

1913-06-03 Prepaid Ticket Agents Record - RMS Laconia

Third Class Prepaid Ticket - Agents Record, RMS Laconia 1913 from Liverpool to Boston. Itemized transaction shows fare and commission breakdown. Fare was paid by a third party.

 

 

1913-06-05 Contract for Passage - Norwegian Immigrant

Ludvig Gjønvik was a Norwegian Immigrant to the United States in June 1913 arriving in Boston on board the RMS Laconia (I) as a passenger in Steerage - Third Class. This is the contract of passage that Ludvig purchased from Olaf H. Solem.

 

Immigrant Documents

 

 

1913-06-10 Immigrant Inspection Card - Cunard RMS Laconia

Immigrant Inspection Card issued in 1913 by the Cunard Line on board the RMS Laconia to a Norwegian Immigrant traveling in Steerage. The card provided important information including port and date of departure, name of ship, immigrant name, last residence, medical inspection stamps and evidence of immunization.

 

Menus

 

 

1913-10-06 RMS Laconia Private Dinner Party Menu

This is a very rare personalized special embossed menu for E. D. Jordon and Dinner guests aboard the Cunard Line Laconia (I) in October of 1913.

 

 

1914-09-08 RMS Laconia Breakfast Menu Card

Breakfast Bill of Fare card from the RMS Laconia on a Westbound voyage from Liverpool to Boston, arriving in Boston on 9 September 1914 featuring Grilled Cod Steaks and Yarmouth Bloaters.

 

 

1914-09-08 RMS Laconia Dinner Menu Card

This is a dinner Bill of Fare card from the steamship Laconia on a Westbound voyage from Liverpool to Boston, arriving in Boston on 8 September 1914. Although not specifically stated, this would have been the Farewell Dinner.

 

Programs

 

 

1930s - Horse Racing Program - RMS Laconia

Hilarious Horse Racing Program dating from the 1930s performed on the deck of the RMS Laconia of the Cunard White Star Line. Entries included Eve by Rib out of Adam, Jealousy by Nose out of Joint, Stampede by Sale out of Basement, etc.

 

Abstract of Logs

 

Abstract of Log of the Cunard Royal Mail Steamship Laconia From Boston to Liverpool, 22 July 1913. Passage: 6 Days, 22 Hours, 42 Minutes. Average Speed: 16.77 Knots. Commander: W. R. D. Irvine, RD, RNR. GGA Image ID # 1d644c296a

 

Sailing Schedules

 

Cunard New York-Mediterranean-Egyptian-Adriatic Service. Sailing Schedule Covering October 1911 to March 1912. Ships Include the Carmania, Caronia, Franconia, and Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1db73b9c0e

 

Proposed Sailings, Liverpool-New York Service, Liverpool-Boston Service, and Hungarian-American Service from 2 March 1912 to 6 August 1912. Ships Include the Campania, Carmania, Caronia, Carpathia, Franconia, Ivernia, Laconia, Lusitania, Mauretania, Pannonia, and Saxonia. RMS Caronia Passenger List, 30 March 1912. GGA Image ID # 1dc9e8927c

 

Cunard Liverpool-Boston Service Sailing Schedule from 28 May 1912 to 26 October 1912. Ships Include the Franconia and Lanconia. GGA Image ID # 1dbc58d184

 

Cunard New York-Mediterranean-Egyptian-Adriatic Service Sailing Schedule from 9 November 1912 to 15 March 1913. Ships Include the Caronia, Franconia, and Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1dbc775b0f

 

Cunard Hungarian-American Service Sailing Schedule from 2 May 1912 to 16 October 1912. Ships Include the Carpathia, Ivernia, Pannonia, and Saxonia. MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE.—On the 15th February. 1913. the new Twin-Screw Steamer Laconia " will sail from New York to the Mediterranean under charter to Mr. F. C Clark. Full particulars will be announced later. GGA Image ID # 1dbc920ba4

 

Proposed Sailings Liverpool-New York Service, Liverpool-Boston Service, and Hungarian-American Service from 9 November 1912 to 11 March 1913. Ships Include Campania, Carmania, Caronia, Carpathia, Franconia, Ivernia, Laconia, Lusitania, Mauretania, Pannonia, Saxonia, and Ultonia. SS Carmania Passenger List, 23 November 1912. GGA Image ID # 1dc95f6c98

 

Cunard Liverpool-Boston Service from 2 September 1913 to 21 April 1914. Ships Included the Alaunia, Andania, Francoia, Ivernia, Laconia, and Ultonia. RMS Carmania Passenger List, 23 September 1913. GGA Image ID # 1dcaaf02a5

 

Cunard Line Canadian Service, Liverpool-Canadian Ports, or Southampton to Canadian Ports, from 7 August 1925 to 28 January 1926. Ships Included the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Laconia, and Letitia. RMS Alaunia Passenger List, 21 August 1925. GGA Image ID # 1dff527901

 

Proposed Sailings, Cunard Line, Liverpool-Queenstown (Cobh)-New York, and Liverpool-Queenstown (Cobh)-Boston, from 8 August 1925 to 6 February 1926. Ships Included the Alaunia, Aurania, Carinthia, Carmania, Franconia, Laconia, Samaria, and Scythia. RMS Alaunia Passenger List, 21 August 1925. GGA Image ID # 1dff443705

 

Sailing Schedule, Liverpool, Cobh (Queenstown)-New York-Boston, from 12 November 1927 to 29 April 1928. Ships Included the Andania, Aurania, Carinthia, Carmania, Caronia, Franconia, Laconia, Samaria, and Scythia. RMS Aquitania Passenger List, 26 November 1927. GGA Image ID # 1e119dff3d

 

Westbound Sailings of the White Star Line from 6 October 1934 to 2 February 1935. Ships Included the Alaunia, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Britannic, Carinthia, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Lancastria, Laurentic, Letitia, Majestic, Olympic, Samaria, Scythia, and Transylvania. The Schedule Includes Originating, Calling, and Destination Ports for Each Voyage. RMS Britannic Passenger List, 6 October 1934. GGA Image ID # 1e3159e0ee

 

Eastbound Sailings of the White Star Line from 6 October 1934 to 14 February 1935. Ships Included the Alaunia, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Britannic, Carinthia, Doric, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Lancastria, Laurentic, Letitia, Majestic, Olympic, Samaria, Scythia, and Transylvania. The Schedule Includes Originating, Calling, and Destination Ports for Each Voyage. RMS Britannic Passenger List, 6 October 1934. GGA Image ID # 1e3178f51a

 

Cunard White Star Westbound Sailing Schedule for September to November 1937. Ships Include the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Britannic, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Letitia, Queen Mary, Samaria, and Scythia. GGA Image ID # 1db7e0cf97

 

Cunard White Star Eastbound Sailing Schedule for September to November 1937. Ships Include the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Berengaria, Britannic, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Letitia, Queen Mary, Samaria, and Scythia. GGA Image ID # 1db80746e8

 

Westbound Sailing Schedule from 7 June 1939 to 16 August 1939. Ships Included the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Ascania, Athenia, Aquitania, Aurania, Ausonia, Britannic, Carinthia, Franconia, Georgic, Laconia, Letitia, Mauretania, Queen Mary, Samaria, and Scythia. RMS Aquitania Passenger List, 7 June 1939. GGA Image ID # 1e141a92c5

 

Eastbound Sailing Schedule from 7 June 1939 to 16 August 1939. Ships Included the Alaunia, Andania, Antonia, Aquitania, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Britannic, Carinthia, Georgic, Laconia, Letitia, Mauretania, Queen Mary, Samaria, and Scythia. RMS Aquitania Passenger List, 7 June 1939. GGA Image ID # 1e1424c50b

 

Track Charts

 

Cunard Atlantic Track Chart, RMS Laconia, 1929. GGA Image ID # 1dbc9634f6

 

 

Other Ephemera

 

Cunard Line Atlantic Services and Fleet List with Tonnage and Assigned Commanders, 1912. Ships Include the Mauretania, Lusitania, Campania, Carmania, Caronia, Franconia, Laconia, Ivernia, Saxonia, Carpathia, Pannonia, Ultonia, Ascania, Ausonia, and Albania. RMS Caronia Passenger List, 30 March 1912. GGA Image ID # 1dc9ece700

 

 

Photographs

 

The RMS Laconia at Full Steam on a Transatlantic Voyage circa 1912. GGA Image ID # 174b446323

 

Photo of the Sweet Party At the Boston Pier (May 3, 1931). GGA Image ID # 174c266ca5

 

President George W. SWEET of the Studebaker Sales Company of Boston, with his wife and his mother, Mrs. John R. Sweet, on board the SS Laconia as they left Boston on May 3, 1931 for a two month tour of the continent. Mr. Sweet has taken along a Studebaker "President," which he will drive while abroad. GGA Image ID # 1dba3af5ff

 

George W. Sweet Viewing his Studebaker "President" being Loaded into Cargo Hold of SS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 174c43ef8a

 

Painting of RMS Laconia, Cunard Line RMS Laconia Tourist Class Passenger List - 10 September 1938. GGA Image ID # 16d58f79e3

 

Photo Collage of the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 11956befda

Photo Captions (Left)

• Verandah Café
• The Lounge
• Conrer of Dining Saloon
• Two Berth Room

Photo Captions (Right)

• First Class Dining Saloon
• Gymnasium
• First Class Library and Writing Room
• First Class Writing Room

 

First Class Smoking Room on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia Showing Elliptical Bay Window. GGA Image ID # 1195825755

 

The Cunard New Twin-Screw Steamers RMS Franconia and Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1183677732

 

Corridor on "A" Deck on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1183efefd2

 

Entrance Hall and Staircase on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1184c26f1e

 

First Class Library and Writing Room on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 118525319a

 

The First Class Lounge on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 11853b6cb8

 

Smoking Room in First Class Showing Eliptical Bay Window on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 11853d202a

 

The Gymnasium on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 118552199c

 

Fireplace in the Writing Room on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 11858c9e17

 

The Verandah Café on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1185c0bbd6

 

First Class Dining Saloon on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 118606fd9f

 

A First Class Stateroom on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 118622c8a1

 

First Class Coverred Promenade Deck on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1186437035

 

Passengers Enjoy The Gymnasium on the Franconia and Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1186a516e4

 

First Class Smoking Room Showing Fireplace on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1186d13c69

 

First Class Two-Berth Room on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 11870eb11b

 

Second Cabin Four-Berth Room on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1187e1ea1b

 

Second Cabin Drawing Room on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 11871734ba

 

Second Cabin Dining Saloon on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 11872db866

 

Second Cabin Stateroom on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1187e89549

 

Second Cabin Covered Promenade on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1187efd3ec

 

Third Class / Steerage Four-Berth Room on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 118805de77

 

Third Class / Steerage Dining Room on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 11885a4643

 

Third Class / Steerage Ladies' Room on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 11887657af

 

RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia Chef's Office Where the Head Chef Reviews Food Inventories and Prepares the Daily Menu. GGA Image ID # 1188a9dd06

 

The Dispensary or Pharmacy on board the Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1188ca8859

 

A Corner of the Kitchen / Galley on the RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1188ef92f2

 

The Marconi Wireless Room on RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia. GGA Image ID # 11890572d2

 

RMS Franconia and RMS Laconia Engine Room - Dynamos and Switchboard. GGA Image ID # 11896fc60b

 

RMS Franconia and Laconia - The Largest and Most Modern Steamers in the Boston Service. GGA Image ID # 118de74245

 

Third Class Ladies' Room on the Franconia and Laconia. GGA Image ID # 118e35fe47

 

A Boston Cunarder - Franconia or Laconia. GGA Image ID # 127701f0f7

 

A Smoke Room with Inglenooks on the Laconia. GGA Image ID # 117b9de6f5

 

The Laconia Smoke Room. GGA Image ID # 117ba77d2d

 

The Laconia Outdoor Cafe. GGA Image ID # 117bbc1277

 

The Laconia Lounge. GGA Image ID # 117c17f870

 

The Laconia Writing Room. GGA Image ID # 117cc1cc4e

 

Tourist Third Cabin Smoking Room on the Laconia. GGA Image ID # 11926d7ec0

 

Tourist Third Cabin Four-Berth Room on the Laconia. GGA Image ID # 1192de20dc

 

Postcards

 

 

 

 

The Shipbuilder - Distinguished Liners 1907 - 1914 v2

Reprinted from The Shipbuilder Magazine, the Distinguised Liners Covered in This Volume Include: Principessa Jolanda, Corsican, Heliopolis, Asturias, City of Paris, Grampian, President Grant, Oceania, Hesperian, Martha Washington, Afrique, Waratah, Morea, Vasari, Orsova, Otway, Osterley, Otranto, Orvieto, Franconia, Laconia, Kaiser Franz Josef I, Vandyck, Medina, Orama, Arlanza, Vestris, Vauban, Pastores, Appam, Niagara, Kristianiafjord, Bergensfjord, Congress, Gablonz, Marienbad, Empress Ekaterina II, Gelria, Tubantia, Columbus, Alsatian, Britannic, Calgarian, Cap Polonio, William O'Swaldt, City of Exeter, Aquitania, Imperator, Vaterland, Alcantara, Statendam, Cap Trafalgar, Bismarck.

 

 

RMS Laconia I (1912) Ship History and Information

RMS Laconia (1912) Cunard Steam Ship Company 1912 - 1917

The LACONIA was the first of two vessels of this name owned by the Cunard Line. The Laconia was launched from the Wallsend Shipyard on 27 July 1911 and after completion of all testing, was turned over to the Cunard Lines on 12 December 1911 and commencing service on 20 January 1912.

• Gross Tonnage - 18,099 tons
• Dimensions - 182.96m x 21.73m (600.3ft x 71.3ft)
• Number of funnels - 2
• Number of masts - 2
• Construction - Steel
• Propulsion - Twin screw
• Engines - Eight-cylinder quadruple-expansion engines by Wallsend Slipway Co Ltd
• Service speed - 17 Knots
• Builder -Swann, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend-on-Tyne
• Passenger accommodation - 300 1st class; 350 2nd Class; 2,200 3rd Class

The Laconia and her sister-ship the Franconia were built to replace the Ivernia and Saxonia on the Liverpool to Boston service and to cover for the Lusitania and Mauretania if these were being refitted. They were also intended to ship emigrants from the Mediterranean to New York.

RMS Laconia (1912)

The Franconia was the first of the pair to be built, the Laconia taking her place on the stocks and being launched on 27 June 1911. Her maiden voyage was on 20 January 1912 between Liverpool, Boston and New York, on 3 February she made her first voyage between New York, Naples and Fiume.

For the most part, pre-World War I Cunarders almost all boasted twin stacks. Those that were lost at sea (and both Franconia and her sister Laconia were torpedoed) would be replaced post-war by single-funneled simulacra.

As it was, the pretty sisters' profiles, apart from their unseen technological specifications below decks, inaugurated the era of the high-sided steamer, a substantial advance over the comparable look of the company's doughty greyhounds of the 1890's, Campania and Lucania.

The third-class passengers are extremely well catered for, and have provided for them enclosed cabins with berths of modern type for two or four persons, while there are also a number of six-berth rooms for the use of families. 

The main ding saloon is situated on F deck amidships and extends the full width of the ship.  It is a spacious and will lighted apartment, and is fitted with revolving chairs. 

Two small dining rooms adjoin the main saloon.  The remaining third-class public rooms include a social hall on D deck and a smoking room and ladies' room on E deck, all comfortably furnished and well lighted.¹

The Laconia was turned into an armed merchant cruiser in 1914. She was based at Simonstown in the South Atlantic which she patrolled until April 1915.

Laconia was then used as a headquarters ship for the operations to capture Tanga and the colony of German East Africa (Tanzania). Four months later she returned to the patrolling of the South Atlantic. The Laconia was handed back to Cunard in July 1916.

On the outbreak of World War I the Laconia was transformed into an armed merchant cruiser, serving in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean. In July 1916 she was returned to Cunard and on 9 September resumed the Liverpool to New York service.

On 25 February 1917 she was torpedoed by the German U-50 six miles northwest by west of Fastnet. Capt. Irvine of the Laconia, was returning from the United States to England. 

The first torpedo struck the liner on the starboard side just abaft the engine room, but did not sink her.  Twenty minutes later a second torpedo exploded in the engine room, again on the starboard side, and the vessel sank at 22:20. 

There was a crew of 217 and she was carrying 75 passengers, of whom 34 were first class and 41 second class passengers. 12 people were killed, 6 crew and 6 passengers., including three American citizens, which added to anti-isolationist feeling there.

Structure, Dimensions and Other Information on the Laconia I

• Name: Laconia
• Class: Lloyds 100 A1
• Certificates: B of J Passenger Lloyds Classification No. 877 Berth 1
• Owners: Cunard Steam Ship Company, Ltd. Liverpool
• Trade: Atlantic Passenger Steamer, Intermediate Class
• Keel Laid: 25 July 1910
• Framed: 1 February 1911
• Plated: 1 June 1911
• Launched: 27 July 1911
• Trial Trip: 8 December 1911

Dimensions

• Length Overall: 621'3"
• Length P.P.: 600'0"
• Breadth Mld. 71'0"
• Breadth Ext. 71' 3.5"

Crew and Passenger Compliment (Capacity)

Crew

• Captain (1)
• Officers (6)
• Engineers and Staff (17)
• Physician and Staff (7)
• Petty Officers (20)
• Purser Staff (252)
• Seaman (32)
• Firemen, Trimmers and Others (80)

Total Crew (415)

Passengers (Capacity)

• First Class (184)
• Second Class (482)
• Third Class
  • Cabin (1186)
  • Portable Cabins (758)
  • Total Third Class (1,944)

Total Passengers (2,610)

Lifeboats: 16 - Capacity: 972 Persons

Treasure Quest - The Silver Queen (SS Laconia I - 1911)

“Treasure Quest – The Silver Queen” a production of the Discovery Channel produced a program in 2009 about the SS Laconia (1911) that was torpedoed in the North Atlantic off the coast of Ireland at the start of WWI.

They used still images from the Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives to illustrate the program about the salvage operations to recover her cargo. Secrets of the Silver Queen referred to the silver (worth over $100 million) the Laconia was carrying at the time she was sunk.

Photographic Stills Provided by the Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives:

1. Library and Writing Room - First Class
2. Fireplace in the Writing Room
3. The Gymnasium
4. The Verandah Café
5. Dining Saloon - Fist Class
6. Covered Promenade - First Class
7. Dining Saloon - Second Class
8. Dining Room - Third Class

In addition to the stills, the Archives provided the transatlantic route maps of the Laconia I as supplemental information.

Treasure Quest is a one-hour weekly American documentary reality television series that premiered on January 15, 2009 on the Discovery Channel. The program follows the employees of Odyssey Marine Exploration as they search the English Channel for various lost ships. The team is led by company CEO Gregory Stemm and Tom Dettweiler (operations director of Robert Ballard's team that discovered the RMS Titanic[1]).

RMS Laconia - An ocean liner transformed into an armed merchant cruiser during World War I, sunk by a German U-boat. Also known as the Silver Queen due to the precious metals on board when sunk.

TREASURE QUEST was broadcast on Thursdays @ 10pm Only on THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL!

Reference: Discover Channel Treasure Quest: The Silver Queen, Season 1, Episode 11 : First Televised: 26 March 2009. Directed by Chris Sondreal, Narrated by Rob Naughton. Approximate Run Time: 43 Minutes.

Laconia Transports Refugees from the War

The Laconia (I) had a short service life, torpedoed by the Germans in 1917. Below is a harrowing story of escape from the war in August 1914.

The extraordinary conditions under which foreign trade is now carried on is shown in the fact that when the steamship Laconia of the Cunard Line entered New York Harbor on Monday of this week, with American refugees from abroad, she was disguised in the Scandinavian Line cold so as to escape capture by German war vessels. The time across was a most exciting one, and “The Evening Sun gives the following account of the voyage:

"The Laconia of the Cunard line, which left Liverpool on August 8 [1914] with 1,668 passengers, reached port this morning, and officers of the United States revenue service, who have boarded the vessel many times at Quarantine, were startled at her appearance.

Twenty-four hours at sea out of Liverpool sufficed to change the Laconia from a Cunarder into the appearance of Norwegian line ships, tier funnels, formerly red, gleamed In the black with brood bands of red about their middle. The upper rigging were all changed from white to black, the bridge was painted a buff color, and the name was painted out everywhere on the ship. Capt. Irvine was ready at any minute to fly the Norwegian flag.

On Aug. 10 Capt. Irvine said his ship was approached by a cruiser. This proved to be the transformed Cunard liner Aquitania on her patrol as a scout service for the royal navy, her curiosity having been aroused by the Laconia’s appearance. Capt. Irvine bad no trouble in convincing the cruiser's commander that his was an English ship.

The Aquitania Is doing duty on the trans-Atlantic route, watching to pick up information concerning German and French vessels.

Stories of hardships were common among the passengers on the Laconia. The crossing passage through the ship was crowded. Mattresses, beds were placed on the floors of the saloons to do for bunk quarters.

The 1,668 passengers, the number being composed almost entirely of those who usually travel in the first and second cabins, were crowded into the Laconia in helter-skelter fashion before the ship sailed, many being in the steerage. Early on the passage, the Americans, refugees from the war zones, were put in the first and second cabins, only sixty remaining in the steerage.

Many were short of funds. Some told of lost and commandeered automobiles, and one man said his automobile, worth $7,000 had been taken from him on German soil. A vivid description was given of the situation met by Americans and foreigners in Germany Just after the declaration of war by a man who said he was at Wiesbaden when he was overtaken by a overwhelming desire to go to the frontier between Germany and Belgium.

The way was crowded with foot fares, more than 2.000 Belgians and Americans, some transporting their baggage on wheelbarrows. Most of this baggage left behind in passing through Liege just before the fighting began there.

When the ship sailed from Liverpool, it was found that many women passengers In the first and second cabins did not have staterooms. When the number of women who did not have berths was made out a like number of men, who had cabin tickets gave up their rooms and took berths in the steerage.

This was the first trip of the Laconia to New York, her usual run being to Boston.

As reported in The Commercial and Financial Chronicle, Volume 99, No. 2565, Saturday, 22 August 1914, P. 522-523