RMS Adriatic (1906) A Maritime Icon of the Past

The RMS Adriatic was a true maritime icon of its time. She was launched in 1906 and was one of the largest ships in the world at that time.

The Adriatic was a massive vessel, measuring 790 feet in length and 85 feet in width. She had a gross tonnage of 14,191 tons and could carry over 2,000 passengers.

One of the notable features of the Adriatic was her speed, reaching a top speed of 20 knots. This was impressive for a ship of her size and era.

The RMS Adriatic was the result of a change in policy by White Star Line at the end of the 19th century. They decided to focus on building ships that could transport passengers en masse and regularly on spacious and comfortable liners.

This shift led to the construction of the Big Four, four large, moderate-speed liners ordered at the start of the new century. The first, the Celtic, entered service in 1901.

The Celtic was followed by the Cedric in 1903 and the Baltic in 1904. The fourth ship in the series, the Adriatic, was ordered from Harland and Wolff shipyards in Belfast in December 1903.

Harland and Wolff built the Adriatic on slipway #3 of its North Yard in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The shipyards were building the Amerika at the same time, with a similar profile.

To maintain their position as the owners of the largest passenger ship in the world, White Star had asked the shipyards to enlarge the Baltic during its construction. The Baltic measured nearly 3,000 tons more than its predecessor, but it was slightly slower due to its machines not being modified.

The Adriatic was given a similar size to the Baltic, with a tonnage surpassing that of the Baltic by a few hundred tons. However, she was equipped with significantly more powerful machines to allow her to maintain a better speed.

The RMS Adriatic was a massive ship, measuring 222.2 meters in length and 23 meters in width, with a draft of 16 meters. It was one of the largest liners in the world when it entered service.

She had a gross tonnage of 24,541 and a net tonnage of 15,638, which was slightly bulkier than her predecessor. Her appearance remained the same as that of her three sister ships, with a black hull, red base, and white superstructure.

The ship had four continuous decks, an upper deck, and several superstructures, and was propelled by two propellers operated by quadruple-expansion steam engines. Between them, the two engines were rated at 1,720 NHP.

The Adriatic had a unique feature among its sister ships - the front part of her promenade deck was fitted with windows in 1911. This was a notable upgrade that set it apart from its predecessors.

She was capable of reaching an average speed of 17 knots, thanks to her more powerful machines, which consumed 260 tonnes of coal per day. This was significantly lower than the fastest liners on the route, but still impressive for its time.

The RMS Adriatic had a long and storied career, but it wasn't all smooth sailing. After its maiden voyage in 1907, the ship continued to carry passengers between Liverpool and New York City.

Following the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, the Adriatic played a role in helping the survivors return home to England. J. Bruce Ismay, the chairman of the White Star Line, was among those who sailed on the Adriatic.

During World War I, the Adriatic was pressed into service, carrying cargo and troops between Southampton and New York. In 1915, it transported 16,000 tons of cargo, including 150 trucks and several airplanes.

As the war effort continued, the Adriatic's role shifted to transporting troops to and from the European theatre.

The RMS Adriatic was a UK ocean liner of the White Star Line, built at Harland & Wolff shipyards in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She was launched on September 20, 1906, the same day as the launch of RMS Mauretania.

The Adriatic was the largest, the fastest, and the most luxurious of the Big Four, being the first ocean liner to have an indoor swimming pool and a Turkish bath. She had a length of 223 m and a beam of 23 m.

She had a gross tonnage of 24,541 GT and was powered by two four-cylinder expansion steam engines driving a twin-screw propeller. Her top speed was 17 knots.

The Adriatic's maiden voyage was from Liverpool to New York on May 8, 1907, under the command of Captain Edward Smith. She was the first White Star Line vessel to open its new port in Southampton.

Here are some key facts about the RMS Adriatic:

The Adriatic was the first ocean liner to have an indoor swimming pool and a Turkish bath, and she was also the fastest of the Big Four. She was a truly luxurious ship in her time.

The Adriatic served as a troop carrier during World War I and returned to passenger service after the war ended. She was converted to a "cabin-class" ship in 1928 and was withdrawn from the North Atlantic route in 1933.