The Ancestors of My GrandchildrenSS 'Friedrich der Grosse'
F, #12168, * 1896
The SS 'Friedrich der Grosse' was owned by North German Lloyd.
On August 1, 1896, the ship was launched and christened SS 'Friedrich der Grosse' in Stettin. The fitting out commenced immediately afterwards and the ship had her quadruple expansion engines installed which were geared to two propellers. This combination would make the Friedrich der Grosse capable of maintaining a service speed of 14.5 knots. This certainly did not make her the fastest ship on the seas, but the distinction of being the largest German ship attracted lots of patriotic Germans.
The Friedrich der Grosse was completed on November 11 that year, and was ready for her maiden voyage about a week later. Her first crossing went to Australia where many ships were needed during this time due to the massive emigration. The Friedrich der Grosse did not have a strict schedule on where her permanent route was supposed to be, and she was used either on the Australian run or on the North Atlantic, depending on where she was needed.
In 1902 the Friedrich der Grosse went out of service temporarily in order to be slightly refitted. After the reconstruction, which was completed the same year, the ship emerged with an impressive 10,696 gross tons compared to the 10,531 gross tons the ship had had when she entered service.
The ship was interned in the US during World War I, and with all the German ships in American ports was seized by the US Navy when the US entered the War. She was then transformed into a troop transport and shipped American soldiers to Europe, bearing her new military name Huron. In 1919 she was renamed City of Honolulu, and put on the Hawaiian service. On October 12 the same year, the City of Honolulu was 400 miles from Los Angeles on a return voyage from Honolulu when she suddenly caught fire. The fire spread quickly, passengers and crew had to leave the ship. The City of Honolulu stayed afloat until the fire was out, but she was nothing but a burnt-out shell. Five days later the US transport Thomas arrived at the scene with orders to sink the ship. The remains of this once so impressive German ship sank to the bottom after some perfect hits, and there she has remained ever since. (
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The Friedrich der Grosse was completed on November 11 that year, and was ready for her maiden voyage about a week later. Her first crossing went to Australia where many ships were needed during this time due to the massive emigration. The Friedrich der Grosse did not have a strict schedule on where her permanent route was supposed to be, and she was used either on the Australian run or on the North Atlantic, depending on where she was needed.
In 1902 the Friedrich der Grosse went out of service temporarily in order to be slightly refitted. After the reconstruction, which was completed the same year, the ship emerged with an impressive 10,696 gross tons compared to the 10,531 gross tons the ship had had when she entered service.
The ship was interned in the US during World War I, and with all the German ships in American ports was seized by the US Navy when the US entered the War. She was then transformed into a troop transport and shipped American soldiers to Europe, bearing her new military name Huron. In 1919 she was renamed City of Honolulu, and put on the Hawaiian service. On October 12 the same year, the City of Honolulu was 400 miles from Los Angeles on a return voyage from Honolulu when she suddenly caught fire. The fire spread quickly, passengers and crew had to leave the ship. The City of Honolulu stayed afloat until the fire was out, but she was nothing but a burnt-out shell. Five days later the US transport Thomas arrived at the scene with orders to sink the ship. The remains of this once so impressive German ship sank to the bottom after some perfect hits, and there she has remained ever since. (
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Citations
- [S663] SS Friedrich die Grosse Passenger Manifest, 20 Dec 1906; T715, Roll 811, Volume 1828, frame 253. FHL 1399495.
- [S108] Fed. Census: 1920. New Jersey, Hudson County, Jersey City, ED116, sheet 30B, line 51-55. (NARA: T625 Roll: 1043, Page: 165, ED 116). Household of Michael Suhovotsky.
- [S560] Great Ships, friedrichdergrosse.html., online: http://www.greatships.net/
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