RMS (also SS) Arabic was a passenger ship of the White Star Line that served the Liverpool – New York and Liverpool – Boston routes. On 19 August 1915, the German submarine U-24 torpedoed Arabic, and the ship sank in 9 minutes. Arabic was the first White Star Line ship to be lost in World War I. Forty-four lives were lost and 390 were saved. American reaction to the Arabic sinking was the proximate cause for Germany suspending unrestricted submarine warfare until 1917.
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Ship and career
Arabic was a White Star liner, the second of three ships to be so named in White Star history. Arabic was built by Harland and Wolff of Belfast, Ireland, and began life as Minnewaska for the Atlantic Transport Line. She would have been part of the Atlantic Transport Line’s Minne– class ships, sisters being Minnehaha, Minneapolis, and Minnetonka. Two more sisters, Mongolia and Manchuria, would follow.
As the ship was being built, both Atlantic Transport and White Star were acquired by J. P. Morgan’s International Mercantile Marine conglomerate, and the ship was transferred to White Star. Atlantic Transport would get their own Minnewaska (III) in 1908.
White Star altered the ship’s design to accommodate more passengers. Her superstructure was extended aft of the third mast and extended forward of the second mast. She was also renamed Arabic. Arabic was launched on Thursday, 18 December 1902. Her maiden voyage commenced on Friday, 26 June 1903, where she served the Liverpool – New York route. She also made trips on the Liverpool – Boston route. Arabic was also the ship that carried the body of Titanic’s bandleader, Wallace Hartley, back to England.
War and sinking
When World War I began, Arabic remained in commercial service for White Star and was not used as a troopship or hospital ship. Her contemporaries, such as Oceanic (II), Olympic, and Britannic (II), were called to war duty.
On 19 August 1915, the German submarine U-24 torpedoed Arabic without warning off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland, in the general vicinity of where Lusitania was torpedoed three months earlier. Arabic sank in 9 minutes. Forty-four people died in the Arabic sinking, but 390 were rescued.
Aftermath
American protests over the Arabic sinking led to Germany pledging an end to unrestricted submarine warfare and no further unannounced sinkings of merchant ships. Germany reneged on this pledge in 1917, one of the final actions leading to the United States’ declaration of war on Germany on 6 April 1917 and entry into World War I on the side of the Allies.
After the war, Germany surrendered to the United Kingdom the North German Lloyd liner Berlin as war reparations. This ship was acquired by White Star and became the company’s third Arabic in 1920.
Arabic specifications
| Flag | United Kingdom |
| Shipping company | White Star Line |
| Port of registry | Liverpool |
| Gross tonnage | 15,801 |
| Length overall | 600.7 feet / 183.08 meters |
| Beam | 65.5 feet / 19.96 meters |
| Draft | 44 feet / 13.41 meters |
| Number of funnels | 1 |
| Number of masts | 4 |
| Decks | 4 |
| Machinery | Twin screws geared to quadruple steam expansion engines |
| Service speed | 16 knots, 17 knots maximum |
| Builder | Harland and Wolff, Belfast, Ireland (present-day Northern Ireland) |
| Yard number | 340 |
| Launch date | 18 December 1902 |
| Maiden voyage | 26 June 1903 |
| Sunk | 19 August 1915 |
| Passenger accommodation | 200 first class 200 second class 1,000 third class |
Links of interest
SS Arabic at The Atlantic Transport Line
Contributors:
Mark Baber
Andrew Clarkson
Jonathan Kinghorn
Jeff Newman
References:
“Arabic” at Encyclopedia Titanica. Online. <http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/discus/messages/6937/1094.html?981928150>. Accessed 1 May 2012.
Baber, Mark and Jeff Newman. “R.M.S. Arabic (II).” Great Ships. Online. <http://www.greatships.net/arabic2.html>. Accessed 30 April 2012.
Clarkson, Andrew. “Arabic II.” Titanic-Titanic. Online. <http://www.titanic-titanic.com/arabic_2.shtml> Accessed 2 May 2012.
Kinghorn, Jonathan. “S.S. Arabic.” The Atlantic Transport Line. Online. <http://www.atlantictransportline.us/content/00Arabic.htm>. Accessed 2 May 2012.
“Launch of a White Star Liner.” The Times. 20 December 1902. Via Encyclopedia Titanica. Online. <http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/discus/messages/6937/134828.html?1229732642> Accessed 2 May 2012.
my mother cam over to the u.s.a. on s.s.arabic in 1912. the captain was my mothers godfathers first sousin and
because of that she stayed wiht the captain and officers on the trip to boston,mass.that was in november and the
ship docked at the constition dock at charlestown,mass.
My husband’s great grandfather was on the Arabic when it was sunk. He was on his way to emigrate to NYC. He survived but took several months to recuperate. When he went back home to Roscommon and everyone there thought he had died in the sinking. He spent the rest of his life in Roscommon choosing never to attempt it again.
My husband, Irish musician John Doyle (www.JohnDoyleMusic.com) has a wonderful song about it, “The Arabic”.
My grandfather was on the Arabic and came back to Roscommon also, are we talking about the same man from Mt Mary
I’m doing a youtube video about the sinking of the Arabic. I figured to do one since there aren’t any simulations of how it sank. I’m planning to do it in real time. If you want to check it out it is on my channel, it’s called ‘Chris Hickory’. I think you’d like it.
My grandfather’s sister landed on Ellis island in 1908 after sailing from Liverpool on the ss arabic
My Grandmother was on the Arabic when it was sunk with her brother , 2sisters and her mother. I have recently inherited an envelope that has the telegrams that we’re sent to family to let them know they were all safe . Also there’s a photo of the family taken on the steps of the Adelphi hotel , Liverpool ,where they were taken prior to setting of again to America . In the photo the whole family were wearing donated clothes as they had lost everything . My grandmother gave up her seat in a lifeboat and swam until rescued and was awarded a medal for her actions . Sadly I don’t have the medal . I would love to know more about it .
My grandfather was on this ship, emigrating to America as a 22 year old carpenter. He lost his tools in the sinking and returned home. Good for me, as he married my grandmother a couple of years later.
Hi,
I believe my great great grandfather was a member of the crew and died on the ship. I have recently searched records again, and found a burial suit close to where he lived, with a memorial site as London, which we knew about. Would anyone happen to know if bodies were recovered from the ship? I would love to know that he is buried in our home city. Any information or advice would be a big help,
Louise