Topic review - Calling all White Star Line Tender SS Traffic (1911) fans
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Iceman 29
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Calling all White Star Line Tender SS Traffic (1911) fans
Tender SS Traffic
Then called Engineer Reibell:
Type: Tender Construction no.: 423 Requisitioned: 03 September 1939 Lost: February 17, 1941 Displacement: 675 tons Length: 53.30 meters Main beam: 10.30 meters
Speed: 12 knots
SS NOMADIC AND SS TRAFFIC
Since the opening of the White Star Line's express service between Southampton and New York in 1907, the company's ships have called at Cherbourg in order to benefit from any additional first-class business on the continent and, just as importantly, to secure an additional share of the lucrative emigrant traffic from Europe to America.
The usual practice for IMM ships calling at the French port was for the larger vessels to drop anchor in the deeper Grande Rade, while tugs ashore brought in passengers, baggage and mail. Before the Olympic entered service, the White Star's Cherbourg annex was the aptly named Gallic.
Built by John Scott & Co in Fife, she was originally owned and operated by Birkenhead Ferries under the equally appropriate name of Birkenhead. Although the paddler had given excellent service on this company's Rock Ferry-Liverpool crossing since 1894, by 1907 she was no longer sufficient and the White Star Line gratefully took her over for use as a tender at Cherbourg.
However, while the 461-ton Gallic might have sufficed for the smaller Teutonic, Majestic, Oceanic and Adriatic, the advent of the Olympic and Titanic meant that this arrangement could only be considered a makeshift solution at best. Faced with such magnificent vessels, with a gross tonnage well in excess of 45,000 tons, something more special was required, and so a new class of craft specifically designed to serve the Olympic-class giants was imagined.
The order for the Nomadic was officially confirmed on June 5, 1910, followed on July 19 by that for the Traffic.
Although both were designed as passenger ships, they had very specific functions.
The larger Nomadic was designed to accommodate first- and second-class passengers, while the smaller, more utilitarian Traffic was intended for third-class passengers and equipped with additional conveyor belts for luggage and mail bags.
On December 22, 1910, the keels of yards 422 (Nomadic) and 423 (Traffic) are laid side by side in hold 1. The Nomadic was launched just over four months later, on April 25, 1911.
The Traffic followed two days later. From then on, work on the Nomadic generally preceded that on the Traffic, but only just. The larger of the two ships completed her trials on May 16, followed by Traffic on May 18, so that both ships were ready to be handed over to the White Star Line on May 27, just 158 days after keel laying.
The Nomadic and Traffic will also be different from all other White Star ships in one key respect. Each of the company's ships is traditionally registered in the home port of Liverpool, but for administrative reasons, both tenders are registered in Cherbourg, where they are operated by George Lanièce. Despite all the expense and attention to detail, the Olympic's inaugural arrival in Cherbourg was unfortunately not the success Bruce Ismay had hoped for, noting that the operation of the tenders in Cherbourg with passengers and luggage was “...extremely unsatisfactory, despite the fact that the whole matter had been very carefully considered at a meeting held in Southampton on May 3, at which specific instructions had been formulated to deal with this important matter.”
Captain Beresford, the White Star's marine superintendent in Cherbourg, came in for further criticism from the company's president, who expressed astonishment that he felt “justified in leaving the Olympic before all the luggage was on board the ship”.
As far as Ismay was concerned, the Marine Superintendent was to remain on board the ship until the last of the luggage had been transferred, and he promptly forwarded a copy of the procedures drawn up by Thomas Andrews, which clearly defined how passengers and luggage were to be taken on board in future. Unfortunately, Captain Beresford's reply is not known, but we can assume that Andrews' procedures will be followed to the letter from now on.
Book excerpt: Mills, Simon. Olympic Titanic Britannic: The anatomy and evolution of the Olympic Class (English Edition) (pp. 83-84). Bloomsbury Publishing.
On May 31, 1911, after sea trials, the Olympic docked in Liverpool, UK, her home port and White Star Line headquarters, to be presented to the assembled crowds. On the same day, the Titanic was launched. The two tenders left the Olympic at the exit of Belfast Lough, at the mouth of the Lagan, and headed for Cherbourg. Sailing at a maximum speed of 12 knots (22 km/h), they reached their destination on June 3, 1911.
Although British-owned and flying the flag of the White Star Line, Traffic's port of registry was Cherbourg, and she was operated by a French crew. The crew consisted of Captain Gaillard, six officers and ten men assigned to the engines and loading the holds. The Traffic was managed by George Laniece, White Star Line's representative in Cherbourg.
Traffic offered service for the first time when the Olympic docked in Cherbourg for her maiden voyage on June 14, 1911. Her service that day was not exemplary, with several shortcomings in the transport of mail and baggage. A dissatisfied J. Bruce Ismay requested that better efforts be made for the next trip. However, the problems were quickly resolved, and during the Olympic's three further calls at Cherbourg between June and September, the convoy ran smoothly. In April 1912, it carried third-class passengers, mail and baggage to the Titanic when the ship called at Cherbourg on its maiden voyage. The following day, Traffic again carried immigrants to another White Star liner, the RMS Adriatic , which would take the Titanic's survivors back to England a few days later.
A few days after the sinking of the Titanic , the Olympic called at Cherbourg, where she was solemnly welcomed. Flags were flown at half-mast, and nomadic and traffic officers wore black ties in mourning. The Olympic's crew then went on strike, refusing to return to sea until lifeboats were added to the liner. The forced immobilization of the lifeboats paralyzed the two supply vessels in the port of Cherbourg for some time. The crew's request was finally met, and service resumed.
The First World War The outbreak of the First World War brings transatlantic crossings to a halt. Le Traffic and Le Nomadic were requisitioned by the French Navy on April 25, 1917, and taken to Saint-Nazaire until 1919, to serve as auxiliary minesweepers. In 1919, they carried out a few missions to convoy American troops to Brest, before returning to Cherbourg. Traffic then resumed her duties for White Star Line, without incident until 1927. At this point, Lord Kylsant, the company's new owner, decided to part with both tenders.
The Traffic and Nomadic were sold to the Société Cherbourgeoise de Transbordement in 1927, and continued to be used as supply vessels, but now called on all large ships using the port. The Traffic collided with the RMS Homeric on June 5, 1929, sustaining some damage to the starboard side of the hull. After investigations revealed that Traffic was notoriously difficult to maneuver, new propellers were produced by Harland & Wolff and installed in October 1929. The new propellers proved effective, but Traffic was nevertheless involved in another collision in December 1929, this time involving the Atlantic Transport Line's SS Minnewaska. There was only minor damage. The Minnewaska was involved in another collision two years later, this time with the Nomadic on November 29, 1931, in which the Nomadic's bow was damaged.
On July 30, 1933, Cherbourg inaugurated its new ferry terminal, allowing liners to dock. The tenders were no longer in use, and the Traffic was sold the following year. The owners of the Nomadic and Traffic became the Société Cherbourgeoise de Remorquage et de Sauvetage in 1934, and both ships were repainted in the new livery and renamed, the Traffic becoming the Ingénieur Riebell and the Nomadic the Ingénieur Minard.
Sinking
In September 1939, the Ingenieur Reibell was once again requisitioned by the French Navy, this time as a mine-sweeper, registered X23 . When France surrendered and the German army took control of the port on June 17, 1940, the X23 was scuttled in the harbor to avoid capture by the enemy.
Save The ship was salvaged by the Germans, renovated and used as a coastal patrol vessel.
Due to her disappointing performance in this role (for which she was not designed), she could only navigate at 6 knots (11 km/h). She was torpedoed and sunk by the British Royal Navy while serving in this capacity, on January 17, 1941. The wreck was subsequently salvaged by the Germans. The damage caused by the torpedo was irreparable, and she was scrapped in Cherbourg. Some photos of her demolition were taken by local resident René Leledier, who had served on board as an apprentice many years before.
Since the opening of the White Star Line's express service between Southampton and New York in 1907, the company's ships have called at Cherbourg in order to benefit from any additional first-class business on the continent and, just as importantly, to secure an additional share of the lucrative emigrant traffic from Europe to America.
The usual practice for IMM ships calling at the French port was for the larger vessels to drop anchor in the deeper Grande Rade, while tugs ashore brought in passengers, baggage and mail. Before the Olympic entered service, the White Star's Cherbourg annex was the aptly named Gallic.
Built by John Scott & Co in Fife, she was originally owned and operated by Birkenhead Ferries under the equally appropriate name of Birkenhead. Although the paddler had given excellent service on this company's Rock Ferry-Liverpool crossing since 1894, by 1907 she was no longer sufficient and the White Star Line gratefully took her over for use as a tender at Cherbourg.
However, while the 461-ton Gallic might have sufficed for the smaller Teutonic, Majestic, Oceanic and Adriatic, the advent of the Olympic and Titanic meant that this arrangement could only be considered a makeshift solution at best. Faced with such magnificent vessels, with a gross tonnage well in excess of 45,000 tons, something more special was required, and so a new class of craft specifically designed to serve the Olympic-class giants was imagined.
The order for the Nomadic was officially confirmed on June 5, 1910, followed on July 19 by that for the Traffic.
Although both were designed as passenger ships, they had very specific functions.
The larger Nomadic was designed to accommodate first- and second-class passengers, while the smaller, more utilitarian Traffic was intended for third-class passengers and equipped with additional conveyor belts for luggage and mail bags.
On December 22, 1910, the keels of yards 422 (Nomadic) and 423 (Traffic) are laid side by side in hold 1. The Nomadic was launched just over four months later, on April 25, 1911.
The Traffic followed two days later. From then on, work on the Nomadic generally preceded that on the Traffic, but only just. The larger of the two ships completed her trials on May 16, followed by Traffic on May 18, so that both ships were ready to be handed over to the White Star Line on May 27, just 158 days after keel laying.
The Nomadic and Traffic will also be different from all other White Star ships in one key respect. Each of the company's ships is traditionally registered in the home port of Liverpool, but for administrative reasons, both tenders are registered in Cherbourg, where they are operated by George Lanièce. Despite all the expense and attention to detail, the Olympic's inaugural arrival in Cherbourg was unfortunately not the success Bruce Ismay had hoped for, noting that the operation of the tenders in Cherbourg with passengers and luggage was “...extremely unsatisfactory, despite the fact that the whole matter had been very carefully considered at a meeting held in Southampton on May 3, at which specific instructions had been formulated to deal with this important matter.”
Captain Beresford, the White Star's marine superintendent in Cherbourg, came in for further criticism from the company's president, who expressed astonishment that he felt “justified in leaving the Olympic before all the luggage was on board the ship”.
As far as Ismay was concerned, the Marine Superintendent was to remain on board the ship until the last of the luggage had been transferred, and he promptly forwarded a copy of the procedures drawn up by Thomas Andrews, which clearly defined how passengers and luggage were to be taken on board in future. Unfortunately, Captain Beresford's reply is not known, but we can assume that Andrews' procedures will be followed to the letter from now on.
Book excerpt: Mills, Simon. Olympic Titanic Britannic: The anatomy and evolution of the Olympic Class (English Edition) (pp. 83-84). Bloomsbury Publishing.
On May 31, 1911, after sea trials, the Olympic docked in Liverpool, UK, her home port and White Star Line headquarters, to be presented to the assembled crowds. On the same day, the Titanic was launched. The two tenders left the Olympic at the exit of Belfast Lough, at the mouth of the Lagan, and headed for Cherbourg. Sailing at a maximum speed of 12 knots (22 km/h), they reached their destination on June 3, 1911.
Although British-owned and flying the flag of the White Star Line, Traffic's port of registry was Cherbourg, and she was operated by a French crew. The crew consisted of Captain Gaillard, six officers and ten men assigned to the engines and loading the holds. The Traffic was managed by George Laniece, White Star Line's representative in Cherbourg.
Traffic offered service for the first time when the Olympic docked in Cherbourg for her maiden voyage on June 14, 1911. Her service that day was not exemplary, with several shortcomings in the transport of mail and baggage. A dissatisfied J. Bruce Ismay requested that better efforts be made for the next trip. However, the problems were quickly resolved, and during the Olympic's three further calls at Cherbourg between June and September, the convoy ran smoothly. In April 1912, it carried third-class passengers, mail and baggage to the Titanic when the ship called at Cherbourg on its maiden voyage. The following day, Traffic again carried immigrants to another White Star liner, the RMS Adriatic , which would take the Titanic's survivors back to England a few days later.
A few days after the sinking of the Titanic , the Olympic called at Cherbourg, where she was solemnly welcomed. Flags were flown at half-mast, and nomadic and traffic officers wore black ties in mourning. The Olympic's crew then went on strike, refusing to return to sea until lifeboats were added to the liner. The forced immobilization of the lifeboats paralyzed the two supply vessels in the port of Cherbourg for some time. The crew's request was finally met, and service resumed.
The First World War The outbreak of the First World War brings transatlantic crossings to a halt. Le Traffic and Le Nomadic were requisitioned by the French Navy on April 25, 1917, and taken to Saint-Nazaire until 1919, to serve as auxiliary minesweepers. In 1919, they carried out a few missions to convoy American troops to Brest, before returning to Cherbourg. Traffic then resumed her duties for White Star Line, without incident until 1927. At this point, Lord Kylsant, the company's new owner, decided to part with both tenders.
The Traffic and Nomadic were sold to the Société Cherbourgeoise de Transbordement in 1927, and continued to be used as supply vessels, but now called on all large ships using the port. The Traffic collided with the RMS Homeric on June 5, 1929, sustaining some damage to the starboard side of the hull. After investigations revealed that Traffic was notoriously difficult to maneuver, new propellers were produced by Harland & Wolff and installed in October 1929. The new propellers proved effective, but Traffic was nevertheless involved in another collision in December 1929, this time involving the Atlantic Transport Line's SS Minnewaska. There was only minor damage. The Minnewaska was involved in another collision two years later, this time with the Nomadic on November 29, 1931, in which the Nomadic's bow was damaged.
On July 30, 1933, Cherbourg inaugurated its new ferry terminal, allowing liners to dock. The tenders were no longer in use, and the Traffic was sold the following year. The owners of the Nomadic and Traffic became the Société Cherbourgeoise de Remorquage et de Sauvetage in 1934, and both ships were repainted in the new livery and renamed, the Traffic becoming the Ingénieur Riebell and the Nomadic the Ingénieur Minard.
Sinking
In September 1939, the Ingenieur Reibell was once again requisitioned by the French Navy, this time as a mine-sweeper, registered X23 . When France surrendered and the German army took control of the port on June 17, 1940, the X23 was scuttled in the harbor to avoid capture by the enemy.
Save The ship was salvaged by the Germans, renovated and used as a coastal patrol vessel.
Due to her disappointing performance in this role (for which she was not designed), she could only navigate at 6 knots (11 km/h). She was torpedoed and sunk by the British Royal Navy while serving in this capacity, on January 17, 1941. The wreck was subsequently salvaged by the Germans. The damage caused by the torpedo was irreparable, and she was scrapped in Cherbourg. Some photos of her demolition were taken by local resident René Leledier, who had served on board as an apprentice many years before.
https://history.fandom.com/wiki/SS_Traffic
Photos, more here: http://rms-titanic.fr/otb/index/index_401.html
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