On 11th December,  1912 Ceramic (Yard Number 432) was launched at Harland & Wolff, Belfast. When completed, she had two permanent 4.7 in. guns mounted aft.

En route from Liverpool to Brisbane on 6th December, 1942 with 378 passengers and 278 crew on board, Ceramic (now owned by Shaw, Savill & Albion) was torpedoed by U 515 west of the Azores. She sank so quickly that no distress call could be sent. There were 655 casualties and only 1 survivor.