Megantic (yard number 399) - laid down as the Dominion Line's
Albany - was launched on 10th December, 1908 at Harland & Wolff
(Belfast).
In 1907 and 1908, the Dominion Line began construction of two almost identical
liners – Alberta and Albany (they were intended to meet
competition from the Allan Line and Canadian Pacific). The former was fitted
with the engine configuration that White Star was considering for their Olympic
Class vessels (three propellers - two triple expansion engines drove port
and starboard screws and used their excess steam to turn a central turbine
engine which powered the centre screw). Albany was fitted with just
two propellers that were driven by a couple of conventional expansion engines.
At the time the ships were launched, they had already been bought by
WS to be used on the White Star-Dominion joint service to Canada.
Alberta was renamed Laurentic and Albany was renamed
Megantic. WS were able to compare the relative speeds and running
costs of the two vessels and incorporate the data and their conclusions into
the design of the Olympic Class.
Laurentic proved to be able to comfortably maintain an average
of 17 knots (a speed more or less matched by Megantic) but she was
cheaper to run than her counterpart.
Megantic sailed from Liverpool on her maiden voyage to Quebec and
Montreal on 17th Jun.1909. On 30th November, 1914, she started her first
Liverpool - New York voyage and commenced her last sailing on this route
on 21st April, 1915.
During The Great War (World War I) Megantic was used for trooping
duties on October 3rd, 1914 when she participated in the historic 32 trooper
convoy from Gaspé to Plymouth - escorted by the warships
Charybdis, Diane, Eclipse, Glory and
Talbot. Megantic was in the White Squadron section with
Bermudian, Royal Edward and Franconia. On November 30th,
she was returned to the North Atlantic run - between Liverpool and New York.
In April 1915, the Admiralty requisitioned Megantic again for troopship
duties. Megantic worked in this role for another two years - sometimes
carrying up to 1,800 soldiers.
On 6th April, 1917 she formally came under the liner requisition scheme
and continued to be used for war service. In April 1918 she resumed Liverpool
- New York sailings and started her last voyage on this service on 1st April1919.
Refitted to accommodate 325 First Class, 260 Second Class and 550 Third Class
passengers, she resumed Liverpool - Quebec - Montreal voyages in May 1919.
On 9th January,1920 she sailed Liverpool - Sydney for the British government
(transporting some of its staff to Sydney and Wellington). In 1924, the ship
was converted into a Cabin Class liner – the new passenger accommodation
was 452 Cabin Class and the same as before in second and third classes.
She made one voyage to China as a troop transport in 1927 and in March
1928 became cabin, tourist and 3rd class. On 22nd March, 1928 she sailed
London - Havre - Southampton - Halifax - New York and on 19th Apr.1928 commenced
her first London - Havre - Southampton - Quebec - Montreal voyage. Her last
voyage on this service started on 16th May 1931 and she was then laid up
at Rothesay, Scotland. In Feb.1933 she sailed to Osaka, Japan where she was
scrapped. |
