View source for SS Ceramic

{{Short description|1913 ship sunk in World War II}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Starboard view of White Star Liner SS Ceramic at sea (crop).jpg
|Ship caption= ''Ceramic''
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country= [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|Ship flag= {{shipboxflag|UK|civil}}
|Ship name= ''Ceramic''
|Ship owner= *[[White Star Line|Ocean Steam Nav Co]] (1913–34)
*[[Shaw, Savill & Albion Line|Shaw, Savill & Albion]] (1934–42)
|Ship operator= *[[White Star Line]] (1913–34)
*Shaw, Savill & Albion (1934–42)
|Ship registry=*[[Port of Liverpool|Liverpool]] (1913–34)
*[[Port of Southampton|Southampton]] (1934–42)
|Ship identification=*UK [[Official number]] 135474
*[[Code letters]] JCNK (until 1933)
*{{ICS|Juliet}}{{ICS|Charlie}}{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Kilo}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Call sign]] MCP (1913–30)
*Call sign GLST (1930–42)
*{{ICS|Golf}}{{ICS|Lima}}{{ICS|Sierra}}{{ICS|Tango}}
|Ship route= Liverpool – [[Union of South Africa|South Africa]] – [[History of Australia (1901–45)|Australia]]
|Ship ordered=
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder= [[Harland and Wolff]], [[Belfast]]
|Ship original cost= £436,000
|Ship yard number= 432
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched= 11 December 1912
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship completed= 5 July 1913
|Ship acquired= 
|Ship maiden voyage= 24 July 1913
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship refit=1920, 1936
|Ship motto= 
|Ship nickname=
|Ship fate= Torpedoed and sunk, 6–7 December 1942
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption= 
|Ship class=
|Ship type= [[Cargo liner]]
|Ship tonnage=*'''1913–20:''' {{GRT|18481}}, {{NRT|11729}}
*'''1920–36:''' {{GRT|18495}}, {{NRT|11718}}
*'''1936–42:''' {{GRT|18713}}, {{NRT|11582}}
|Ship displacement=
|Ship length= {{cvt|655.1|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{cvt|69.4|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught= {{cvt|47|ft|10|in|abbr=on}}<ref name=LR37/>
|Ship depth= {{cvt|43.8|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship hold depth=
|Ship decks= 3 as built, later 4
|Ship power=*{{Convert|9000|ihp|0|abbr=on}} as built,
*1,692 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]] after 1936 refit
|Ship propulsion=*2 × [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|Triple expansion engine]]s
*1 × Low pressure [[Marine propulsion#Steam turbines|Turbine]]
*3 [[Propeller|Screw]] propellers
|Ship speed=*{{Convert|16|kn|km/h|lk=in}}
|Ship range=
|Ship endurance=
|Ship boats=
|Ship capacity= *600 3rd class passengers as built
**[[Reefer ship|refrigerated cargo]]:
*{{cvt|321306|cuft|0}}
|Ship crew= 264 crew + 14 [[Defensively equipped merchant ship|DEMS]] gunners (1942)
|Ship sensors=*Wireless [[direction finding]] by 1930
*[[Echo sounding]] device by 1933
|Ship armament=*Two stern-mounted
*[[QF 4.7-inch Gun Mk I–IV|QF 4.7-inch]] (120 mm) guns
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''SS ''Ceramic''''' was an [[ocean liner]] built in [[Belfast]] for [[White Star Line]] in 1912–13 and operated on the [[Port of Liverpool|Liverpool]] – [[History of Australia (1901–45)|Australia]] route. ''Ceramic'' was the largest ship serving the route until [[Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company|P&O]] introduced {{RMS|Mooltan}} in 1923.

In 1934 [[Shaw, Savill & Albion Line]] absorbed White Star's Australia service and acquired ''Ceramic''. The liner served as a [[troopship]] in both World Wars. In 1942 a [[U-boat#World War II (1939–1945)|U-boat]] sank her, leaving only one survivor from the 656 people aboard.

This was the first of two ships to be called ''Ceramic''. The second was a Shaw, Savill & Albion [[Reefer ship|refrigerated cargo]] steamship that was built in England in 1948 and scrapped in 1972.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://shippingandshipbuilding.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=206040&vessel=CERAMIC |title=Ceramic (1948) |work=Shipping and Shipbuilding |publisher=Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust |access-date=20 January 2021}}</ref>

==Building==
[[Harland and Wolff]] built ''Ceramic'' as hull 432 on the Number One slipway of its Belfast yard,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theyard.info/ships/ships.asp?entryid=432 |title=Ceramic (1912) |work=Harland and Wolff |access-date=20 January 2021}}</ref> launching her on 11 December 1912 and completing her on 5 July 1913.<ref name=SAS>{{cite web |url= http://shippingandshipbuilding.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=202770&vessel=CERAMIC |title=Ceramic |work=Shipping and Shipbuilding |publisher=Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust |access-date=20 January 2021}}</ref> Her total cost was £436,000.<ref>{{harvnb|Hardy|2012|p=}}{{Page needed|date=August 2014}}</ref>

''Ceramic''{{'}}s engines were what was called "combination machinery". She had three [[propellers]], with a pair of four-cylinder [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple expansion engines]] driving her [[port and starboard]] props<ref name=LR30>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30b0229.pdf |year=1930 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships |volume=II |place=London |publisher=[[Lloyd's Register]] |access-date=20 January 2021}}</ref> and exhaust steam from their low pressure cylinders powering a single low-pressure [[Marine propulsion#Steam turbines|steam turbine]] that drove her middle screw. Harland and Wolff and White Star Line had successfully tested this arrangement in 1908 on {{SS|Laurentic|1908|2}} and had since applied it to the three giant {{sclass|Olympic|ocean liner}}s. Between them ''Ceramic''{{'}}s three engines were rated at {{Convert|9000|ihp|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=SAS/> and gave her a speed of {{Convert|16|kn|km/h|lk=in}}.{{sfn|Harnack|1930|p=463}}

''Ceramic''{{'}}s [[Length between perpendiculars|registered length]] was {{cvt|655.1|ft|abbr=on}}. Her beam was {{cvt|69.4|ft|abbr=on}} and her depth was {{cvt|43.8|ft|abbr=on}}. As built, she had three decks<ref name=LR30/> and her [[tonnage]]s were {{GRT|18481}} and {{NRT|11718}}.<ref name=SAS/> Some of her holds were [[Reefer ship|refrigerated]]. In later years her refrigerated cargo capacity was cited as {{cvt|321340|cuft|0}} in 1930<ref>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30a0599.pdf |year=1930 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=List of Vessels fitted with refrigerating appliances |volume=I |place=London |publisher=[[Lloyd's Register]] |access-date=20 January 2021}}</ref> and {{cvt|321306|cuft|0}} in 1936.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/36/36a0863.pdf |year=1936 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=List of Vessels fitted with refrigerating appliances |volume=I |place=London |publisher=[[Lloyd's Register]] |access-date=20 January 2021}}</ref>

White Star Line registered ''Ceramic'' at Liverpool. Her UK [[official number]] was 135474 and her [[code letters]] were JCNK.<ref name=LR30/> She carried [[wireless telegraphy]] equipment, operated by the [[Marconi Company]] on the standard 300 and 600 metre wavelengths. Her original [[Maritime call sign|call sign]] was MCP.{{sfn|The Marconi Press Agency Ltd|1914|page=386}}

==White Star service==
[[File:At Cape Town (MP) 2018 193.jpg|thumb|right|Model at the [[South African Maritime Museum]]]]
''Ceramic''{{'}}s maiden voyage began on 24 July 1913 when she left Liverpool for Australia.<ref>{{cite journal |year=1913 |title=White Star Line |journal=International Marine Engineering |volume=36 |issue=August |pages=26 |publisher=Marine Engineering, Inc., New York—London |url= https://archive.org/stream/marineengineer36londuoft#page/26/mode/1up |access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> At the time she was the largest liner on the route between the two countries.{{sfn|Wilson|1956|p=124}}<ref name=U2496>{{cite web
|url= http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2496.html |title=Ceramic |date=1995–2021 |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=uboat.net |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref> In 1914 she was requisitioned for the [[First Australian Imperial Force]] as the [[troopship]] HMAT (His Majesty's Australian Transport) ''Ceramic'', with the [[pennant number]] A40.<ref name=25London/>

She was armed with two stern-mounted [[QF 4.7-inch Gun Mk I–IV|QF 4.7-inch]] (120 mm) naval guns.<ref name=TitanicCeramic>{{cite web |url= http://www.titanic-titanic.com/ceramic.shtml |title=SS Ceramic |work=Titanic-Titanic |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref><ref name=25London>{{cite web |url= http://www.25thlondon.com/ceramic.htm |title=H.M.T. Ceramic |work=25th County of London Cyclist Battalion The London Regiment |last=Parker-Galbreath |first=Simon |publisher=Simon Parker-Galbreath |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref> Her navigation equipment included wireless [[direction finding]] by 1930<ref name=LR30/> and [[echo sounding]] by 1933.<ref name=LR33>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/33/33b0178.pdf |year=1933 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships |volume=II |place=London |publisher=[[Lloyd's Register]] |access-date=20 January 2021}}</ref>

In 1916 ''Ceramic'' took the [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] [[25th (County of London) Cyclist Battalion]] to India, leaving [[Devonport, Devon|Devonport]] on 3 February and reaching [[Mumbai Harbour|Bombay]] on 25 February.<ref name=25London/>

''Ceramic'' survived a number of attacks. In May 1916 she was in the Mediterranean carrying 2,500 troops when two torpedoes from an unidentified attacker missed her.<ref name=25London/> On 9 June 1917 she was in the English Channel when again a torpedo from an unidentified attacker missed her. On 21 July in the North Atlantic off the [[Canary Islands]] a surfaced [[U-boat#World War I (1914–1918)|U-boat]] chased her<ref name=U2496/> for 40 minutes. ''Ceramic'' fired on the U-boat with her 4.7 inch stern guns and outran her attacker.<ref name=25London/>

In May 1917 ''Ceramic'' was transferred from Australian control to the UK [[Shipping Controller]] under the Liner Requisition Scheme. In 1919 she was returned to White Star Line and in 1920 Harland and Wolff refitted her as a civilian liner.<ref name=25London/> The refit slightly increased her tonnage to {{GRT|18495}}.<ref name=LR30/> She resumed civilian service on 18 November 1920 when she left Liverpool for [[Glasgow]] and [[Port Jackson|Sydney]].

''Ceramic'' ran aground on the [[River Clyde]] at [[Glasgow]] on 12 January 1925. She later was refloated and [[dry dock]]ed.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Casualty reports |date=13 January 1925 |page=21 |issue=43858 |column=G}}</ref>

On 18 December 1930, ''Ceramic'' collided with the [[Pacific Steam Navigation Company]]'s {{GRT|6469}} cargo [[motor ship]] ''Laguna'' in the [[River Thames]] near [[Gravesend]]. Both ships were slightly damaged.<ref name=U2496/>

==Shaw, Savill and Albion peacetime service==
In 1934 White Star merged with [[Cunard Line|Cunard]]. ''Ceramic'' was sold to Shaw, Savill and Albion but kept the same route and name. She started her first voyage for her new owner on 25 August, when she left Liverpool for [[Port of Brisbane|Brisbane]]. From 1930 her three-letter wireless call sign was superseded by the four-letter call sign GLST.<ref name=LR37/>

In June 1936 Harland and Wolff's yard in [[Govan]], Glasgow began a refit to modernise ''Ceramic''. Her forward bridge deck was glassed in, a verandah café was added aft. The refit changed her tonnages to {{GRT|18713}} and {{NRT|11582}}.<ref name=LR37/> Despite being 23 years old, she remained a popular ship on the route between the UK and Australia.{{sfn|Wilson|1956|p=135}}

As refitted, she had 36 corrugated furnaces with a combined grate area of {{convert|725|sqft|0}}. The furnaces heated six double-ended boilers with a combined heating surface of {{convert|30090|sqft|0}}. The boilers supplied steam at 215 [[Pounds per square inch|lb<sub>f</sub>/in<sup>2</sup>]] to ''Ceramic''{{'}}s two triple-expansion engines. Her three engines were now rated at 1,692 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]].<ref name=LR37>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/37/37b0172.pdf |year=1937 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships |volume=II |place=London |publisher=[[Lloyd's Register]] |access-date=20 January 2021}}</ref> ''Ceramic'' resumed service on 15 August 1936.<ref name=TitanicCeramic/>

==Second World War service==
When the [[World War II|Second World War]] broke out on 1 September 1939 ''Ceramic'' was at [[Tenerife]] on her regular route to South Africa and Australia. She continued as scheduled, unescorted, reaching Australia in October. She left Sydney on 1 November<ref name=Hague>{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ports/index.html?search.php?vessel=CERAMIC~armain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Ceramic |work=Ship Movements |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref> and returned unescorted until she reached [[Freetown]], [[Sierra Leone]], where she joined [[List of Allied convoy codes during World War II#S|Convoy SL]] 13F, becoming the convoy vice-commodore's ship. SL 13F left port on 19 December and reached Liverpool on 3 January 1940.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/sl2/index.html?sl.php?convoy=13F!~slmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy SL.13F |work=SL/MKS Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref>

In February 1940 ''Ceramic'' was commissioned as a troop ship.<ref name=TitanicCeramic/> She kept her usual route, leaving Liverpool unescorted on 19 February and reaching Sydney on 14 April. She left Sydney for home on 20 April, and after her regular calls in Australia and South Africa she put into Freetown on 2 June. If she was seeking a home-bound convoy she found none, for she sailed the next day unescorted and reached Liverpool on 13 June.<ref name=Hague/>

===Collision with ''Testbank''===
On 20 July 1940 ''Ceramic'' left Liverpool with [[List of Allied convoy codes during World War II#O|Convoy OB]] 186. This dispersed at sea two days later as scheduled.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ob2/index.html?ob.php?convoy=186!~obmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy OB.186 |work=OB Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref>

In the South Atlantic in the small hours of 11 August 1940 the [[Bank Line]] cargo ship {{SS|Testbank||2}} sighted ''Ceramic'' about a mile and a half ahead. Under wartime navigation regulations both ships were sailing without navigation lights. ''Ceramic''{{'}}s lookout failed to see ''Testbank'' until the two ships were about {{convert|350|yd}} from each other. Both ships took avoiding action but were too late to avoid a collision.<ref name=Marsh>{{cite web |url= http://rapidttp.co.za/waratsea/testbank.html |last=Marsh |first=John H |title=British Freighter "Testbank" |work=South Africa and the War at Sea |publisher=Mike Marsh |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref>

About 0200 hrs ''Testbank'' rammed ''Ceramic''{{'}}s starboard bow. The combined speed of the collision was about {{convert|25|kn|km/h}}. It shortened the cargo ship's bow by about {{convert|20|ft|0}} and opened a hole about {{convert|40|ft}} wide in the liner's Number One Hold, but both ships stayed afloat. ''Testbank''{{'}}s cargo was 9,000 tons of iron ore, which would have sunk her very quickly if she had shipped enough water. In the event she was able to return to Cape Town under her own power.<ref name=Marsh/>

As a precaution, ''Ceramic''{{'}}s 279 passengers were taken off and transferred by boats to the [[Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company|P&O]] liner {{RMS|Viceroy of India}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.poheritage.com/Upload/Mimsy/Media/factsheet/94879VICEROY-OF-INDIA-1929pdf.pdf |title=Viceroy of India (1929) |work=Fact Sheet |publisher=P&O Heritage |date=June 2009 |access-date=20 January 2021}}</ref> ''Ceramic'' reached [[Walvis Bay]] in [[South West Africa]] with the aid of a [[Tugboat|tug]] and escorted by a Royal Navy warship. She arrived on 16 August and stayed for emergency repairs until 24 September. She reached Cape Town on 27 September and stayed there for almost £50,000 worth of further repairs.<ref name=Marsh/> On 10 December ''Ceramic'' resumed her passage to Australia, reaching Sydney on 18 January 1941. Apart from a visit to [[Newcastle, New South Wales]] ''Ceramic'' stayed in Sydney until 21 March, when she left for home. She made her usual calls in South Africa at the end of April and reached Liverpool on 28 May.<ref name=Hague/>

===Further war service===
On 28 or 29 June 1941 ''Ceramic'' left Liverpool with [[List of Allied convoy codes during World War II#W|Convoy WS]] 9B, which reached Freetown on 13 July.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/misc/index.html?yy.php?convoy=WS.9B!~miscmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy WS.9B |work=Shorter Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref> She continued unescorted ''via'' South Africa as usual, reaching Sydney on 4 September, where she stayed until 1 October. She then visited Newcastle and [[Port of Brisbane|Brisbane]] before leaving Sydney for home on 12 October. Instead of returning by her usual route ''Ceramic'' turned east across the [[Tasman Sea]], called at [[Wellington Harbour|Wellington]], [[New Zealand]] 19–27 October and then crossed the Pacific. In November she passed through the [[Panama Canal]] and reached [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]].<ref name=Hague/> There she joined [[HX convoys|Convoy HX]] 163, which left on 3 December and reached Liverpool on 19 December.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html?hx.php?convoy=163!~hxmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy HX.163 |work=Shorter Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref>

In January 1942 ''Ceramic'' left Liverpool with [[List of Allied convoy codes during World War II#O|Convoy ON]] 59 until it dispersed as scheduled in the North Atlantic. Because of the threat of enemy attack her Atlantic route from Liverpool to Cape Town was extended westwards. She steamed west unescorted across the North Atlantic to Halifax, arriving on 7 February. On 15 February she left Halifax and under naval escort to [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil, arriving on 5 March. She continued unescorted ''via'' South Africa to Australia, reaching Sydney on 29 April.<ref name=Hague/>

Again she continued east to return home, this time calling at [[Lyttelton, New Zealand]] on 2 June before crossing the Pacific and the passing through Panama Canal.<ref name=Hague/> In [[Cristóbal, Colón]] she joined Convoy [[List of Allied convoy codes during World War II#C|Convoy CW]] 2/1, which left on 3 July and reached [[Key West, Florida|Key West]] on 12 July,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/cw/index.html?cw.php?convoy=2/1!~cwmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy CW.2 (US) |work=CW Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref> where most of its ships including ''Ceramic'' joined [[List of Allied convoy codes during World War II#K|Convoy KN]] 119. This left Key West the same day and reached [[Hampton Roads]], Virginia on 17 July.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/kn/index.html?kn.php?convoy=119!~knmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy KN.119 |work=KN Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref> ''Ceramic'' continued unescorted, calling at [[Port of New York and New Jersey|New York]] 24–27 July and continuing to Halifax where she joined Convoy HX 201.<ref name=Hague/> This left on 2 August and reached Liverpool on 14 August. On this voyage ''Ceramic'' carried 372 passengers to Liverpool.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html?hx.php?convoy=201!~hxmain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Convoy HX.201 |work=Shorter Convoy Series |publisher=Don Kindell, ConvoyWeb |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref>

===Loss===
{{location map|North Atlantic
|coordinates={{coord|40|30|N|40|20|W}}
|caption=Approximate position of ''Ceramic''{{'}}s wreck in the North Atlantic
|relief= yes
}}
On 3 November 1942 ''Ceramic'' left Liverpool for Australia ''via'' [[Saint Helena]] and [[Union of South Africa|South Africa]]. She was carrying 377 passengers, 264 crew, 14 [[Defensively equipped merchant ship|DEMS]] gunners and 12,362 tons of cargo.<ref name=U2496/> 244 of the passengers were military or naval, including at least 145 [[British Army]], 30 [[Royal Navy]], 14 [[Royal Australian Navy]] and 12 [[Royal Marines]]. 30 of her British Army passengers were [[Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service|QAIMNS]] nursing sisters. The other 133 passengers were fare-paying civilians. 12 were children, the youngest being a one-year-old baby girl. Six were doctors, five of whom were South African.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship2496.html |title= Ceramic: British steam passenger ship |date= 1995–2021 |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website= uboat.net |access-date = 20 January 2021}}</ref> One passenger was [[Rudolph Dolmetsch]] (1906{{ndash}}42), classical musician and composer, then serving as Regimental [[Bandmaster#British Armed Forces|Bandmaster]] with the [[Royal Artillery]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dolmetsch.com/Rudolph.htm |website=Dolmetsch Online |title=Rudolph Dolmetsch (1906{{ndash}}1942) |access-date=17 March 2016}}</ref>

''Ceramic'' sailed with Convoy ON 149 until it dispersed as scheduled in the North Atlantic. She then continued unescorted as planned.<ref name=Hague/> As on her previous departure in January, she first headed west because of the threat of enemy attack.

At midnight on 6–7 December, in cold weather and rough seas in the mid-Atlantic, {{GS|U-515||2}} hit ''Ceramic'' with a single [[torpedo]]. These were followed two or three minutes later by two more that hit ''Ceramic''{{'}}s engine room, stopping her engines and her electric lighting. The liner radioed a distress signal, which was received by the {{sclass|Emerald|cruiser}} {{HMS|Enterprise|D52|6}}. The crippled liner stayed afloat and her complement abandoned ship in good order, launching about eight [[Lifeboat (shipboard)|lifeboat]]s all full of survivors.<ref name=U2496/>

[[File:HMS Enterprise WWII IWM FL 005389.jpg|thumb|The [[light cruiser]] {{HMS|Enterprise|D52|6}} received ''Ceramic''{{'}}s distress signal]]
About three hours later ''U-515'' fired two more torpedoes, which broke the ship's back and sank her immediately. By now it was very stormy and raining. The heavy sea capsized some of the lifeboats and left many people struggling in the water. Those boats that were not capsized stayed afloat only by constant bailing.<ref name=U2496/>

Next morning the ''[[Befehlshaber der U-Boote|BdU]]'' ordered ''U-515'' to return to the position of the sinking to find out the ship's destination. About noon the U-boat commander, ''[[Captain lieutenant#Germany|Kapitänleutnant]]'' [[Werner Henke]], decided to rescue the ''Ceramic'''s skipper. In heavy seas, he sighted one of the lifeboats and its occupants waved to him. The storm was now almost [[Beaufort scale#Modern scale|Force 10]] and almost swamping ''U-515''{{'}}s [[Conning tower#Submarines|conning tower]], so Henke ordered his crew to make do with the first survivor they could find. This turned out to be [[Sapper]] Eric Munday of the [[Corps of Royal Engineers|Royal Engineers]], whom they rescued from the water and took prisoner aboard the submarine.<ref name=U2496/>

No other occupants of the lifeboats survived. The storm was too severe for neutral rescue ships from [[São Miguel Island]] in the [[Azores]] to put to sea.{{sfn|Slader|1988|p=234}} On 9 December the [[Portuguese Navy|Portuguese]] {{sclass|Douro|destroyer}} {{ship|NRP|Dão}} was sent to search for survivors, but found none.<ref name=U2496/>

Munday was kept prisoner aboard ''U-515'' for a month, including Christmas and New Year, until she completed her patrol. When she returned to [[Lorient]], [[Brittany]] on 6 January 1943 he was landed at [[Lorient U-boat base]] and sent to [[Stalag VIII-B]] in [[Upper Silesia]], where he remained a [[prisoner of war]] until 1945.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/person/45955.html |title=Eric Munday |date=1995–2021 |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net |access-date=20 January 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List by death toll of ships sunk by submarines]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last=Crabb |first=Brian James |year=2006 |title=Beyond the Call of Duty. The Loss of British Commonwealth Mercantile and Service Women at Sea During the Second World War |publisher=Donington |place=Shaun Tyas |isbn=1 900289 66-0}}
*{{cite book |last=Dunn |first=Laurence |year=1964 |title=Famous liners of the past – Belfast Built |place=London |publisher=Adlard Coles Ltd}}
*{{cite book |last=Hardy |year=2012 |first=Clare |title=SS Ceramic – The Untold Story |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |url= http://www.ssceramic.co.uk/}}
*{{cite book |last=Harnack |first=Edwin P |orig-year=1903 |year=1930 |title=All About Ships & Shipping |place=London |publisher=[[Faber and Faber]] |edition=3rd |page=463}}
*{{cite book |author=The Marconi Press Agency Ltd |author-link=Marconi Company |year=1914 |title=The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony |place=London |publisher=The Marconi Press Agency Ltd}}
*{{cite book |last=Slader |first=John |year=1988 |title=The Red Duster at War |publisher=William Kimber & Co Ltd |place=London |isbn=0-7183-0679-1 |page=234}}
*{{cite book |last=Talbot-Booth |first=EC |orig-year=1936 |year=1942 |title=Ships and the Sea |edition=Seventh |publisher=[[Sampson Low]], Marston & Co. Ltd |place=London |pages=413, 451}}
*{{cite book |last=Wilson |first=RM |year=1956 |title=The Big Ships |place=London |publisher=[[Cassell (publisher)|Cassell & Co]]}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ceramic (ship, 1913)}}
*{{cite web |url= http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/SSCeramicavictimofU-515.html |last=Gregory |first=Mackenzie J |title=SS Ceramic, a victim of U-515 on the 7th. of December 1942 |work=Ahoy – Mac's Web Log |date=1984–2013}} — includes photographs of damage to ''Ceramic'' after her collision with ''Testbank''

{{White Star Line ships}}
{{1925 shipwrecks}}
{{1930 shipwrecks}}
{{December 1942 shipwrecks}}
{{coord|40|30|N|40|20|W|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ceramic}}
[[Category:1912 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1925]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1930]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in December 1942]]
[[Category:Ships built by Harland and Wolff]]
[[Category:Ships built in Belfast]]
[[Category:Ships of the White Star Line]]
[[Category:Ships of the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by German submarines in World War II]]
[[Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Troop ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]