- SM UC-26 during the Great War -
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About
SM UC-26
28th October 1916 Hospital shipHMHS Galeka alongside Britannic
SS Galeka was a steam ship originally built for the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company, but requisitioned for use as a British troop transport and then a hospital ship during the First World War. On 28 October 1916 she hit a mine laid by the German U-boat UC-26.
Owner: Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company. Builder: Harland and Wolff, Belfast. Yard number: 347. Launched: 21 October 1899. Completed: 23 December 1899. Fate: Hit a mine laid by German U-boat UC-26 on 28 October 1916.
General characteristics
Tonnage: 6,767 gtn. Length: 440 ft.(130 m), Beam: 53 ft (16 m). Speed: 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h).
History.
The ship was the last vessel to enter service before the merge between the Union and Castle shipping lines. She served on the South Africa route until the First World War when she was used by the UK as a troop transport, carrying troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps to the Gallipoli Campaign. Galeka was then refitted as a hospital ship with accommodation for 366 wounded passengers.
- Hospital Ship or Ambulance Transport Service during WW1.
- Medical Staff strength.
- Officers:8
- Nurses:10
- Other:54
- Accommodation capacity.
- Officers:
- Cots:254
- Berths:112
- Period of Service as Hospital Ship or Ambulance Transport.
- Date From:22nd June 1915
- Date To:28th October 1916
- Ships Crew details:
Sinking.
On 28 October 1916, while entering Le Havre HMHS Galeka struck a mine. She was not carrying patients at the time, but 19 Royal Army Medical Corps personnel died in the sinking. She was beached at Cap la Hogue, but was a total loss, Union-Castle's first war casualty.
10th April 1917 Hospital ship Salta lostHMHS Salta
HMHS Salta, Owner: Société Générale de Transport Maritime Steam, Operator: Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company (on behalf of the Admiralty), Builder: Société des Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranée, La Seyne-sur-Mer. Yard number: 1048, Launched: 13 March 1911, Completed: July 1911. In service: 1911,10 April 1917. Fate: Hit a mine laid by German U-boat UC-26 on 10 April 1917.
General characteristics
Tonnage: 7728 tons. Length: 137 m (449 ft), Beam: 16.2 m (53 ft), Propulsion: Steam, twin screws. Speed: 15 knots (28 km/h)
HMHS Salta (His Majesty's Hospital Ship) was a steam ship originally built for Société Générale de Transport Maritime Steam, but requisitioned for use as a British hospital ship during the First World War. On 10 April 1917 she hit a mine laid by the German U-boat UC-26.
History.
Built by the French company, Société des Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranée, at La Seyne-sur-Mer for the Société Générale de Transport Maritime Steam. The Salta was chartered by the British Admiralty in February 1915 and converted into a hospital ship. The former liner was painted white with wide green stripes and the insignia of the Red Cross, according to the terms laid down in the Hague Convention of 1894.
- Hospital Ship or Ambulance Transport Service during WW1.
- Medical Staff strength.
- Officers:6
- Nurses:12
- Other:45
- Accommodation capacity.
- Officers:16
- Cots:213
- Berths:232
- Period of Service as Hospital Ship or Ambulance Transport.
- Date From:3rd December 1914
- Date To:9th April 1917
- Ships Crew details:
Sinking.
While returning to pick up wounded at the port of Le Havre, France, Salta struck a mine at 1143 on the 10th April 1917, one mile (1.6 km) north of the entrance to the dam. A huge explosion smashed the hull near the stern in the engine room and hold number three. Water rushed into the disabled ship which listed to starboard and sank in less than 10 minutes. Of the 205 passengers and crew members, nine nurses, 42 member of the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) and 79 crew drowned.
The British patrol boat HMS P-26 attempted to come alongside to assist, but also struck a mine and sank.
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
Those known to have served on
SM UC-26
during the Great War 1914-1918.