SS Haverford was a British transatlantic liner built in 1901 for the American Line on the route from Southampton to New York, then on the route from Liverpool to Boston and Philadelphia. During her early years, this ship, mainly designed to transport migrants and goods, was the victim of several incidents. Her company was integrated into the International Mercantile Marine Co. (IMM) in 1902 and she was used by other companies within the trust, the Dominion Line and the Red Star Line.
The start of World War I did not stop her civilian service. It was not until January 1915 that she was requisitioned as a troop transport. During the conflict, she was attacked on several occasions by German submarines, one of them succeeding in torpedoing her on June 12, 1917. Although eight people died, the ship was beached and then repaired. After the war, she resumed, from 1919, her service to Philadelphia.
In 1921, another company within the IMM, White Star Line, took over the Philadelphia route previously operated by American Line, as well as the Haverford. Contrary to the usual practice of the company, the ship was not renamed, and continued to serve Philadelphia. From 1922, she returned to her original company for several crossings from Hamburg, then joined the White Star again. In 1924, worn out, the ship was sold to Italian shipbreakers, and scrapped the following year.
Characteristics
Haverford was a medium-sized ocean liner, with tonnages of and.