SS Copenhagen (1907)

SS Copenhagen was a North Sea passenger ferry that was built in Scotland in 1907. She was the Great Eastern Railway (GER)'s first turbine steamship. In 1916 she was requisitioned as an ambulance ship. A U-boat sank her in 1917 with the loss of six lives.

Building
Between 1907 and 1910 John Brown & Company of Clydebank, Dumbartonshire built three ferries for the GER. Ida Hamilton, daughter of Claud Hamilton, Chairman of the GER, launched yard number 380 on 22 October 1907 as Copenhagen. The ship was completed that December, and registered in 1908. Yard number 384 was launched on 26 August 1908 as SS Munich (1908). Yard number 397 was launched on 25 April 1910 as SS St Petersburg.

Each ship had three steam turbines and three screws. Each turbine drove its respective screw by direct drive. Copenhagen was the GER's first turbine ship. The total power of her three turbines was rated at 1,200 shp, and gave her a speed of 22 kn. Her navigation equiplment included submarine signalling.

Copenhagen's registered length was 331.2 ft, her beam was 43.2 ft and her depth was 17.8 ft. Her tonnages were and. She had berths for 320 passengers amidships in first class, and 130 in second class aft. Her first class accommodation included 100 double cabins, a 62-seat dining saloon, a ladies' room, and a smoking room.

Passenger ferry
The GER registered Copenhagen at Harwich. Her United Kingdom official number was 123935 and her code letters were HMFQ. Her regular route was between Harwich and Hook of Holland.

By 1910 Copenhagen was equipped with wireless telegraphy. By 1913 her call sign was PQC. By 1914 this had been changed to GPI.

First World War
After the UK entered the First World War, Copenhagen at first remained on her peacetime route, and carried Belgian refugees to Britain. She was then requisitioned, at first as a troop ship. On 1 January 1916 she was reallocated as an ambulance ship.

On 5 March 1917 she was steaming from Harwich to Hook of Holland when SMU UC-61 torpedoed her 8 nmi east of the Noord Hinder Lightship. Copenhagen sank with the loss of six lives.