SS Sussex

Sussex at Boulogne after being torpedoed in March 1916. The entire forepart of the ship was destroyed in the attack.
History
Name
  • Sussex (1896–1920)
  • Aghia Sophia (1920–22)
Owner
  • London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (1896–1914)
  • Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l'État Français (1914–1919)
  • D Demetriades (1919–22)
Operator
  • London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (1896–1917)
  • Marine Nationale (1917–19)
  • D Demetriades (1919–22)
Port of registry
  • Newhaven United Kingdom (1896–1914)
  • Dieppe France (1914–19)
  • Piraeus Greece (1919–22)
Route
  • Newhaven – Dieppe (1896–1914)
  • Folkestone – Dieppe (1914–16)
BuilderWilliam Denny & Brothers
CostUK£60,016
Yard number530
Launched30 April 1896
Completed17 July 1896
Out of service1916–19
IdentificationUK Official Number 105651
FateDamaged by fire 1921, then scrapped
General characteristics
TypePassenger ferry
Tonnage
Length275.0 ft (83.82 m)
Beam34.1 ft (10.39 m)
Draught9.9 ft (3.02 m)
Depth14.0 ft (4.27 m)
Installed powerTwo 4-cylinder triple expansion steam engines
PropulsionTwin propellers
Speed20.5 knots (38.0 km/h)
Capacity750 passengers
Crew32 crew

SS Sussex was a cross-Channel passenger ferry, built in 1896 for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR). After the LBSCR came to a co-operation agreement with the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l'État Français, she transferred to their fleet under a French flag. Sussex became the focus of an international incident when she was severely damaged by a torpedo from a German U-boat in 1916 and at least 50 passengers died. After the war she was repaired and sold to Greece in 1919, being renamed Aghia Sophia. Following a fire in 1921, the ship was scrapped.

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