SS Ceramic
SS Ceramic was an 18,400-ton ocean liner of the White Star Line launched in 1913, and later sold to the Shaw, Savill and Albion Line. In 1942 German submarine U-515 sunk the Ceramic, leaving only one survivor of the 656 on board.
Ceramic was built at the Harland and Wolff yard in Belfast. She sailed the Liverpool to Australia route after her maiden voyage, then served as a British troopship during World War I. After the war, she returned to her regular run. In 1934, White Star merged with Cunard, and Ceramic was then sold to Shaw, Savill and Albion, but kept the same itinerary.
At the outset of World War II, Ceramic again carried troops, but soon returned to civilian service. On the night of 6 December 1942 she was in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Azores, bound for Australia, when she was hit by three torpedoes fired from U-515. Ceramic was crippled but still afloat, and about eight lifeboats were launched, all full. About three hours later, U-515 fired two more torpedoes, which broke the ship's back and sank her immediately.[1]