S.S. Auguste Victoria, Hamburg America Line

Originally laid down as the "Normannia", (ship #183) but launched on 1 December 1888 as the Augusta Victoria, after Auguste Victoria, wife of the Emperor Wilhelm II. (The error in the first name was not discovered until after the launching, and was officially changed in 1897). The Augusta Victoria was the first German express steamer, and the type-ship of the "Augusta-Victoria Class".She was a steel construction with three funnels and three masts. She had triple-expansion engines (13,500 psi), twin screws and a speed of 18-19 knots. There was accommodation for 400-1st, 120-2nd and 580-3rd class passengers and she had crew of 245 persons.

She started a winter service from Genoa to New York on March 15th 1894 and commenced her last voyage from Hamburg to Southampton and New York on October 22nd 1896. In 1896-7 she was lengthened to 520.8ft by Harland & Wolff, her tonnage increased to 8,479 tons and her mainmast removed. At the same time she was given the correct name of "Auguste Victoria". On June 3rd 1897 she resumed the Hamburg - Southampton - New York service and on April 8th 1903 commenced her last voyage from Naples to Genoa and New York. She sailed from Hamburg on her final voyage to Southampton and New York on January 16th 1904 and was sold to Russia in May of that year. Renamed "Kuban" and used as a Russian auxiliary cruiser and troopship in the Russo-Japanese War, she was eventually scrapped at Stettin in 1907.

The S.S. Augusta Victoria, in the pack ice Support Norway Heritage: Purchase a copy

S/S Auguste Victoria of the Hamburg America Line photographed on a cruise along the Norwagian coast to Spitzbergen

Officers gathered on the ship on a cruise to the Mediterranean in 1891. Support Norway Heritage: Purchase a copy

S.S. Auguste Victoria Support Norway Heritage: Purchase a copy

Hamburg America Line steamship Augusta Victoria, longitudinal sctional view and plans of the upper deck and main deck. Support Norway Heritage: Purchase a copy

Capt. Barends standing on the bridge on a cruise to the Mediterranean in 1891 Support Norway Heritage: Purchase a copy

Auguste Victoria, deck view Support Norway Heritage: Purchase a copy