Loss of RMS Carpathia 1918 questions

[Felix C]

Anyone have the loss report handy to confirm if  Carpathia was armed and how the ship was painted?

 

I ask because there appears to be a crafted photo on the Internet passing as an actual sinking pic. and some points do not align. 

 

 

Edited 21 January , 2019 by Felix C

[Ralph Currell]

Hi Felix,

 

I don't have information specific to the Carpathia, but it's almost certain that a ship of her size on North Atlantic service would be armed and dazzle painted in July of 1918.

 

Regards,

   Ralph

[Felix C]

I see from reading period work that she was fitted with a 4.7" as a DEMS. That was in 1916 and since armament did shift around did wish to confirm it was still onboard at the date of sinking. 

Here is the offending pic: https://www.grandpacifictours.com/blogs/posts/CARPATHIA-From-a-rescue-ship-to-a-ship-of-war-221

 

Edited 21 January , 2019 by Felix C

[Ralph Currell]

Thanks for the link, Felix.  That photo is pretty dodgy looking.  In addition to the peacetime livery and lack of armament, none of the lifeboats appear to be swung out.

 

Regards,

   Ralph

[Kath]

https://rmstitanichotel.co.uk/rms-carpathia-and-the-titanic-glory-in-times-of-disaster/

[Felix C]

Yes that one i have seen and attributed to the submarine sinking vessel. 

 

I believe I read here that Carpathia had straggled from an outbound convoy destined to the USA. 

 

Here is an eyewitness account: 

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1918/07/20/98269248.pdf

 

Edited 21 January , 2019 by Felix C

[Ralph Currell]

Here's some film footage of the Carpathia, probably taken in early 1918:

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060023094 (Go to the third film reel, beginning at about the 12:50 mark).

I can't see any armament, but the newspaper article Felix linked to mentions a torpedo striking near the gunner's rooms.

 

There's not enough detail on Kath's photo to be sure.  The black funnel doesn't really look like the one in the film, unless it's due to some artifact of lighting.

 

Regards,

   Ralph

[Felix C]

Awesome. Damn good find. Well that is that. 

 

NB: to my eyes there is a big single mount artillery piece on the stern. See it just above and abaft that sternmost lifeboat

 

 

Edited 22 January , 2019 by Felix C