CERAMIC   (1ST)

BUILT BY HARLAND AND WOLFF IN BELFAST IN 1913.SHE WAS TRANSFERRED TO SHAW SAVILLE AND ALBION LINE IN 1934 .IN 1940 SHE WAS IN COLLISION WITH THE ANDREW WEIR ( BANK LINE ) VESSEL 'TESTBANK'  AND SUSTAINED DAMAGE. SHE WAS TORPEDOED OFF THE AZORES IN 1942 BY THE GERMAN SUBMARINE U.515 AND SANK WITH 656 LIVES LOST,WITH ONLY ONE SURVIVOR,WHO WAS PICKED UP BY THE U.515 AND SPENT THE REST OF THE WAR AS A POW.CERAMIC SANK QUICKLY BEFORE ANY DISTRESS MESSAGE COULD BE SENT,AND CONSEQUENTLY IT WAS MONTHS BEFORE THE ADMIRALTY KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO CERAMIC.U.515 WAS SUNK IN 1944 BY AIRCRAFT FROM USS GUADALCANAL AND DEPTH CHARGES FROM ESCORTING VESSELS.43 MEMBERS OF U.515  SURVIVED THE ATTACK AND 16 WERE KILLED.THE U BOAT COMMANDER ( CAPT WERNER HENKE ) WAS LATER TO COMMIT SUICIDE WHILST IN AMERICAN CUSTODY