Passenger liner · 1913–1916 · East Sussex, United Kingdom

RMS Alaunia

Also known as Alaunia.

No wreck anywhere on the Sussex coast is larger. The RMS Alaunia, a Cunard Line ocean liner of over 13,000 tons, was designed for the transatlantic trade and had room for more than 2,000 passengers, at a time when going by sea was the only way across. War gave her a first in 1914: no Cunard ship before her had carried Canadian troops over to fight in Europe.

Two years on, on 19 October 1916, she was outward bound from London for New York when she hit a mine off the Royal Sovereign Lightship, and two of her crew died in the sinking. Off Eastbourne she rests on her port side in around 36 metres, the 159-metre hull rising 10 metres above the seabed in places.

Her bow is canted at a striking 45-degree angle, the port anchor still hanging from its hawsehole, and lines of portholes are still fitted along the riveted plating of her hull.

Type
Passenger linerBritish
Year built
1913Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Greenock
Lost
October 19th, 1916Mine
Casualties
2World War I
Tonnage
13,405 GRTsteam
Length
158.6 m19.5 m beam
Depth
26–36 m
Location
East Sussex, United KingdomDover Strait

4 of 8 facts above are cited in Sources below.

Deeper than 119 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.

History and LossLost October 19th, 1916 · Mine · World War I · East Sussex, United Kingdom.

On passage from London to New York, she hit a mine off the Royal Sovereign Lightship in the English Channel, and two of her crew lost their lives. Earlier in WWI she had carried Canadian troops, the first Cunard liner to do so. Her accommodation took 520 cabin and 1,540 third-class passengers.

Built 1913 by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Greenock; 3 years in service, also recorded as Alaunia. Lost October 19th, 1916, mine during World War I.

2lives lost on October 19th, 1916.

Condition of the WreckBroken, lying on port side, in 26–36 m.

Intactness

The biggest wreck on the Sussex coast rests on her port side. Her bow sits at a 45-degree angle, the port anchor still suspended from it, and a good number of her portholes survive where they were fitted. In places the hull rises 10m off the seabed.

Notable Features

  • Largest wreck on Sussex coast
  • Cunard ocean liner
  • Bow at 45-degree angle
  • Port anchor still hanging
  • Many portholes in place
  • Stands 10m high

Additional Details14 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.

Nationality
British
Flag
United Kingdom
Builder
Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Greenock
Propulsion
Steam
Loss date
October 19th, 1916
Conflict / event
World War I
Latitude
50.68° N
Longitude
0.45° E
Water body
Dover Strait
War grave
No
Protected
No
Permit required
No
Condition
Broken
Orientation
On port side

Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.

Background reading is listed for context and is not counted as a citation for the facts above.

  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright and database right.

A further 3 fields were derived from the wreck’s recorded position rather than taken from a source.

Licences and credits for the open data used on this site are on the Attribution page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RMS Alaunia?

RMS Alaunia is the wreck of a passenger liner, off East Sussex, United Kingdom, at 36 metres. RMS Alaunia struck a mine in 1916.

How deep is the RMS Alaunia?

RMS Alaunia lies at 26 to 36 metres, Approximately 8.1 nautical miles bearing 143T from Eastbourne Marina, East Sussex.

How did the RMS Alaunia sink?

RMS Alaunia struck a mine on October 19th, 1916 during World War I, off East Sussex, United Kingdom. 2 people lost their lives.