SS Le Calvados was a French cargo ship that was requisitioned for use as a troopship during the First World War.
Construction and early service
- Built in 1890 at the Cockerill Yards in Hoboken, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Owned and operated by the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, a major French shipping line.
World War I service
Following the outbreak of war in 1914, the French Army requisitioned the vessel to transport troops and military personnel.
Sinking
- On 4 November 1915, while sailing in the Mediterranean Sea between Marseille, France, and Oran, French Algeria, SS Le Calvados was torpedoed by the Imperial German Navy submarine SM U‑38.
- The attack occurred approximately 22 nautical miles (41 km) northwest of Cape Ivy, near Arzew, French Algeria.
- Of the roughly 800 persons on board, about 740 were killed. Fifty‑five survivors were rescued by a British vessel.
Legacy
The loss of SS Le Calvados is recorded among the many merchant and troopships sunk by German U‑boats during World I, illustrating the hazards faced by non‑combatant vessels in wartime maritime operations.