Terra Nova (ship)

The Terra Nova was a ship best known for its role in Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition to Antarctica (1910-1913). Originally built in 1884 by Alexander Stephen and Sons in Dundee, Scotland, as a whaler and sealer, she was robustly constructed for navigation in icy waters.

Prior to its Antarctic service, the Terra Nova had a distinguished career in the Arctic, demonstrating its strength and suitability for polar exploration.

Scott purchased the Terra Nova in 1909 for £12,500, funded by a government grant and private donations. The ship underwent extensive refitting to prepare it for the Antarctic voyage, including reinforcing the hull.

During the Terra Nova Expedition, the ship transported the expedition team, equipment, and supplies to Antarctica. It made several voyages between New Zealand and Antarctica, ferrying personnel and cargo. The Terra Nova played a crucial role in establishing the expedition's base camp at Cape Evans.

Following the expedition's tragic outcome, where Scott and his polar party perished on their return journey from the South Pole, the Terra Nova returned to service, primarily as a cargo ship.

In 1943, during World War II, the Terra Nova was chartered by the United States. While sailing on September 12, 1943, she encountered a German U-boat (U-259) and was torpedoed off the coast of Greenland, sinking with the loss of all hands.

The Terra Nova remains a significant symbol of Antarctic exploration, representing both the ambition and the perils faced by early polar explorers. Its legacy is closely tied to the story of Robert Falcon Scott and the Terra Nova Expedition.