SS India (1896)

{{Short description|1896 steam passenger liner}}

{{other ships|SS India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}

{{Infobox ship begin}} {{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:SS India.jpg |Ship caption= India 1906 }} {{Infobox ship career |Ship name=SS India |Ship owner=Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company |Ship registry= |Ship route= |Ship yard number=281 |Ship builder=Caird & Co, Greenock{{csr|register=MSI|id=1105572|shipname=India |accessdate=3 July 2009}} |Ship laid down= |Ship launched=15 April 1896 |Ship completed=3 September 1896 |Ship maiden voyage= |Ship in service= |Ship homeport=Greenock |Ship fate=Sunk by German submarine SM U-22 on 8 August 1915 }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Ship type=Ocean liner |Ship tonnage={{GRT|7911}} |Ship length={{convert|499|ft|11|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|54|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship draught={{convert|26|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship depth= |Ship hold depth= |Ship propulsion=*1 × propeller shaft 1 × three-cylinder triple-expansion steam engine 11000ihp |Ship speed={{convert|18|knots|km/h}} |Ship capacity=*Either 317 First Class and 152 Second Class passengers Or 2500 troops |Ship troops= |Ship crew= |Ship armament= |Ship notes= }}

SS India was a steam passenger liner operated by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) between 1896 and 1915.

India was the first of five sister ships built for P&O, the others being the Persia, China, Egypt and Arabia. India was the largest ship built for P&O at the time.

Built by Caird & Company of Greenock, Scotland, she was launched on 15 April 1896 and entered service later that year, operating on P&O's route between Britain, India and Australia. In 1900 she became the first ship to use P&O's new harbour facilities at Fremantle. She initially remained in service with P&O after the outbreak of the First World War, and carried Admiral Doveton Sturdee from Gibraltar back to England after the Battle of the Falkland Islands.

She was hired by the Admiralty on 13 March 1915 and was used as an armed merchant cruiser, serving in the 10th Cruiser Squadron. On 8 August that year she stopped off Helligvær, near Bodø, Norway, to investigate a suspected blockade runner, and was torpedoed by SM U-22.

India's sinking caused the deaths of 160 of the crew. The surviving 22 officers and 119 men were taken to Narvik.

{{Gallery

|title=HMS India common grave and memorial in Bodø, Norway

|width=160 | height=170 |align=center

|footer=HMS India common grave and memorial

|File:HMS India memorial in Bodø, Norway.jpg |

alt1=White gravestone with metal sign in cemetery

|Memorial and common grave for five crew members of HMS India, English language side

|File:HMS India memorial in Bodø, Norway - Norwegian side.jpg |

alt2=White gravestone in cemetery.

|Memorial and common grave for five crew members of HMS India, Norwegian language side

}}