Aragon: The HMT Aragon was originally a passenger liner built by Harland & Wolff, Ltd., Belfast, and was launched on 23 February, 1905. She was operated by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, Belfast, until requisitioned for use by the Royal Navy early in the war. The ship departed Marseilles, France for Malta in the company of an escort group and was carrying some 2500 bags of Christmas mail, 160 Nursing Sisters, 150 military officers, 2200 troops, plus ship's officers and crew. The ship arrived safely in Malta and remained there for 4 days before proceeding on to Alexandria, Egypt. By all accounts the trip was uneventful and, upon arrival, the ship was allowed to enter the Port of Alexandria early on the morning of 30 December (a Sunday) but was ordered back out of the port due to either there being no berth available, or that the harbor was mined (the story varies). None-the-less, the Aragon departed the harbor and stood off approximately 10-miles from port when a submarine was sighted which then fired a torpedo. Efforts to avoid the torpedo were unsuccessful and the Aragon was hit on the after port side of the ship and immediately began sinking. HMS Attack, which was also in the convoy, immediately came alongside the ship and took on as many personnel as was possible before being forced away from the sinking ship. As the HMS Attack stood off rescuing men in the water, she was also struck by a torpedo and sank as well. The Aragon and the Attack were both torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UC-34 commanded by Horst Obermuller. Total lives lost: 610 (including 6 of the nurses, 19 ships company and the Master). The ship now lies at Lat: 31.18.0X N Long: 29.48.0XE just outside of the entrance to the Alexandria Harbor in approximately 40-meters of water. Technical characteristics: Launched: 23 February, 1905 Builder: Harland & Wolff, Ltd., Belfast Operator: Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Tonnage: 9,588 GRT, 6,038 NT Propulsion: Quadruple-Expansion Boilers (875 NHP/16 Knots by Builder), Twin Screws Berthing as designed: 306 First Class passengers, 66 Second Class passengers 632 Third Class passengers Accounts of the sinking of the HMT Aragon and HMS Attack can be found here: http://www.merchantnavalofficers.com/rm2.html http://www.jrawl.co.uk/pugh.htm