Pretoria was the second of HAPAG's four P-class ocean liners, which were built in the latter half of the 1890s. Harland and Wolff launched the first of them, Pennsylvania, in 1896. AG Vulcan Stettin launched the last of the four, Patricia, in 1899. Blohm & Voss in Hamburg built the second and third of the sisters, launching Pretoria in 1897 and Graf Waldersee in 1898.
Pretoria was launched on 9 October 1897 and completed in February 1898.[1] Her registered length was 561.0 ft (171.0 m), her beam was 62.2 ft (19.0 m) and her depth was 37.9 ft (11.6 m).[2] She had berths for 162 first classpassengers, 197 second class and 2,382 third class, and her tonnage was 12,800 GRT[3] and 14,130 tons displacement.[citation needed]
Pretoria made her maiden voyage in 1898. She left Hamburg on 12 February[1] and reaching New York on 24 February.[4]
In March 1899 HAPAG announced that the regular route for Pretoria and her three sisters would be Hamburg – Cherbourg – Plymouth – New York.[5] HAPAG also announced a reduction in its transatlantic fares. On Pretoria and her sisters the rate for a first class cabin was reduced from $65 to $50, and that for a second class cabin was reduced from $47.50 to $38.[6]
On 9 October 1908 in fog in the North Sea southwest of Texel in the Netherlands, Pretoria collided with the German cargo steamship Nipponia.[3]Nipponia sank, and her captain and 12 members of his crew were lost.[7]
In 1910 Pretoria was refitted as a two-class ship. First class was abolished, second class was increased to 400 berths and third class to 2,200 berths. The refit increased her tonnage to 13,234 GRT and 8,415 NRT.[3]
A painting of New York, with which Pretoria collided in 1914
On the night of 12–13 June 1914, in fog about 180 miles from the Nantucket lightvessel, Pretoria collided with the American Line ship New York. Pretoria tore a 15 by 32 feet (4.6 by 9.8 m) hole in New York's hull and left Pretoria's port anchor embedded in New York's structure.[9][10] The hole was 15 feet (4.6 m) above the water line, and New York was able to complete her voyage to New York unaided.[11] American Line alleged Pretoria was off-course. Pretoria's Captain Dugge denied this.[9]
Pretoria returned to Hamburg for repairs. While she was in Hamburg the First World War began. Pretoria remained in Hamburg for the duration.[1]
US service
On 28 March 1919 HAPAG surrendered Pretoria to the US Navy. The next day at Cowes, Isle of Wight she was commissioned as USS Pretoria.[12] On 17 April she left Brest, France for New York carrying 300 officers and 1,785 men of the American Expeditionary Forces and 41 civilian passengers.[13] The troops included the 151st Field Artillery Regiment of the Minnesota Army National Guard. Pretoria reached New York on 26 April, two days ahead of schedule.[14]
On 6 June 1919 Pretoria reached New York carrying 2,986 troops of the 36th Infantry Division.[15] On 12 July she reached New York carrying troops including the 1st Censor and Press Company, which included the staff of the Stars and Stripes newspaper.[16]
On 12 August 1919 Pretoria left Brest carrying members of the 3rd Infantry Division, including the 8th Machine Gun Battalion. Two days later a private of the 104th Wagon Train attempted suicide by jumping overboard. Another private made fast a rope, jumped overboard with the rope and rescued him. On 19 August a fire was discovered in one of Pretoria's bunkers. Soldiers helped the crew to move coal away from the fire, which was extinguished the next day.[17]
On 25 November 1919 Pretoria was transferred from the US Navy to the United States Shipping Board.[12] Later she was transferred to the UK Shipping Controller, who contracted Ellerman Lines to manage her.[3] In the first week of January 1920 in New York Harbor she suffered three fires in as many days. The third was on 4 January, when she was moored at Staten Island Pier waiting to sail in cargo. The fire broke out in her forward hold, and caused damage estimated at $100,000.[19]
_b_0289.jpg)
