SS Sussex Sussex was a cross - English Channel passenger ferry , built in 1896 for the London , Brighton and South Coast Railway ( LBSCR ) . After the LBSCR came to a co - operation agreement with the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l ' État Français , she transferred to their fleet under a French flag . " Sussex " became the focus of an international incident when she was severely damaged by a torpedo from a German U - Boat in 1916 . After the war she was repaired and sold to Greece in 1919 , being renamed Aghia Sophia . Following a fire in 1921 , the ship was scrapped . Description . Built in 1896 by William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton for the LBSCR , she was a direct replacement for the 1893 built TSS " Seaford " , which sank in 1895 after a collision with another LBSCR ferry , the TSS " Lyon " . TSS " Sussex " was long , with a beam of . She had a GRT of 1 , 565 and a NRT of 328 . She was powered by two four - cylinder triple expansion steam engines , of 308 nhp , supplemented by a steam turbine . This power unit could propel her at . She was launched on 30 April 1896 . History . " Sussex " served on the Newhaven - Dieppe route , making her maiden voyage on the 31 July 1896 . In March 1912 she came to the assistance of the stricken P & O liner , which had been in collision with the 2850 - ton German - registered 4 masted steel - barque " Pisagua " , and subsequently sank with the loss of 9 lives . Replaced by the on the Newhaven - Dieppe route in 1913 , she was moved to Brighton to offer long day trip excursions , in competition with the White Funnel fleet paddle steamers of Bristol - based P and A Campbell . However , this proved unlucrative , and she was laid up from the end of that season . She was then sold in 1914 to the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l ' État Français , remaining under the management of the LBSCR . World War I . During the First World War , shipping from Newhaven was diverted to operate from Folkestone in order to free Newhaven for supplying British troops on the Western Front . On 24 March 1916 , " Sussex " was on a voyage from Folkestone to Dieppe when she was torpedo ed by . The ship was severely damaged , with the entire bow forward of the bridge blown off . Some of the lifeboats were launched , but at least two of them capsized and many passengers were drowned . Of the 53 crew and 325 passengers , at least 50 were killed , although a figure of between 80 and 100 is also suggested . " Sussex " remained afloat and was eventually towed stern - first into Boulogne harbour . The dead included the celebrated Spanish composer Enrique Granados , his wife Amparo and British tennis player Manliff Goodbody . Several Americans were injured . Although no US citizens were killed , the incident enraged public opinion in the United States , and caused a heated diplomatic exchange between the US and German governments . In May 1916 , Germany issued a declaration , the so - called Sussex pledge , which effectively represented the suspension of the " intensified " U - boat campaign . Between 1 and 3 January 1917 , , , , , assisted in the salvage of " Sussex " , each ship receiving a portion of the salvage money . " Sussex " remained in France , and was used by the Marine Nationale at Le Havre . Post WW1 . " Sussex " was repaired in France post - war , and in 1920 was sold to D Demetriades , Piraeus , being renamed " Aghia Sophia " . She was scrapped in 1921 following damage sustained in a fire .