SS Athenia (1922)

## SS Athenia

Athenia shortly after completion

SS Athenia was a transatlantic oceanliner that is known for being the first ship sunk in World War 2.

## Layout

### Bridge

* Wheelhouse
* Chart Room
* Bridge Wings

### Boat Deck

* Captain's Bedroom
* Captain's Sitting Room
* Cargo Hatch Number 4
* Cabin Class Entrance/Staircase
* Funnel Hatch
* Marconi Wireless Room
* Wireless Operator's Cabins
* Drawing Room Dome
* Coal Shoot
* Lounge Dome
* Engine Hatch
* Smoking Room Dome
* Lifeboats 1 - 8
* Cargo Hatch 5

### Promenade Deck

* Lifeboats 8 - 10
* Cargo Hatch Number 3
* Chief Officer's Cabin
* 3rd Officer's Cabin
* 4th Officer's Cabin
* 2nd Officer's Cabin
* 5th Officer's Cabin
* Officer's Mess
* Officer's Water closet
* Officer's Baths
* Cabin Class Entrance/Staircase
* Cabin Class Lounge 1
* Marconi Office
* Funnel Hatch
* Cabin Class Nursery
* Cabin Class Drawing Room
* Coal Shoot
* Cabin Class Lounge 2
* Cabin Class Gentlemen's Lavatory
* Cabin Class Women's Lavatory
* Cabin Class Bar
* Cabin Class Gentlemen's Smoking Room
* Cabin Class Verandah Café
* Cargo Hatch Number 5
* Electrical Store
* Supply Fan Number 3
* Lifeboats 10 - 12
* Cargo Hatch Number 6
* Cargo Hatch Number 7
* Magnetic Compass
* 3rd Class Entrance/Staircase
* Cabin Class Cabins (354 people)
* Cabin Class Entrance/Staircase
* Cabin Class Shared Baths
* Cabin Class Gentlemen's Lavatory
* Cabin Class Women's Lavatory
* Engine Hatch
* Purser's Cabin
* Chief Steward's Cabin
* Assistant Purser's Cabin
* Surgeon's Cabin
* Hospital
* Isolation
* Lifeboats 12 - 14

### Shelter Deck

* Seamen's Mess
* Firemen's Mess
* Seamen's Bunks (36 people)
* Trimmer's Bunks (12 people)
* Greaser's Bunks (6 people)
* 3rd Class Staircase
* Steward's Mess
* 3rd Class Gentlemen's Lavatory
* 3rd Class Women's Lavatory
* 3rd Class Shared Baths
* Quartermaster's Bunks (6 people)
* Store's Lift
* Cabin Class Entrance 1
* Cabin Class Entrance 2
* Cabin & 3rd Class Cabins (162 people)
* Cabin Class Staircase
* Funnel Hatch
* Boatswain's Cabin
* Boatswains Mate's Cabin
* 3rd Class Lounge
* Engineer's Accommodation
* Engineer's Mess
* Printing Office
* Linen Storage Room
* Cabin Class Saloon Entrance
* 3rd Class Gentlemen's Lavatory
* Hospital
* 3rd Class Promenade
* 3rd Class Entrance/Staircase
* Master at Arm's Cabin

### Upper Deck

* Chain Locker
* Barber's Shop & Cabin
* Assistant Chef and Baker's Accommodation (4 people)
* 3rd Class Cabins (140 people)
* Baggage Room
* Cabin Class Dining Saloon (262 seats)
* Cabin Class Pantry 1
* Cabin Class Pantry 2
* Cabin Class Bar
* Vegetable Storage Room
* Bakery & Confectionaries
* 3rd & Cabin Class Galley
* Scullery
* 3rd Class Pantry
* 3rd Class Dining Saloon (318 seats)
* 3rd Class Cabins (226 people)
* 3rd Class Promenade
* 3rd Class Staircase
* 3rd Class Gentlemen's Smoking Room
* 3rd Class Lounge
* Steward's Accommodation (24 people)
* Steward's Lavatory

### Main Deck

* Store
* Chain Locker
* Cargo Space
* 3rd Class Cabins (274 people)
* Fruit & Vegetables Store Room
* Bulk Stores
* Ham & Cheese Store Room
* Beer & Wine Store Room
* Ice Making Machine
* Milk & Poultry Store Room
* Fresh Meat Store Room
* Fish Store Room
* Boiler Casing
* Coal Bunker
* Engine Casing
* 3rd Class Cabins (80 people)
* Cargo Chambers & Insulated Storage
* 3rd Class Cabins (260 people)
* Steward's Accommodation (29 people)

### Hold

* Cargo Hold 1
* Cargo Hold 2
* Cargo Hold 3
* Cargo & Coal Hold 4
* Boiler Room
* Oil Fuel Plant
* Engine Room
* Refrigerator Room
* Cargo Hold 5
* Ballast Tank
* Cargo Hold 6
* Cargo Hold 7
* Aft Peak Tank

## Sinking

On the 1st September 1939 at 05:45 British Summer Time the invasion of Poland begun in Europe, which is now the official beginning of the Second World War on the continent. Due to how widespread radio was at this time, the Athenia's crew were able to quickly pick up on this news and were forced to decide whether they would make their scheduled departure later that morning or if they would delay their departure until they were certain of the situation unfolding. Even though it was clear that war would break out any day between Britain and Germany, Athenia still departed Glasgow en-route to Liverpool where it arrived later that day. The next day on the 2nd September 1939 at 13:00, the Athenia left the safety of Liverpool headed for Montreal.

Passengers and crew onboard would have been able to listen to the failed attempts at diplomacy throughout the day over the radios onboard, which would have undoubtedly created an atmosphere of anxiousness and panic among them. It all came to a head the next afternoon at 10:00 (In the ship's time, not BST) when Britain and France officially declared war on Germany, sending the shipping lanes into chaos. Athenia was forced to darken all lights visible from the ship's exterior and begin sailing in a zig zag course, causing it to steer off the main lane and further out into less populated areas.

At 16:30 that day, German Submarine U-30 spotted the Athenia sailing 370 kilometres north west of Ireland, captained by Fritz-Julius Lemp