Manhattan "The Faster Option" | Tiny Sailors World

MV Manhattan is an American ocean liner that operated primarily on the North Atlantic Ocean from 1931 to 1944 for Historia Lines. Built by Manhattan Ship Building Corporation, New York City. She was apart of the Manhattan-class ocean liners and was one of the fastest ship during the 1931 to 1935, capturing the Blue Riband sailing at 29kts. However on 1935, she lost that titled to SS Normandie which was 1 knot faster then the Manhattan.

MV Manhattan was renowned for his speed, he wasn't as luxurious as her running mate; "SS Usada" however he did accompanied more passengers, primarily immigrants, and it was more successful then the Usada on most occasions, though the Usada had more revenue then the Usada as it was more luxurious and just 5 knots slower then the Manhattan. Passenger's either had the choice to pick Usada or the Manhattan. While Manhattan was primarily to carry more passengers, like immigrants and people who wants to get there quicker, Usada had a more luxurious, comfortable and more experienced voyage.

During MV Manhattan's maiden voyage, on July 4th, 1931. He captured the Blue Riband from SS Europa. She lost the title to SS Rex but after an refit with her engines, safety and layout, he recaptured it back on October 21, 1933, holding it until the launch of the SS Normandie claimed it on 1935. When the Second World War, she was decommissioned and stayed on her port on Manhattan. However after the United States joined the war, MV Manhattan or the newly named "USS Manhattan" was commissioned to become a troop ship, to carry troops to the Pacific front, he changed ports on San Francisco until on 1943, she was needed to transport, weapons and troops towards the European Front, she was disguised as the SS Usada, and would remain that role until he was detected by a approaching german cruiser, who identified it to be a troop ship and his cover was blown.

Although USS Manhattan was said to be impossible to be torpedoed, on May 27 1944 an SM-123 attempted to torpedo the USS Manhattan, and one torpedoed actually hit the Right Propellers, USS Manhattan was slowed down to 23 knots, however he managed to escape after an British Destroyer later scared away the U-Boat, it was later found out that USS Manhattan slowed down to 25 knots, in order to navigate through the dim night. However because of this, it became the target of the U-Boat.

Until on November 18, 1944, USS Manhattan later departed on his 184th voyage, or 36th military voyage, carrying over 2058 Troops, 723 crew and weapons, on New York City bound for Liverpool. During the 2nd day of the voyage, MV Manhattan received a lot of German Activities, near the the southern coast of Ireland, luckily just 15 hours before USS Manhattan would arrive, a dense fog covered Manhattan's voyage. Because of the attempted sinking on May 27, USS Manhattan was only slowed down to 27 knots scared of another torpedo attack. the fog was getting thicker to see, and at this point the fog was also threatening the whole voyage of the Manhattan, it was on 3:15, Manhattan saw a outline of a battlecruiser, but as they got closer, it was later identified as Germans, Manhattan went full speed, but it was already inside the lions den, and the turrets of the ships started to turn on Manhattan.

And on 3:34, the crew of the Manhattan spotted a german Battleship out of the dense fog, and they we're on a collision course, At this point the Germans' had no idea if to fire, and so was the troops of the Manhattan, and on 3:37, Manhattan collided with the german battleship. Manhattan still went on full speed, but by this point the ship was already sinking as just 20 seconds after the collision, the guns of the german's fires upon the Manhattan and disintegrates her funnels and mast. Manhattan attempted to fire back but, it was too impossible, both the battleship and Manhattan, rowed out of their way and both start to sink, on 3:57, the Manhattan went out of sight from the germans.

Manhattan, slowly sank into the bottom, the troops inside of Manhattan was horrified as inside was fire, luckily the cargo hold of the weapon's was secured, but still it could be possible to be lighted and explode causing even more deaths, but it actually never happened. The Manhattan slowly sank quietly, luckily on 4:52, the fog cleared and the survivors could locate their positions, no SOS signal was made as they were unsure of their location, both French, and British came to aid to and rescue at least 886 people.