The SS Justicia was a significant British troop ship constructed during the early 20th century, originally designed as the transatlantic liner Statendam for the Holland America Line (NASM). Laid down in 1912 by Harland & Wolff on slipway number 3—the same yard that built the Titanic—her keel was laid in 1912, and she was launched on 9 July 1914. Her construction was interrupted by the outbreak of World War I, which delayed her completion. Despite this, she was well advanced and eventually completed in 1917, with notable modifications for war service. Measuring approximately 740.5 feet (225.7 meters) in length and 86.4 feet (26.3 meters) in beam, Justicia displaced 32,120 GRT and had a depth of 43.1 feet (13.1 meters). She was propelled by a combination of reciprocating steam engines and a low-pressure steam turbine—an arrangement shared with other Harland & Wolff liners like Laurentic and Belgenland. Her three-screw propulsion system produced a total of 2,903 NHP (around 22,000 ihp), enabling her to reach a speed of about 17 knots. Originally intended to carry up to 800 first-class, 600 second-class, and 2,030 third-class passengers, Justicia was converted into a troop transport capable of carrying between 4,000 and 5,000 men, with holds capable of holding 15,000 tonnes of cargo. Her design featured a modern aesthetic, including a large first-class saloon with a 20-foot (6-meter) high ceiling, contrasting with the historicist styles prevalent at the time. During her service in World War I, Justicia operated primarily across the North Atlantic, transporting troops from North America to Europe. She narrowly escaped a U-boat attack in January 1918 but was ultimately sunk on 20 July 1918 after being torpedoed twice by German U-boats UB-124 and UB-64 off the coast of Ireland. Her sinking marked her as the second-largest ship lost by enemy action in the war, surpassed only by HMHS Britannic. Her wreck lies at a depth of 230 feet (70 meters) northwest of Malin Head, Ireland, and remains protected under Irish law. The remains of Justicia include her largely intact bow, visible boilers, engines, and some structural elements, serving as a maritime memorial and a site of historical significance.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.