The SS Breda was a Dutch cargo-passenger vessel constructed at the Nieuwe Waterweg Scheepsbouwmaatschappij yard in Schiedam for the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij. Laid down on December 16, 1919, she was launched on July 2, 1921, and completed later that year on December 10. The ship measured approximately 122.69 meters (402 feet 6 inches) in length and 17.78 meters (58 feet 4 inches) in beam, with a gross register tonnage of 6,941 GRT. Powered by two Metropolitan-Vickers steam turbine engines, the Breda could reach a top speed of 15 knots. Designed as a versatile cargo and passenger vessel, she featured five cargo holds and passenger accommodations for up to 87 individuals. Her robust construction and dual steam turbines made her suitable for long-distance voyages, serving as a vital link for the Dutch merchant fleet. During World War II, after the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940, the Breda fled to Britain, where she was placed under the control of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O). She was armed with a single 4.7-inch gun for defense. On December 23, 1940, while anchored off Oban as part of a convoy preparing for Bombay, the Breda was targeted by German Heinkel He 111 bombers operating from Stavanger, Norway. The aircraft dropped four 250-kilogram bombs, which struck the ship and ruptured a water inlet pipe, causing the engine room to flood and depriving her of power. The crew managed to tow her to shallow waters at Ardmucknish Bay, where she was beached. Despite efforts to offload cargo, a storm pushed her into deeper water, and she sank to a depth of 26 meters. Today, the wreck has become a popular dive site, marked by buoys and known for its cave diving opportunities. The SS Breda's sinking highlights the perilous maritime environment of wartime and her subsequent status as a notable underwater archaeological site.

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