Background Data:  One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty in WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA

5 May 1880  launched by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast as Yard Nr 135 named WHITEHEAD for Ulster Steamship Co Ltd (G Heyn & Sons Ltd, Managers)  Belfast

1880 completed

25 October 1880 arrived at Cronstadt on passage from Barrow

19 November 1880 berthed at Belfast

11 November 1881 sailed Swansea

17 March 1882 ran into and sank the steamer ALERT from Cardiff off Lavernock Point. One life was lost. An enquiry later found that the Alert had sailed from Cardiff for Port Said with a cargo of 1,825 tons of coal. The Whitehead had sailed from the same port shortly afterwards for Genoa with 2,180 tons of coal. Both ships had sailed in clear weather but ran into thick fog. The Alert anchored off Lavernock Point. The Captain and the Pilot were on the bridge of the Whitehead. The Whiteheaf struck the Alert just forward of the bridge. The crew of the Alert managed to get to the Whitehead and the Alert sank. The Alert was partly dry at low water and a search of the ship found the body of one crew member in his bunk. The Court found that the Alert was not to blame at all. The Captain of the Whitehead had committed a grave error of judgement by not anchoring 

27 May 1882 sailed Belfast for Cronstadt

24 January 1883 sailed Cardiff for Port Said

14 March 1887 when entering the post of Copenhagen with a cargo of coal heavily struck the Knippels Bridge and holed two stem plates, The Bridge was also badly damaged.

13 September 1902 while on passage from Glasgow to Cronstadt ran aground near Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. The forehold filled with water. Salvage assistance was sent from Belfast

August 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty

31 August 1914 to 27 October 1914 served as Government Store Carrier No 1

30 October 1914 to 15 July 1915 served as an Expeditionary Force Transport Vessel

16 July 1915 became a commissioned Miscellaneous Vessel on charter to the Government of Montenegro

15 October 1917 torpedoed and sunk off Suda Bay, Crete in position 36.13N, 24.33E by German submarine UC74 with 23 casualties.