MV Struma

	British yacht Xantha in about 1890; In 1941 she was renamed Struma
History
Name	Xantha (1867–88); Sölyst (1888–92); Sea Maid (1892–1901); Kafireus (1901–30); Esperos (1930–33); Makedoniya (1933–41); Struma (1941–42);
Owner	The Marquess of Anglesey (1867– ); Thomas Chivers (1873– ); Viscount Macduff (1875– ); William Barneby (1877– ); Harry Edwards (1887– ); John Phipps (1895– ); DE Hadji Constanti & Bros (1901– ); Thrakiki Atmoploia (1916– ); Socratos Goumaris & Co ( –1930); Giorgios Mylonas (1930–33); Dimiter Nenkov (1933–41); Jean D Pandelis (1941–42);
Port of registry	Newcastle (1867– ); Colchester (1871– ); Liverpool (1892– ); Syros (1901– ); Thessaloniki ( –1933); 1933–41; 1941–42;
Builder	Palmers SB & Iron Co
Yard number	217
Launched	23 June 1867
Completed	1867
Identification	UK official number 56071 (until 1901); (as Esperos) code letters HQBN; ;
Fate	Torpedoed and sunk by Shch-213, 24 February 1942
General characteristics
Type	Steam yacht,; then Cargo ship;
Tonnage	after 1901: 240 GRT; 158 NRT
Length	1867: 116.0 ft (35.4 m); 1875: lengthened to 134.0 ft (40.8 m); 1901: lengthened to 148.4 ft (45.2 m);
Beam	19.3 ft (5.9 m)
Draught	1867: 9.0 ft (2.7 m); 1901: 9.9 ft (3.0 m);
Installed power	1867: 40 NHP compound engine; 1888: 49 NHP quadruple-expansion engine; 1941: 3-cylinder diesel engine;
Propulsion	single screw
Sail plan	three-masted schooner (as built)
Crew	10 (1941–42)

MV Struma was a small ship with a long history that included a number of changes of use and many changes of name. She was built in 1867 as Henry Paget, 2nd Marquess of Anglesey's luxury steam yacht and ended up 75 years later as a Greek and Bulgarian diesel ship for carrying livestock. She was launched as Xantha, but subsequently carried the names Sölyst, Sea Maid, Kafireus, Esperos, Makedoniya and finally Struma.

As Struma she tried to take nearly 800 Jewish refugees who were attempting to illegally immigrate from Romania to British-controlled Palestine in December 1941. Suffering engine problems, she was towed into Istanbul in December 1941. The Turkish government refused to allow her passengers to disembark unless Britain allowed them to immigrate to Palestine, which was not given due to the White Paper of 1939. Following weeks of diplomatic deadlock, in February 1942 Turkish authorities towed her out to sea and cast her adrift. A Soviet submarine quickly torpedoed and sank Struma in the Black Sea, killing all but one of her 792 passengers and crew.