SS Léopoldville (1928)

	Léopoldville
History
Belgium
Name	Léopoldville
Namesake	Léopoldville
Operator	Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo; (Later Compagnie Maritime Belge (Lloyd Royal) SA), Antwerp;
Port of registry	Antwerp
Builder	John Cockerill SA, Hoboken, Antwerp
Yard number	623
Launched	26 September 1928
Completed	1929
Identification	Belgian Official Number 120; code letters MLFP (until 1933); ; call sign ONLB (1934 onward); ;
Fate	Torpedoed and sunk, 24 December 1944
General characteristics
Tonnage	11,256 GRT, 6,521 NRT (1919–37); 11,509 GRT, 6,941 NRT (1937–44);
Length	478 ft 8 in (145.90 m)
Beam	62 ft 2 in (18.95 m)
Draught	25 ft 9.75 in (7.8677 m)
Depth	35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
Installed power	1,019 NHP until 1935; 1,197 NHP 1936 onward;
Propulsion	2 × quadruple-expansion engines; 2 × exhaust steam turbines (added 1936); 2 × screw propellers;
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h)
Capacity	360 passengers (peacetime); 8,458 cubic feet (239.5 m3) refrigerated cargo space (peacetime); 5,000 troops (wartime);
Crew	213 plus 24 DEMS gunners

SS Léopoldville was a 11,509 GRT passenger liner of the Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo. She was converted for use as a troopship in the Second World War, and on 24 December 1944, while sailing between Southampton and Cherbourg, was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-486. As a result, about 763 US soldiers and 15 officers of the ship's crew died. The crew had abandoned ship and left U.S. troops without proper evacuation orders.