Titanic Centennial Countdown: April 27, 1911:Tender Traffic Launched

The tender Traffic is launched at the Harland & Wolff Shipyward in Belfast, Ireland. The 639-ton tender will carry third class passengers to and from the Olympic and Titanic and the shore of Cherbourg, France.

Cherbourg harbor, like that in Queenstown, Ireland, was too shallow to accomodate the immense Olympic-class liners. In fact, all harbors required changes before Olympic first sailed. The White Star pier in New York City had to be extended several feet, and Ocean Dock in Southampton, England, had to be dredged to a greater depth.

Traffic served her line well. At the outbreak of World War I, she, like her sister tender the Nomadic, was called to service as a troop transport. After the war, Traffic was sold to a French company and returned to her previous career as a tender.

In 1929 she collided with White Star's liner Homeric. After repairs, Traffic met with another calamity - this time a collision with the S.S. Minnewaska IV.

She saw service as a troop ship again - this time for the French - in World War II. The French Navy deliberately sank her in Cherbourg harbor in an attempt to prevent the German Navy from entering the harbor.

The German Navy later raised Traffic and put her to use as an armed convoy escort. She was re-named Ingenieur Riebell. It was under that name that she met her end when she was sunk by the British Royal Navy on Jan. 17, 1941.