Editing SS Ceramic (section)

==White Star service==
[[File:At Cape Town (MP) 2018 193.jpg|thumb|right|Model at the [[South African Maritime Museum]]]]
''Ceramic''{{'}}s maiden voyage began on 24 July 1913 when she left Liverpool for Australia.<ref>{{cite journal |year=1913 |title=White Star Line |journal=International Marine Engineering |volume=36 |issue=August |pages=26 |publisher=Marine Engineering, Inc., New York—London |url= https://archive.org/stream/marineengineer36londuoft#page/26/mode/1up |access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> At the time she was the largest liner on the route between the two countries.{{sfn|Wilson|1956|p=124}}<ref name=U2496>{{cite web
|url= http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2496.html |title=Ceramic |date=1995–2021 |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=uboat.net |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref> In 1914 she was requisitioned for the [[First Australian Imperial Force]] as the [[troopship]] HMAT (His Majesty's Australian Transport) ''Ceramic'', with the [[pennant number]] A40.<ref name=25London/>

She was armed with two stern-mounted [[QF 4.7-inch Gun Mk I–IV|QF 4.7 inch]] (120mm) naval guns.<ref name=TitanicCeramic>{{cite web |url= http://www.titanic-titanic.com/ceramic.shtml |title=SS Ceramic |work=Titanic-Titanic |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref><ref name=25London>{{cite web |url= http://www.25thlondon.com/ceramic.htm |title=H.M.T. Ceramic |work=25th County of London Cyclist Battalion The London Regiment |last=Parker-Galbreath |first=Simon |publisher=Simon Parker-Galbreath |access-date=5 August 2014}}</ref> Her navigation equipment included wireless [[direction finding]] by 1930<ref name=LR30/> and [[echo sounding]] by 1933.<ref name=LR33>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/33/33b0178.pdf |year=1933 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships |volume=II |place=London |publisher=[[Lloyd's Register]] |access-date=20 January 2021}}</ref>

In 1916 ''Ceramic'' took the [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] [[25th (County of London) Cyclist Battalion]] to India, leaving [[Devonport, Devon|Devonport]] on 3 February and reaching [[Mumbai Harbour|Bombay]] on 25 February.<ref name=25London/>

''Ceramic'' survived a number of attacks. In May 1916 she was in the Mediterranean carrying 2,500 troops when two torpedoes from an unidentified attacker missed her.<ref name=25London/> On 9 June 1917 she was in the English Channel when again a torpedo from an unidentified attacker missed her. On 21 July in the North Atlantic off the [[Canary Islands]] a surfaced [[U-boat#World War I (1914–1918)|U-boat]] chased her<ref name=U2496/> for 40 minutes. ''Ceramic'' fired on the U-boat with her 4.7 inch stern guns and outran her attacker.<ref name=25London/>

In May 1917 ''Ceramic'' was transferred from Australian control to the UK [[Shipping Controller]] under the Liner Requisition Scheme. In 1919 she was returned to White Star Line and in 1920 Harland and Wolff refitted her as a civilian liner.<ref name=25London/> The refit slightly increased her tonnage to {{GRT|18495}}.<ref name=LR30/> She resumed civilian service on 18 November 1920 when she left Liverpool for [[Glasgow]] and [[Port Jackson|Sydney]].

''Ceramic'' ran aground on the [[River Clyde]] at [[Glasgow]] on 12 January 1925. She later was refloated and [[dry dock]]ed.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Casualty reports |date=13 January 1925 |page=21 |issue=43858 |column=G}}</ref>

On 18 December 1930, ''Ceramic'' collided with the [[Pacific Steam Navigation Company]]'s {{GRT|6469}} cargo [[motor ship]] ''Laguna'' in the [[River Thames]] near [[Gravesend]]. Both ships were slightly damaged.<ref name=U2496/>