SS Rondo facts for kids

The SS Rondo was a steam cargo ship that had many names during its life. It was first built in 1917 in Florida for the British government. This ship was designed to carry goods across the ocean.

Its journey began as the War Wonder. Later, it became the Lithopolis, then the Laurie, and finally the Rondo. The ship's story ended in 1935 when it sank off the coast of Scotland during a storm.

A Ship's Early Life and Many Names

The ship was built by a company called Tampa Shipbuilding & Drydock Company. It was launched in 1917, which means it was put into the water for the first time. At this point, it was named War Wonder.

However, World War I ended before the ship could start its work. Because of this, it was never used by the British government. Instead, it was taken over by the US Shipping Board. They changed its name to Lithopolis.

Changing Owners and New Names

The Lithopolis sailed for the US Shipping Board for many years. In 1930, it was sold to a company in Norway. This new owner renamed the ship Laurie.

After a few years, in 1934, the ship was sold again to another Norwegian company. This was when it received its most famous name, the Rondo.

The Final Voyage of the Rondo

On January 25, 1935, the Rondo was sailing near the west coast of Scotland. A big storm hit, and the ship tried to find a safe place to hide from the rough weather. It sailed into an area called the Sound of Mull.

Sadly, the storm was too strong. The Rondo sank in the Sound of Mull. Today, the ship rests upright on the seabed. Its back end, called the stern, is in shallow water, less than 10 meters deep. The front end, or bow, goes much deeper, more than 50 meters down.

A sonar image showing the sunken SS Rondo on the seabed.