Builders: William Denny & Bros Dumbarton 1903
Propulsion type: Three direct drive turbines.
Owner: London Brighton & South Coast Railway, Lord Moyne
Service dates: 1903-1930
Tonnage: Gross 1129
Comments:
Brighton (IV) was used on the Newhaven to Dieppe service and was the first turbine engined steamer to be used by the LB&SCR. She was capable of over 21 knots. In November 1910 Brighton was sailing out of Newhaven when she was in collision with a sailing vessel called Preussen, which was driven onto the South Foreland rocks and lost. Brighton's captain, Capt. Hemmings was found in the subsequent enquiry to be at fault for the accident. During the Great War she was used as troop and hospital ship and in 1930 was sold to Lord Moyne for private use as a yacht . She was converted for long distance travel and the conversion meant that she could steam for 6700 miles without refuelling (enough to cross the Pacific Ocean). The conversion involved strengthening her hull to accommodate some 500 tons of fuel oil and her name was changed to Rousalka. She was converted again in 1932, when diesel engines were installed and during the conversion she changed to a single funnel. In 1933 she was wrecked off the coast of Galway after foundering in fog. Luckily there was no loss of life.