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Comment by geokon

11 hours ago

Was strangely difficult to find on Wikipedia what the "SS" actually means

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw_steamer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_prefix

If those are the most prominent things you find for that abbreviation, I have to start doubting Wikipedia. As a German seeing that abbreviation so freely used is always a little bit shocking.

Thanks, TIL!

Apparently the RMS prefix on the RMS Titanic stands for "royal mail steamer" as it was authorised to carry the post.

Here is a great video on the topic.

https://youtu.be/ZOXymrplqCg

  • the video claims it "Steam Ship" and not "Screw steamer". But later claims TSS is "triple screw steamship". So I'd be hesitant to trust the rest of the video's content.

    • The first steam ships were paddle steamers, wiki even says SS can just be a generic term for steam ship.

      It's not unusual for acronyms to have multiple meanings, the S in HMS can mean submarine, as submarines aren't ships.

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