SS Russian was a British cargo liner that was launched in Ireland in 1895 as Victorian.
[5] When new, Victorian, Armenian, and Cestrian were noted for being of "exceptionally large tonnage" among newly-built ships, second only to White Star Line's Georgic.
[6] Victorian had a single screw, driven by a three-cylinder triple-expansion engine that was rated at 718 NHP.
[10] On 15 February 1900 she left Tilbury Docks with the 17th Lancers, a draft of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers and 470 horses, for Cape Town.
[12] It was reported that on 16 January 1902 Victorian arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia via Cape Verde to embark a detachment of the Canadian Mounted Rifles to take to South Africa, and that she was to leave about a week later.
[13] However, it is also recorded that in January 1902 she left South Africa carrying 77 PoWs to St Helena, where she arrived on 10 February.
[12] On 9 July 1902 she left South Africa carrying 27 officers, 650 men, and 506 horses to Southampton.
[17] From May 1903 White Star Line managed Victorian and her sister ship Armenian.
[20] On 2 May 1910 Victorian arrived in Pensacola, Florida, to load part of a cargo for Liverpool.
[24] By 1912 Victorian was equipped with wireless telegraphy, supplied and operated by the Marconi Company.
On 14 December 1916 UB-43 torpedoed her 210 nautical miles (390 km) east of Malta, sinking her at position 35°20′N 18°52′E / 35.333°N 18.867°E / 35.333; 18.867.