The SS Runic was a passenger liner built in 1900 by Harland and Wolff in Belfast for the White Star Line. This ship had a long and successful career, serving on various routes including the Liverpool to New York route. During World War I, the Runic was converted into a troopship and later returned to civilian service. In 1920, the ship was sold to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and renamed the SS Andes. The Andes continued to operate until 1939 when it was requisitioned by the British government for wartime use. Unfortunately, the SS Andes was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine in 1940. The ship's sinking resulted in the loss of several lives. The SS Runic/Andes had a significant impact during its time in service, both as a civilian liner and a troopship. Despite its tragic end, the ship remains an important part of maritime history, reflecting the challenges and dangers faced by ships during wartime.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.