Merak

 

The second brightest star in the constellation Ursa Majoris; also known as Mirak.

 

I

 

(Str.: dp. 7,100; l. 334'; b. 47'; dr. 20'3" (mean); s. 8 k.)

 

The first Merak, built in 1910 by the Rotterdam Droogd. Maat., Rotterdam, the Netherlands, was operated by Van Nievelt, Goudriaan & Co., Rotterdam, an Austrian controlled firm, prior to World War I. Seized and turned over to the Navy in 1918, she was assigned to NOTS during her brief service. She was sunk, with no casualties, in the western Atlantic 6 August 1918 by gunfire from the German submarine U‑140.