RMS Andes
From Our Contribution
 Harland and Wolff photo | |
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | RMS Andes |
| Owner | Royal Mail Lines |
| Builder | harland & Wolff, Belfast |
| Yard number | 1005 |
| Launched | 7 Mar 1939 |
| Completed | 24 Sep 1939 |
| In service | 26 Sep 1939 |
| Out of service | 4 May 1971 |
| Fate | scrapped Belgium |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ocean ship |
| Tonnage | 25,688 tons |
| Length | 643.3 ft (196.1 m) |
| Beam | 83.5 ft (25.5 m) |
| Depth | 43.6 ft (13.3 m) |
| Propulsion | twin screw |
| Speed | 21 knots (39 kmh) |
| Capacity | 4,000 troops plus crew |
Remarks
Built for mail, passenger and refrigerated cargo service from Southampton to Brazil and River Plate but was used as troopship in World War II immediately on completion. Andes was converted back into a civilian liner in 1947. She entered civilian service in 1948 on RMSP's premier liner route between Southampton, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. For seven years she worked the route full-time, but from 1955 the frequency of her liner voyages decreased and she spent an increasing proportion of her time cruising. In 1959–60 she was converted at Flushing, Netherlands into a full-time cruise ship, based at Southampton.
Sold for breaking up at Ghent, Belgium, for £325,000; handed over 7 May 1971.
Armament, As troop ship:
- 1 × 6-inch (150 mm) gun
- 1 × 4.5-inch (110 mm) gun
- 2 × QF 12 pounder guns
- 4 × twin Bofors 40 mm guns
- 14 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannon depth charges
- 1 × unrotated projectile AA weapon