Difference between revisions of "HMT Durban Castle"
From Our Contribution
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==Middle East to Adelaide 16 February - 14 March 1942== | ==Middle East to Adelaide 16 February - 14 March 1942== | ||
| − | *[[Cornielius Harold Kerrison]] | + | *[[Cornielius Harold (Con) Kerrison]] |
[[Category:Ships]] | [[Category:Ships]] | ||
Revision as of 23:35, 17 March 2019
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMT Durban Castle |
| Builder/Built | 1938 Harland & Wolff, Belfast |
| Type | Passenger steamship, twin screw |
| Displacement | 17,382 tons |
| Speed | 18.5 knots |
Remarks
She was built for the Round Africa service and inaugurated the practice of naming ships after non-existent South African castles.
In September 1939 she was converted into a troopship. When Greece fell in 1941 the King of Greece and his family first took refuge in Egypt and then South Africa from where the Durban Castle transported him, his family and entourage from Durban to the United Kingdom.
1942 Requisitioned by Royal Navy and named HMS Durban Castle
She returned to commercial service in 1946 still carrying her AA gun platforms and with 9 lifeboats on each side replacing the landing craft.
This austere situation was rectified when she was later re-furbished. In July 1947 she resumed service, initially on the mail service pending the return of the larger ships which were themselves being refurbished after war service, and then on the Round Africa service.
On 28th March 1962 she completed her final voyage in London and in the following month was sold to Eisen & Metall GmbH of Hamburg for breaking up.