RMS Arundel Castle

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RMS Arundel Castle at Cape Town, South Africa.
History
United Kingdom
Name
  • Amroth Castle (originally)[1]
  • Arundel Castle
NamesakeArundel Castle
Owner Union-Castle Line
Operator
Port of registryUnited Kingdom Southampton
Builder
Harland and Wolff, Belfast
Yard number455
Launched11 September 1919
Completed8 April 1921
Maiden voyage22 April 1921
FateScrapped in 1959
General characteristics
TypeOcean liner
Tonnage19,023 gross register tons (GRT)
Length661 ft (201 m), lengthened to 686 ft (209 m) during 1937 refit.
Beam72 ft (22 m)
PropulsionSteam turbines powering two propellers.
Speed
  • 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) after 1937 refit.
Capacity
  • 219 in First Class
  • 167 in Second Class
  • 194 in Tourist Class

RMS Arundel Castle was a British

Admiralty
to serve as a troopship. After the war she resumed passenger service, eventually being scrapped in 1959.

History

Construction

Originally designed for the Union Castle Line in 1913, her keel was laid down at

World War 1, construction on the ship was put on hold until November 1918. With the shortage of materials in the following years, the Union Castle Line had to wait until 1921 for the delivery of their ship.[1] By that time, they had taken the decision to rename her Arundel Castle. Her sister ship was RMS Windsor Castle
and they were the only four-funneled liners not built for transatlantic service.

Early career

On 22 April 1921 she set out on her maiden voyage from

Second World War as a transport in the Mediterranean.

Arundel Castle after being fitted with a more raked bow and her four funnels reduced to two

World War 2

On the outbreak of war in 1939, she was requisitioned by the

Admiralty
to serve as a troopship. She survived the war unscathed.

Post-war career

After being released by the Admiralty, she was converted back to a passenger liner to provide a service for emigrants traveling to South Africa. The end of that role in 1949 led to the ship being returned to her normal service between Southampton and Cape Town.[1][5] Arundel Castle made her 211th and final voyage in 1958, leaving Cape Town on 5 December and arriving in Southampton on 19 December.[3] On 30 December she left for Kowloon on her way to Chiap Hua, the Hong Kong ship breakers. When the ship arrived in Hong Kong harbour, Chiap Hua organised a lavish cocktail party on board the vessel with many of Hong Kong's dignitaries, including government officials and bank executives. The ship's furnishings and accessories—including the chronometers, captain's armchair, steering wheel, crockery and sterling silver cutlery—were offered as gifts. In her career she had steamed 2,850,000 miles in peace-time service and 625,565 as a troopship.[3]

Colour film of Arundel Castle in Hong Kong can be seen in the Look At Life film, "Ticket to Tokyo," released in April 1959.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "RMS Arundel Castle in Relevant Search Scotland". Relevant Search Scotland.
  2. ^ "Castle Mail Packet Co. / Donald Currie & Co". The Ships List. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  3. ^
    ISBN 0-85177-400-8
    .
  4. ISBN 978-1107672932
    .
  5. ^ "Arundel Castle (4)". The British & Commonwealth Register.
  6. ^ "Look at Life - Ticket to Tokyo 1959," YouTube, starting at 8:02 in the film .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to RMS Arundel Castle.
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