RMS Carthage

Summary

RMS later SS Carthage was a Royal Mail Ship and ocean liner of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. Known as one of the "Far East Sisters", she was launched in 1931 to serve the company's India and Far East Mail Service, along with her sister ship, RMS Corfu. Both ships were built by Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd in Glasgow, Scotland and served from 1931 until 1961 when they were scrapped.[1][2]

Carthage
History
Name
  • RMS Carthage
  • SS Carthage
  • SS Carthage Maru
OwnerP&O 1931–61
Port of registryUnited Kingdom London
RouteLondon, Bombay, China
Builder
Yard number535
Launched18 August 1931
Maiden voyage8 January 1932
FateDemolished 15 June 1961 by Miyachi Salvage Co Ltd, at Sakai, Japan.
General characteristics
Tonnage14,304 GRT
Length552 feet 6 inches (168.40 m)
Beam71 feet 5 inches (21.77 m)
Installed power6 × steam turbines
Propulsiontwin screws
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Capacity
  • 177 First Class
  • 214 Second Class
NotesOriginally to have been named Canton

War service edit

In January 1940 Carthage was converted to an armed merchant cruiser, flag number F99, fitted with eight six-inch guns in single mountings and two three-inch anti-aircraft guns. In 1943 she was disarmed and re-commissioned as a troopship.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ http://www.poships.co.uk/thefareastpair.html
  2. ^ "Carthage". Clydeships.co.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  3. ^ Lenton, H T; Colledge, J J (1973). Warships of World War 2. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 304. ISBN 0-7110-0403-X.