Royal Navy Auxiliaries (1928-1945)

The marker of a premium Navy is as much as in its battlefleet than in its support fleet. In that regard, the RN could boast having the world’s largest support fleet in 1939, a category often assimilated to the “miscellaeous” category. Excluded are gunboats and minesweepers, included the following: A Seaplane Carrier (Albatross), netlayers, submarine and destroyer depot ships, repair ships, and the fleet of AMCs (Armed Merchant Cruiser) created in 1939, but also Ocean and Armed boarding vessels, civilian armed convoy escorts, auxiliary patrol vessels, special service vessels and many others in the grand Royal Navy book during world war two.

Foreworld: RN Auxiliaries

Auxiliary ships are not new, in the RN or any other navy of the time. The best examples were elderly cruiser and battleships that ended as depot and accomodation ships, or training vessels. When admiral Jackie Fisher became first lord of the Admiraty he forced the retirement of many old hulls that were used that way in the RN. This rejuvenated the Navy but also reduced the pool of such utility hulls that was now lacking in the RN for these menial roles. In 1914, the Majestic class were the rare vessels that could be used as guard ships at first, then as depot ships. There was also a pool of now obsolete 3rd class cruiser, like the Apollo class, so still plenty of utility hull to go around.

However the end of WWI and the Washington Treaty forced the admiralty to enforce another, even more radical purge of “old hulls”. Tonnage caps made that this further reduced the number of utility hulls available for such transformation, either depot or accomodation ships, as well as numerous training establishements, that kept their fixed buildings but lost their associated hulls. The new interwar RN was reduced and mst compact than ever, and all but the most recent ships were still around, none were old enough to justify their use as auxiliaries. However in the great scheme of things, the same Washington and later London Conference granted at least the “auxiliary” category free for all. The IJN soon capitalized on this and built many “fleet tenders” and “seaplane tenders” that were designed to be converted as aircraft carriers in time of war.

But it was also recoignized dedicated ships were just better suited for these auxilary roles. The most obvious were seaplane tenders (carriers in all but name), but apart Spain, Italy and France or the US, this category was considered redundant as Britain has no shortage of aircraft carriers already. The exception was in fact… an Australian vessel: HMAS Albatross, a dedicated seplane carrier that was ordered and built for the RAN but that could not be kept due to economical reasons (see below). Other ships type that were purpose-built included netlayers, Guardian and Protector, a single dedicated and experimental coastal minelayer, Plover, and brand new submarine depot ships (instead of reconverted civilian vessels as this was more usual), destroyer depot ships, or repair ships.

These depot ships were pretty unique, for the RN or any other navy. They were the first purely dedicated specialized depot ships designed for the RN. In the great lines these eight vessels were a bit similar, not only there was no cap of any kind associated to them (the category completely escaped limitations). Engineers were free to look after the best solutions making them more efficient, without individual tonnage limits. Until 1928 when HMS Medway was started, the majority of repair and depot ships were still converted merchant vessels. They had large holds and loading booms, but that was about it. Defensive armament was an afterthought, there was no ASW protection whatsoever, and their poor speed was incompatible with fleet operations. The fact the RN had “free tonnage” to undergo the study of modern, dedicated fleet depot ships, was a chance to design something truly unique and well tailored for the needs of the Navy, for the first time.

This post would be complete by a full review or AMC, or “Armed Merchant Cruiser”.

Auxiliary Ships

She spent five years in reserve and without purpose before being transferred to the Royal Navy in 1938, to offset the Australian purchase of the light cruiser Hobart in the budget-stricken context of the time. The RN at the time was reluctant to acquire a seaplane carrier, a deal somewhat forced by the government, but found for each a niche after two aircraft carriers were sunk in WW2, based in Freetown, in Sierra Leone for patrol and convoy escort, southern Atlantic, then Indian Ocean in mid-1942. The in 1943-1944 she was converted as “Landing Ship (Engineering)” in support of the Normandy landings, in order to repair landing craft off Sword and Juno Beaches. She was torpedoed in October, survived, repaired in England early in 1945, so she ended as a minesweeper depot ship and decommissioned afterwards. Her life was not over. Not wanted by the RAN, she was sold to the civilian market in August 1946, converted again and became the renamed Hellenic Prince in 1948, a passenger liner chartered by the International Refugee Organisation, carrying migrants from Europe to Australia and troopship during the 1953 Mau Mau uprising, BU 1954.

⚙ specifications

Displacement: 4,800 tons (standard)
Dimensions 443 ft 7 in x 58/77.75 ft x 16 ft 11.5 in* (135.2 x 18/23.70 x 5.169 m*)
Propulsion: 2 shafts Parsons Turbines, 4 boilers, 12,000 shp (8,900 kW), Speed 22 knots, Range 7,900 nmi (14,600 km; 9,100 mi)/10 knots
Armament: 4× 4.7-in AA, 2×2 pdr pom-poms, 4× 3-pdr saluting, 24 × .303-in MG.
Air Group: 9 aircraft (6 active, 3 reserve). Crew 450

HMS Guardian was a net layer. That type of ships was designed as the name suggest to lay nets at the entries of protected anchorages, starting with Scapa Flow to keep submarines from creeping in. With time, nets became heavier, and ships equipped with specific high power capstans were needed. In general, converted civilian vessels were used. But in that case the RN wanted to develop a military netlayer tht could be used for other roles. Ordered as part of the 1930 naval programmes, she laid down at Chatham on 15 October 1931 was launched in 1932, completed on 13 June 1933 and indeed, equipped also for target towing and gunnery photography. A second net-layer, HMS Protector, was built to a modified design (see below).

Guardian was the first British purpose built netlayer. She was sent to the Indian Ocean in 1941-1942 and took part in the invasion of Madagascar (Operation Ironclad), helping building a base in the Maldives (Addu Atoll) in 1942 in case Ceylon fell. She helped building two more bases to protect merchant ships assembling for convoys near Mombasa and Cape Town. Back to Gibraltar she took part in Operation Torch in 1942. Afterward she was sent to Belfast for a refit and received additional AA. She later took part in the invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) and the campaign of Italy. After 1946 she was placed in reserve. In 1952, she was taken out of the reserve at the River Tamar, towed to Newport for modernisation until 1954. Mothballed again she was in the reserve fleet at Plymouth until decommissioned on 1 January 1962 and sold for BU.

⚙ specifications

Displacement: 2,860 long tons (2,906 t). 103.02 x 16.15 x 4.22m (338 ft x 53 ft x 13 ft 10 in)
Propulsion: 2 × steam turbines, 2× boilers 6,500 shp (4,847 kW)
Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement: 181; Armament: 2× QF 4 in Mk V.

HMS Protector was the second dedicated netlayer of the RN. She was laid down as a fast netlayer by Yarrow, Scotstoun (Glasgow) on 15 August 1935, launched on 20 August 1936 and completed, commissioned on 30 December 1936. She was an improved version of HMS Guardian with more powerful machinery, improved handling equipments. She had two Admiralty three-drum boilers and two Parsons geared steam turbines for 9,000 shp (6,700 kW) and 20 knots. In 1945 she tested new Thompson-Houston geared turbines.
Protector was in the Mediterranean Fleet in the summer of 1939 and was sent in the South Atlantic and took part in the Norwegian Campaign. She was hit by an aerial torpedo in the Mediterranean and towed to Bombay, repaired and back home in 1945. She was placed in reserve but in 1953, took part in the Queen’s coronation Fleet Review. She was then refitted as an ice patrol ship in Devonport, with a hangar and flight deck for two Westland Whirlwind helicopters. She made her first patrol in 1955/56and was sent in the Falkland Islands and to resupply British Antarctic Survey bases. She made 13 Antarctic crusies and rescued passengers of MV Theron (inc. Sir Edmund Hillary and Dr Vivian Fuchs). In 1957 she rescued passengers of the RRS Shackleton. On 6 December 1963 she had a depth charge for seismic research exploding, killing two operators, and wounding many sailors South of Drake’s Passage. In 1955 she had been essentially transformed as guardship for the Falkland Islands Dependencies and Antarctic survey vessel, and a second time in 1957 (new bridge) and 1958 (new tripod mainmast, crane fitted). She was sold 10 February 1970 for BU after a useful career.

⚙ specifications

2,900 long tons as net layer, 3,450 tons as ice patrol ship
Dimensions: 346 x 50 x 16 ft (105 x 15 m x 4.9 m)
Propulsion: 2x Thomson-Houston geared turbines, 4x Admiralty 3-drum boilers: 19 knots
Crew 21 officers, 238 ratings.
Armament: 2x 4-in, 2x 20mm AA Oerlikon, 4x Hotchkiss 3-pdr saluting.

Plover was the sole dedicated coastal minelayer of the RN. Before her, the Navy accepted a minelayer cruiser, HMS Adventure that inspired the construction later of the Abdiel class. She tested the concept of a small, affordable minelayer in case of war. She was accepted in service and commissioned on 25 September 1937, starting mining trials and fitted also as a minesweeper. During the war, she laid a total of 15,237 mines, claiming notably the German destroyer Z8 Bruno Heinemann off the Belgian coast, in January 1942. Close to the end of the war she claimed U-325 on 30 April 1945, 17 kilometres (11 mi) south of Lizard Point. This late minefueld was mande of a hundred Mk XVII mines. Postwar she remained active. She took part in the Fleet Review for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and retained her role until sold for BU to Thos. W. Ward in 1969.

⚙ specifications

805 long tons (818 t) (standard), 1,020 long tons (1,036 t) FL
Dimensions: 195 x 33 ft 9 in ft x 10ft (59.4 x 10.3 x 3 m)
Installed power: 2 shafts, VTE, 2× water-tube boilers: 1,400 ihp (1,000 kW)
Speed: 14.75 knots (27.32 km/h; 16.97 mph).
Crew 69
Armament: 2× 0.303 in (7.7 mm) LMGs, 80–100 mines.

HMS Medway was designed as a dedicated support ship for eighteen Odin and Parthian-class submarines in peacetime. She could take care of three more submarines in wartime, with deployable berthing facilities either side and barges under davits to resupply them, plus large holds and boom cranes. She was well armed (see later). But she also carry spare armament for the submarines, three spare QF 4-inch Mk IV deck guns and hundred and forty four 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes. However in service she proved to be less top-heavy than anticipated (which is rare !) with a massive metacentric height of 13 feet (4.0 m) at full load. She had bilge keels 12 inches (305 mm) deep. Once, she rolled 42° over nine seconds, losing her main topmast. Her bilge keels raised later to 36 inches (914 mm). A large shup with plenty of accomodation in addition of her base crew of 400 officers and ratings she could accommodate many submarine crews, up to 1,335 men. She was powered by MAN diesel engines for 8,000 bhp and 15 knots. In addition to her own reserves of 810 long tons diesel she carried an additional 1,880 long tons for submarines. She also had a large workshop fully equipped, a large pool or parts and extra submarine diesels and batteries, and five 560-kilowatt (750 hp) diesel generators, notably to recharge submarine batteries.
Her main armament was controlled by a High-Angle System above the bridge. She also had a generous internal anti-torpedo bulge. Initially ordered on 14 September 1926 as part of the 1925/26 Naval Estimates she was laid down in April 1927 at Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow, launched on 19 July 1928, completed on 3 July 1929. She was named after a major river, a tradition that became international for resupply ships to this day.

HMS medway was deployed on the China Station in the 1930s and until 1939. She relieved HMS Titania in 1929-30 as submarine depot ship, 4th Submarine Flotilla in Hong Kong, caring for six O-class submarines (Odin group), enlarged in 1930. She was in refit at Singapore by September 1939, until February 1940. She departed for Alexandria on 2 April, and cared for the 1st Submarine Flotilla, Eastern Mediterranean. Two years later she was ordered to leave in June 1942 as facilities were prepared for demolition to prevent capture by Rommel. She loaded stores and 1,135 personnel on 29 June and sailed to Beirut escorted by HMS Dido and 6 destroyers. But while underway off Port Said, she was torpedoed and sunk by U-372. She sank slowly, loosing “only” 30 men trapped deep in the machinery space. 47 of her 90 spare torpedoes aboard floated free and were salvaged.

⚙ specifications

14,650 long tons (14,890 t) standard, 18,362 long tons (18,657 t) full load
Dimensions: 580 x 85 ft 21 ft 3 in ft (176.8 x 25.9 x 6.5 m)
2 shafts, MAN diesels l8,000 bhp (6,000 kW), 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).
Armament 4× QF 4-in AA, 2× 4-in (102 mm) guns
Protection: Deck 1.5 in (38 mm), bulkheads 1.5 in (38 mm).
Crew: 400 + 1,335 (spare)

HMS Resource was a fleet repair ship built by Vickers-Armstrongs, launched in 1928. She was in part based on the Medway, but with significant differences, notably b being smaller. She was powered by four three-drum Admiralty boilers for a modest a top speed of 15 knots (28 km/h). However she was well armed with four twin 4-in(114mm) DP guns. Her complement varied, 581 in wartime, but she had accomodations for much more, albeit she was a general purpose repair ship, not a depot ship or tender. She was not supposed to house crews. She was absed in the Mediterranean from 1939 to 1944, except in early 1940, at Freetown, South Africa, which lacked repair facilities. She served in the Eastern Fleet from 1944 in support of the BPF and was decommissioned, then scrapped at Inverkeithing in February 1954. She was jockingly called “Remorse” by her crew.

⚙ specifications

Displacement: 12,300 tons. Dimensions 530 x 83 x 22 ft 4 in (160 x 25 x 6.81 m)
Propulsion: 2 shaft, 4× 3-drum Admiralty boilers 7,500 shp: 15 knots (28 km/h)
Armament: 4× 4-in AA gun, crew 581 (peacetime).

HMS Woolwich was a large destroyer tender. She was ordered on 4 April 1933 as part of the 1932 Naval Construction Programme, laid down at Fairfield, Govan (Clyde) on 24 May 1933, launched on 20 September 1934, completed on 28 June 1935. She had a moderate tonnage at 8,750 long tons (8,890 t) standard but 15,575 long tons (15,825 t) at full load, almost double, and was powered by two sets of Parsons geared steam turbines on a single propeller shaft, fed by four Admiralty three-drum water-tube boilers for 6,500 shaft horsepower (4,800 kW) and a top speed of 15.25 knots (28.24 km/h; 17.55 mph). She carried a staggering 1,112 long tons (1,130 t) of fuel oil for a range of 12,000 nautical miles (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 10 knots, and had a crew of 666 officers and ratings. Her armament was the same as Resource at first, four quick-firing (QF) four-inch Mk V gun in high-angle mounts amidships controlled by an HACS fire-control director above the bridge. She had holds with seventy-two 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes and 200 depth charges, plus limited accomodations for destroyer crews. This was less needed than for submarine crews.

She was deployed to the Mediterranean after completion, based in Alexandria in September 1939. She was sent back to Scapa Flow to support destroyers of the Home Fleet from mid-1940 but returned to the Mediterranean in September, and circumnavigated via Mombasa, Kenya, having boilers issues, and arrived in Alexandria in November. By mid-June 1942, Vice-Admiral Henry Harwood ordered her to leave Alexandria and she departed with HMS Resource escorted by six destroyers south of the Suez Canal until victory was secired at the Second Battle of El Alamein in October. She went back to Alexandria and remained there until late 1943. She then joined the Eastern Fleet, Trincomalee until V-Day. Back in Britain 1946, she had a refit and returned to the Mediterranean as flagship, Flag Officer, Mediterranean Fleet Destroyers. She was based in Malta in 1947-48 and left Valletta, for Harwich to be used as maintenance and accommodation ship, for reserve ships. She was refitted in Rosyth in 1952, transferred to Gare Loch for the same, and refitted in Rosyth ro be used as accommodation ship in Devonport in 1958–1962. She was stricken and sold to in 1962 for scrap, BU at Dalmuir from October.

⚙ specifications

Displacement 8,750 long tons (8,890 t)/10,200 long tons (10,400 t) FL
Dimensions 610 ft 3 in x 64 ft x 16 ft 6 in (186 x 19.5 5m)
2 shafts Parsons steam turbines, 4 water-tube boilers 6,500 shp (4,800 kW): 15.25 kn (28.24 km/h; 17.55 mph.
Range: 12,000 nmi (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Armour: Deck: 1–2 inches (25–51 mm). Crew 666
Armament: 4 × single QF 4-inch Mk V guns

The Maidstone class were two submarine tenders. They were built to support flotillas on distant stations, Mediterranean Sea and Pacific. Well equipped, they had a foundry, coppersmiths, plumbing and carpentry shops, heavy and light machine shops, electrical and torpedo repair shops as well as generators to recharge submarine batteries, enough to care for nine operational submarines, even housing their crews in far better accomodations. They also carried over 100 torpedoes and mines, had spare diesels and batteries as well, and at least two or three deck guns and related ammunition. They had a fullequipped team for diving and salvage, and alongside crew accomodation she had steam laundries, a cinema, hospital, chapel, two canteens, a bakery, barber shop, and a fully equipped operating theatre as well as dental surgery. They were not the largest, but certainly the most recoignizable submarine tenders of the RN, Maidstone in particular being the object of documentaries in WW2.

In September 1939 Maidstone became a depot ship to the 1st Submarine Flotilla (10 subs). In March 1941 she was sent to Gibraltar. From November 1942, she was based at Algiers in support of post-Torch Operations, a place that became the main Allied base in the Mediterranean. In November 1943, a yard later, she wasassigned to the Eastern Fleet and by September 1944 with the entire 8th Submarine Flotilla she was transferred from Ceylon to Fremantle, Western Australia to support the BPF until V-Day. She returned home afterwards via Simonstown, but diverted to Macassar to pick up 400 British naval POWs from HMS Exeter, HMS Encounter and HMS Stronghold. In November 1945 she was in Portsmouth.

Her sister HMS Forth (pennant F04, later A187) was alater sister ship, completed in 1939. She was based in Scotland, Holy Loch (Firth of Clyde) and Halifax, Canada until the end of the war. In the late 1940s she was sent to the Mediterranean, based in Malta in the 1950s at Msida creek. In 1953 she was part of the Coronation Fleet Review. She left Malta in 1960 for home, was modified to support the RN nuclear-powered submarines at Chatham in 1962-1966. Next she was sent to Singapore in mid-1966 to relieve HMS Medway as depot ship, 7th Submarine Squadron. She left Singapore for home on 31 March 1971 and was soon decommissioned and sold for BU.

⚙ specifications

Displacement 8,900 tons. Dimensions 497 x 73 ft (151 x 22 m)
Speed: 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph). Crew 1,167 men
Armament: 8× 4.5 in (110 mm) DP guns (4×2), 8×2-pdr AA guns (2×4)

Hecla and Tyne were destroyer depot ships designed in 1938 and for which special torpedo protection was reintroduced. With internal sandwich bulges and a 0.5 in torpedo bulkhead 10 ft inboard. The middle deck had 2-in NC, and was a 3-in cast steel rings around the ammunition hoists up to the deck. The 4.5 in mountings were in superfiring pairs fore and aft. Hecla late had six 20mm AA added when she was lost, while Tyne had 15. Each stwoed 80 torpedoes 150 DCs.

Hecla (Pennant F 24) was ordered from Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. (Greenock, Scotland) and laid down on 15 July 1938, launched on 28 Feb 1940 and commissioned on 28 Feb 1941. She had a very active but short service from 1941, and struck a mine on 15 May 1942, out of action for 18 weeks. She was torpedoed by U-515 (Captain Henke) on 12 November 1942 (5 torpedo hits) -in short. In long: In 1941 HMS Hecla was based at Hvalfjord, Iceland, tended the captured U-boat U-570 until she was towed to UK and renamed HMS Graph for further testings. On 16 April 1942 the German minelayer Doggerbank laid 80 EMC mines in off Cape Agulhas. On May 15th, whilst on passage eastward to join the Far Eastern Fleet, she struck a mine in one of these sectors. Seriously damaged, she managed to reach Simonstown, towed by the cruiser HMS Gambia, and the South African minesweepers Southern Barrier and Terje sweeping ahead of the escort.

She entered the Selborne dry dock and was repaired all June. The explosion occurred under her huge workshops and storerooms and she had dozens of torpedoes and mines scattered and destroyed that needed extraction, and she had lost 24 men, 112 wounded. July was spent in trials in False Bay. In August to September, she returned to dry dock for fixes and in September declared operational. On November 12th, during the Allied landings in North Africa (Operation Torch), HMS Hecla under George Vivian Barnett Faulkner, was torpedoed just after midnight by U-515, and sunk, west of Gibraltar. HMS Marne was also torpedoed whilst attempting to rescue survivors, and she had to be towed to Gibraltar. HMS Venomous rescuing more survivors from Hecla, brought to Casablanca. In all she lost 279 men while 568 were rescued.

HMS Tyne had the Pennant F 20 when ordered from John Brown Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Ltd. Clydebank, Scotland, laid down on 23 January 1939, launched on 14 March 1940 and commissioned on 6 January 1941. From June 1941 under Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN with HMS Jupiter and HMAS Nestor she was in exercises off Scapa Flow. In 1943 she operated in Norway. The then alternated in 1944 and 1945 between the Clyde and Scapa Flow. In January 1945 she was sent to Trincomalee to join the BPF and she ended in Fremantle. Then she moved to Leyte and Manus and in May 1945 she departed for Sydney. She survived the war and was disposed off in 1973.

⚙ specifications

Displacement: 10,850 BRT, 14,000t DP, dimensions 189.33 x 20.12 x 6.27m (621 fr 2 in x 66 x 20 fr mean DL).
Complement: 818 men. Accomodation for 500+. Armament: 4×2 4.5″ DP guns, 2×4 2pdr pompom AA.
2 shafts Parsons geared turbines, 4 admiralty 3-drum boilers: 7,500 SHP.
Top speed 17 knots, Geared turbines, . Oil 1200t +2000t for destroyer.

Completed in 1942, she served in the Eastern Fleet (Colombo/Trincomalee) with the 4th Submarine Flotilla (comprising nine T-class boats) from April 1943 until April 1945 and then moved with her flotilla to Fremantle, Australia. By 1947 Adamant had departed Australia for Hong Kong. In 1948, she returned to England,[2] where she remained until 1954 as flagship of the Senior Officer, Reserve Fleet, Portsmouth. In 1953 she took part in the fleet review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[3]
In October 1954, she was commissioned as depot ship to the 3rd Submarine Squadron at Rothesay, where she was based until October 1957. She then moved further up the Clyde to Faslane on Gare Loch (1959 – 1962), ending the permanent RN presence at Rothesay. In early 1963, she moved to the 2nd Submarine Squadron at Devonport. In March 1966 she was listed for disposal. In September 1970 she arrived at Inverkeithing to be broken up.

Adamant was capable of servicing up to nine submarines at a time while accommodating their crews. Her on-board facilities included a foundry, light and heavy machine shops, electrical and torpedo repair shops, and equipment to support fitters, patternmakers, coppersmiths and shipwrights. After the war, the increased technical sophistication of submarines, and the concomitant increase in the number of technical staff required to service them, reduced her support capacity to six submarines at a time.
In 1963, all her original guns were removed and replaced by two quadruple and two twin Bofors 40 mm gun mounts.[4] Her design included one-inch torpedo bulkhead 10 feet (3.0 m) inboard, and two-inch steel armour to protect her middle deck.

⚙ specifications

12,500 tons (12,700 metric tonnes) unloaded, 16,500 tons (16,765 metric tonnes) loaded
Dimensions: Length 189 x 21.5 x 5.5 m (620 ft/200.5 m oax 71 ft x 18 ft)
Propulsion: 8,000 shp (6,000 kW) geared turbines, Speed 17 knots
Crew: 1,273. Armament 8× 4.5″ DP, 16× 2-pdr AA, 8× 20 mm, 8× 0.5-in AA.
Armour: 1-in torpedo bulkhead, 2-in armoured deck
Storage: 117 21-in torpedoes.

Profile
The class comprised Engadine (built at Denny), Athene (Greenock). These mercantile hulls were acquired and completed as dedicated aircraft transports, the only ones in the RN in WW2. In general escort carriers were used to taxi new aircraft to the battle line. The Athene class had their magazine protected by 1-1/2 inches sides and 2-in crowns. Up to ten 20mm Oerlikon AA guns were added during their service. From sixteen to twenty aircraft could be transported with folded wings, or 40 Hurricanes with wings removed. Stowage also comprised 28,500 gallons of avgas. They were returned to mercantile service, stripped, in 1946 and scrapped in 1962-63.

⚙ specifications

Displacement: 10,890t deep load. 148.64 x 19.2 x 6.17m (488 x 63 x 19ft).
2 shafts VTE, LP turbine, 8300 hp 17 kts. Oil 980t.
Armed with 1x 4.7 in BL Mk.I, 1x 4-in/45 QF Mk.V HA, 4×2-pdr pompom AA.

The famous HMS Rawalpindi, putting an heroic fight aganst Scharhorst and Gneisenau on 21 November 1939.

In 1939, the Admiralty confiscated around fifty passenger and passenger-cargo liners to be used for patrol and escort; Those chosen went through a refit, to install an armament, and minimal fire control. They emerged until early 1940. In order to increasing damage tolerance, tween deck space was filled with empty oil barrels. Efficiency was real: Indeed Forfar, Salopian and Patroclus, atacked by U-Boats required 5, 6 and 7 torpedoes respectively to sink, wasting considerable time from their attackers, leaving the remainder of the convoy free to go. Typically, APC were given surplus WW1 guns, notably the largely available 6-in (152mm)/45 Mk VII, coming from scrapped WWI cruiser, or modernized C-class cruiser swapping onto DP guns instead.

Given their large size, they were able to carry up to eight of these, which was a quite impressive firepower, able to deter surface threat, and it was completed by two (rarely more) 3-in/45 dual purpose guns as AA defence. There were exception. Some ships had seven main guns instead, some even six, and albeit the two 3-in/45 DP were standard, some were completed instead with 4-in/45 Mark V dual purpose guns, such as Chitral F57, Laurentic and Monclar. In the case of Laurentic, she had seven 5.5″/50(140mm)/50 Mk I main guns instead, and so was Montclare. These guns were those made for the admiral class in 1918, of which HMS Hood was the only one completed. They also equipped HMS Furious and Hermes and the cruisers Birkenhead and Chester. As for potential fleet operations, these vessels were faster than the cargo ships they were supposed to escort, coming with VTE, diesels and steam turbines, even turbo-electric systems on one case (HMS Queen of Bermuda). Being liners, they were fast, 21.7 knos in the case of the 1930 Prince class.

Of course, they were losses. In 1939-1941, 15 AMCs were lost, including some high profile losses like Jervis Bay by the German “pocket Battleship” Admiral Scheer, Rawalpindi by the battlecruisers Scharnorst and Gneisenau or Voltaire by German commerce raider Thor. In the Indian Ocean, Hector was sunk by aircraft from Japanese carriers Hiryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku. These were the exception. The majority were torpedoes by U-Boats: Andania by the German submarine UA, Carinthia and Dunvegan Castle by U46, Forfar, Laurentic and Patroclus by U99, Rajputana by U108, Salopian by U98, Scotstoun by U25, Transylvania by U56. This pushed the Admiralty to consider the use of such large ships as erroneous. The arrival of many new escorrts made their use redundant, and they were gradually reconverted for other roles, such as fast troop transports. The German submarine forces HQ had concerns about their value as objects of attacks as well and followed their conversion as troop transports, considered soon as more important targets. By early to mid-1941, gradual reconversion of AMCs as troop transports was acted, a process which ended in early 1943…
Details of specs are present in the following list, from Conways 1922-47, page 81-82:

Alaunia F17

7/2/1925, conv. 10/1939 John Brown, Clydebank 14,030 GRT 158.4(pp)L x 19.9 beam 15 kts 2turbines, oil 1,619 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 Fate: repair ship 12/1944

Alcantara F88

23/9/1926 converted 12/1939 Built Harland & Wolff, Belfast 22,209 GRT 192.2(pp)x 23.9m 19 kts 2x diesels, oil 2,680t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 6/1943

Andania

11/1921, converted 11/1939. Built at Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn 13,950 GRT 158.6(pp) x 19.9m 15 kts 2 steam turbines, oil 1,847t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII (14), 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 sunk 15/6/1940

Antenor F21

30/9/1924, converted 1/1940 Palmers, Jarrow 11,174 GRT 151.7(pp)x 19m 15 kts 2 steam turbines, oil 1,170t 6 x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 10/1941

Antonia

11/3/1921 converted 3/1941. From Vickers, Barrow 13,687 GRT 158.5(pp) x 19.9m 15 kts 2x turbines, oil   repair ship March 1942

Arawa F12

15/12/1921, converted 10/1939 Built Beardmore, Dalmuir 14,462 GRT 161.8(pp)x 20.8m 15 kts 2 steam turbines, oil 1,712t 7x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 7/1941<>

Ascania F68

20/12/1923 converted 10/1939 Built Armstrong, Elswick 14,013 GRT 158.5(pp) x 19.9m 15 kts 2 turbines, oil 2,200t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 10/1942

Asturias F71

7/7/1925 converted 10/1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 22,048 GRT 192.2(pp)x 23.9m 19 kts 2 diesels, oil 2,710t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 4/1944

Aurania F28

6/2/1924 converted 10/1939 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 13,984 GRT 158.4(pp)x 19.9m 15 2, turbines, oil 1,591t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 Repair ship Artifex 10/1942

Ausonia F53

21/3/1921 converted 10/1939 Builder Armstrong, Elswick 13,912 GRT 158.5(pp)x 19.9m 15 kts 2 steam turbines, oil 1,586t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII (14), 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 repair ship 3/1942

Bulolo F82

31/5/1938, converted 1/1940 Bilt Barclay Curle, Glasgow 6,500 GRT 121.6(pp) x 17.7m 15 kts 2x diesels, oil 624t 7 x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 LSH(L) 3/1942

California F55

17/4/1923 converted 10/1939 A. Stephens, Linthouse 16,792 GRT 168.5(pp)x 21.5m 16 kts 2 steam turbines, oil 2,713t 8 – 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 4/1942

Canton F97

14/4/1938, converted 9/1939 A. Stephens, Linthouse 15,700 GRT 165.1(pp)x 22.3m 19 kts 2 steam turbines, oil 1,318t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk XII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 Troop transport 4/1944

Carinthia

24/2/1925, converted 10/1939 Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow 20,277 GRT 183.1(pp) x 22.5m 16.2 kts 2 steam turbines, oil 2,270t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 Sunk 7/6/1940

Carnarvon Castle F25

14/1/1926 converted 10/1939 Builder Harland & Wolff, Belfast 20,063 GRT 192.2(pp)x 22.4m 18 kts 2x diesels, oil 1,420t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 Troop transport 11/1943

Carthage F99

18/8/1931 converted 9/1939 A. Stephens, Linthouse 14,182 GRT 159.2(pp)x 21.8m 18 kts 2x turbines, oil 1,288 GRT 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 12/1943

Cathay F05

31/10/1924 converted 10/1939 Barclay Curle, Glasgow 15,225 GRT 159.6(pp) x 21.4m 16 kts 2VQE, oil 1340 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 2/1942

Cheshire F18

20/4/1927 converted 10/1939 Fairfield, Govan 10,520 GRT 147.4(pp)x 18.4m 15 kts 2 diesels, oil 794t 6x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 Troop transport 7/1943

Chitral F57

27/1/1925 converted 10/1939 A. Stephens, Linthouse 15,346 GRT 160.1(pp) x 21.4m 16 kts 2VQE, oil 1,850t 7x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk XII (30), 3x 4-in(102mm)/45 MkV troop transport 12/1943

Cilicia F54

21/10/1937 converted 10/1939 Fairfield, Govan 11,137 GRT 154.2 x 20.2m 16.5 kts 2 diesels, oil 1,052t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk XII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 2/1944

Circassia F91

8/6/1937 converted 1/1940 Fairfield, Govan 11,137 GRT 154.2x 20.2m 16.5 kts 2 diesels, oil 1,015t 8×6-in(152mm)/45 Mk XII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 3/1942

Comorin F49

31/10/1924 converted 1/1940 Barclay Curle, Glasgow 15,241 GRT 159.6(pp) x 21.4m 16 kts 2VQE, oil 1,390t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 Fire 6/4/1941

Corfu F86

20/5/1931 converted 11/1939 A. Stephens, Linthouse 14,170 GRT 159.2(pp) x 21.8m 17 kts 2 turbines, oil 1,380t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/40 troop transport 2/1944

Derbyshire F78

14/6/1935 converted 12/1939 Fairfield, Govan 11,650 GRT 147.1(pp)x 20.2m 16 kts 2 diesels, oil 740t 6x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk XII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 2/1942

Dunnottar Castle F34

25/1/1936 converted 10/1939 Built Harland & Wolff, Belfast 15,007 164.6(pp) x 21.9m 16 kts 2 diesels, oil 1,372t 7x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk XII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 7/1942

Dunvegan Castle

26/3/1936 converted 12/1939 Built Harland & Wolff, Belfast 15,007 GRT 164.6(pp) x 21.9m 16 kts 2, diesels, oil 1,372t 7x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk XII 20° elev., 2x 76/40 sunk 28/8/1940

Esperance Bay F67

4/10/1921 converted 11/1939 Vickers, Barrow 14,204 GRT 161.7(pp) x 20.8m 15 kts 2 turbines, oil 1,701t 7x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 11/1941

Forfar (ex-Montrose) F30

14/12/1920 converted 11/1939 Fairfield, Govan 16,402 GRT 167.2(pp)x 21.4m 16 kts 2 turbines, oil 1,728t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 sunk 2/12/1940

Hector F45

18/6/1924 converted 1/1940 Scotts, Greenock 11,198 GRT 152(pp)x 19m 15 kts 2 turbines, oil 1,180t 6x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 sunk 5/4/1942

Jervis Bay F40

17/1/1922 converted 10/1939 Vickers, Barrow 14,164 GRT 161.7(pp)x 20.8m 15 kts 2 turbines, oil 1,859t 7x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 sunk 5/11/1940

Kanimbla (1941- RAN) F23

12/12/1935 converted 10/1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 10,985 GRT 142.9(pp) x 20.2 x 7.4m 16.5 kts 2 diesels, oil 781 7x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 LSI(H) 6/1943

Laconia F42

9/4/1921 converted 1/1940 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 19,695 GRT 183.2(pp)x 22.5m 16.5 kts 2 steam turbines, oil 1,895t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII (14), 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 10/1941

Laurentic F51

16/6/1927 converted 10/1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 18,724 GRT 176.2(pp)x 23m 16.5 kts 3x turbines, coal 3,536t 7x 140/50 Mk I (25), 3x 4-in(102mm)/45 MkV sunk 4/11/1940

Letitia F16

14/10/1924 converted 10/1939 Fairfield, Govan 13,475 GRT 160.2(pp) x 20.2m 15 kts 2 turbines, oil 1,760t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 6/1941

Maloja F26

19/4/1923 converted 11/1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 20,914 GRT 183.1(pp)x 22.4m 16 kts 2VQE, oil 2,725t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 11/1941

Manoora (RAN) F48

24/10/1934 converted 12/1939 A. Stephens, Linthouse 10,856 GRT 146.9 x 20.2 x 7.4m 16 kts 2x diesels, oil 704t. 7x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 LSI(H) 9/1942

Monowai (RNZN) F59

16/10/1924 converted 10/1939 Builder Harland & Wolff, Belfast 10,852 GRT 158.2 x 19.3 x 7.9m 19 kts 2VQE, oil 1,560t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 6/1943.

Montclare F85

18/12/1921 converted 10/1939 Builder John Brown, Clydebank 16,314 GRT 167.5(pp) x 21.4m 17 kts 2 turbines, oil 19,65t 7x 4.5-in(140mm)/50 Mk I (25), 3x 4-in(102mm)/45 MkV depot ship 6/1942

Mooltan F75

15/2/1923 converted 10/1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 20,952 GRT 183.1(pp) x 22.4m 17 kts 2VQE, oil 2,876t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 1/1941

Moreton Bay F11

23/4/1921 converted 8/1939 Vickers, Barrow 14,193 GRT 161.7(pp) x 20.8m 15 kts 2 turbines, oil 1,701t 7x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 9/1941

Patroclus 13/3/1923

Converted 1/1940 Scotts, Greenock 11,314 GRT 152(pp)x 19 m 15 kts 2 turbines, coal 3,073t 6x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk XII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 Sunk 4/11/1940

Pretoria Castle F61

12/10/1938 converted 11/1939. Harland & Wolff, Belfast 17,160 GRT 173.9(pp) x 23.3m 19.5 kts 2 diesels, oil 1,332t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/40 CVE 8/1942

Queen of Bermuda F73

1/9/1932 converted 10/1939 Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow 22,575 GRT 168.7(pp) x 23.3m 20 kts 4x turbo-electric, oil 2,300t 7x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk XII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 4/1943

Rajputana F35

6/8/1925 converted 12/1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 16,644 GRT 166.9 (pp) x 21.7m 17 kts 2VQE, oil 2,100t 8 – 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 sunk 13/4/1941

Ranchi F15

24/1/1925 converted 10/1939 Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn 16,738 GRT 168.2(pp) x 21.7m 18 kts 2VQE, oil 1,885t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 3/1943

Ranpura F93

13/9/1924 converted 12/1939 Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn 16,688 GRT 168.2(pp)x 21.7m 17 kts 2VQE, oil 2,250t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 repair ship 5/1943

Rawalpindi

26/3/1926 converted 9/1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 16,697 GRT 166.9(pp)x 21.7m 17 kts 2VQE, oil 2100 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev. sunk 23/11/1939

Rimutaka(ex-Mongolia)

24/8/1922 converted 10/1939 Armstrong, Elswick 16,575 GRT 168.1(pp) x 21.9m 16 kts 2 steam turbines, oil   returned 1939

Salopian (ex-Shropshire) F94

10/6/1926 converted 10/1939 Fairfield, Govan 10,515 GRT 147.4(pp) x 18.4m 15 kts 2 diesels, oil 794t 6x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 sunk 13/5/1941

Scotstoun (ex-Caledonia)

22/4/1925 converted 10/1939 A. Stephens, Linthouse 17,046 GRT 168.5(pp) x 21.5m 16 kts 2 steam turbines, oil 2,495t 8 – 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 sunk 13/6/1940

Transylvania F56

11/3/1925 converted 10/1939 Fairfield, Govan 16,923 GRT 168.4(pp)x 21.4m 16 kts 2, turbines, oil 2,378t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 sunk 10/8/1940

Voltaire F47

14/8/1923 converted 1/1940 Workman Clark, Belfast 13,245 GRT 155.6(pp) x 19.6m 14.5 kts 2VQE, oil 1,430t 8x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev. sunk 4/4/1941

Westralia (RAN) F95

25/4/1929 converted 1/1940 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 8,108 GRT 136.6 x 18.4 x 6.9m 15.5 kts 2x diesels, oil 879t 7x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 LSI(H) 6/1943

Wolfe (ex-Montcalm) F37

3/7/1920 converted 1/1940 John Brown, Clydebank 16,418 GRT 167.5(pp) x 21.4m 16.5 kts 2x steam turbines, oil 1,728t 7x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk XII 20° elev., 2x 76/40 depot ship 11/1941

Worcestershire F29

8/10/1930 converted 11/1939 Fairfield, Govan 11,402 GRT 147.2(pp) x 19.6m 15 kts 2x diesels, oil 696t 6x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 troop transport 6/1943

Prince David (RCN) F89

12/2/1930, converted 12/1940 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 6,892 GRT 117.4 x 17.4 x 6.4m 21.5 kts 2x steam turbines, oil 1,470t 4x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev.,2x 3-in(76mm)/45 LSI(M) 12/1943

Prince Henry (RCN) F70

17/1/1930, converted 12/1940 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 6,893 GRT 117.4 x 17.4 x 6.4m 21.5 kts 2x steam turbines, oil 1,470t 4x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 LSI(M) 1/1944

Prince Robert (RCN) F56

3/4/1930 converted 7/1940 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 6,892 GRT 117.4 x 17.4 x 6.4m 21.5 2x steam turbines, oil 1,470t 4x 6-in(152mm)/45 Mk VII 20° elev., 2x 3-in(76mm)/45 AA ship 6/1943.

These ships were commissioned in 1940-41, specificallly to intercept and size German blockade runners, in order to free the RN for these missions that mobilized a lot of cruisers. In total sixteen vessels were requisitioned and armed (list below). Camito was already an escort vessel in WWI. Some were converted as catapult (or CAM ships) with a Hurricane, like HMS Maplin that had two Hurricanes on board. Registan and Ariguani were the others. Many belonged to the same class, which simplified armament and standardization.

ARIGUANI:

6,746 tonnes (1926) 14 kts for 2,159t coal. Armed with 2x 6in Mk XI and 1x3in DP. Catapult ship 1941, accommodation ship 1942.

CAMITO:

6,833 tonnes (1915). 15.5 kts and 2,322t coal. Armed with 2x 6in Mk XI and 1x 12 pdr. Sunk 6.5.41

CAVINA:

6,907 tonnes (1924). 15.75 kts and 2,172t coal. Armed with 2x 6in Mk XI and 1x 12pdr. Returned 1942

CORINTHIAN:

3,151 tonnes (1938). 14.5 knots and 996t coal. Armed with 2-6in Mk XI tonnes (1-12pdr – TS 1943

CRISPIN:

5,051 tonnes (1935). 14.5 knots and 692t coal. Armed with 2-6in Mk XI tonnes (1-12pdr Sunk 3.2.43

HILARY:

7,403 tonnes (1931). 15.5 knots and 1975t coal. Armed with 2-6in Mk XI tonnes (1-3in HQ ship 1943

LADY SOMERS:

8,194 tonnes (1929). 16 knots and 1235t coal. Armed with 2-6in Mk VII tonnes (1-3in Sunk 15.7.41

LARGS:

4,504 tonnes (1938). 17 knots and 778t diesel oil. Armed with 2-6in Mk XI tonnes (1-3in HQ ship 1942

MALVERNIAN:

3,133 tonnes (1937). 14 knots and 956t coal. Armed with 2-6in Mk XI tonnes (1-12pdr Sunk 19.7.41

MANISTEE:

5,368 tonnes (1920). 13.5 knots and ?tcoal. Armed with 2-6in Mk XI tonnes (1-I12pdr Sunk 24.2.41

MAPLIN:

5,824 tonnes (1932). 17 knots and 1197t coal. Armed with 2-6in Mk XI tonnes (? Catapult ship 1941, rerurned 1942

MARON:

6,487 tonnes (1930). 15.2 knots and 622t diesel oil. Armed with 2-6in Mk XI tonnes (1-12pdr Returned 1942

MARSDALE:

4,890 tonnes (1940). 14.5 knots and 705t coal. Armed with 2-6in Mk XI tonnes (1-12pdr Returned 1942

PATIA:

5,355 tonnes (1922). 13.5 knots and ?t coal. Armed with 2-6in Mk XI tonnes (1-3in Catapult ship 1941, sunk 27.4.41

REGISTAN:

5,886 tonnes (1930). 14.5 knots and 770t coal. Armed with 2-6in Mk XI tonnes (1-3in Returned 1941

TORTUGUERO:

5,285 tonnes (1921). 13.5 knots and ?t coal. See notes Returned 1942

Same role as above, but for coastal waters. These comprised 12 screw ships taken up in 1939-40. Gross tonnage varied widely: Vandyck was 13,241, Chakdina, Chakla and Chantala 3033-3129, Fiona and St Tudno 2190-2326, Gooduin, King Orry, Lards Isle and Monas Isle 1570-1877, Discovery 1062, and Fratton 757. Launching dates varied from 1905 to 1929, and King Orry had performed similar services in 1914-18. The usual armament was 2-4in/40 QF Mk IV, sometimes with a 12pdr HA, while Discovery, Fratton and Goodwin appear to have only had the latter. Chakdina had her din replaced by 2-3in AA in 1941 and originally had one as well as the 4in. Gooduin and Mona’s Isle became auxiliary AA vessels in 1941. Losses were Chakdina, Chakla, Chantala, Fiona, Fratton, King Orry and Vandyck.

Only two ships were so classed, Antwerp and Malines of 2957 and 2980t gross, ‘tin 1920-21 and hired in late 1940. They were armed with 1—4in/45 QF V HA, with 4—2pdr (4X 1) in Antwerp, and operated in the Mediterranean. alines was sunk in July 1942 but salved in early 1943 and was re-armed in 945, while Antwerp became a fighter direction ship in 1944 and was in returned 1945.

There are believed to have been 89 of these, requisitioned 1939-42 and varying from tugs to coastal passenger vessels. They were mostiy employed in the Far East, 36 being RN, 13 RAN, 3 RCN and 37 RIN. Kedah and Siang Wo were respectively 2499 and 2595t gross, and 19 were between 1020 and 1820 — Ban Hong Liong, Bhadravau (RIN), Gang Bee, Goodunn (ex-AAÀ, ex-ABV), Haider (RIN), /rrawadi (RIN), Kelanan, Kudat, Mata Hari, Netravati (RIN), Parvan (RIN), Princess Marie Jose, Raub, Sonavati (RIN), Sophie Marie (RIN), Tung Wo, Victona Marie (RIN), Vyner Brooke and Wilcama (ex-Wyrallah) (RAN). Of these , Siang Wo, Giang Bee, Kudat, Mata Han, Parvan, Raub, Sopme Marie, Tung Wo and Vyner Brooke were lost, as were (it is believed) 11 of the smaller vessels. The heaviest guns mounted were 1 or 2-4in. Two vessels were former RN patrol gunboats sold in 1920 — Hashemi (ex-Kildorough) (RIN) and Indira (ex-Kildysart) — while the sloop Pansy, also sold in 1920, retained her old name in the RIN.

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Links

harwichanddovercourt.co.uk ww2 depot ships
British WWII Submarine Depot Vessels
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battleships-cruisers.co.uk depot ships
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radioofficers.com
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List of auxiliary ships of World War II
battleships-cruisers.co.uk
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
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navypedia.org RN general
navypedia.org converted civi. vessels
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