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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED KINGDOM
CONVERTED MERCHANT VESSELS
WWII armed merchant cruisers


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Rawalpindi

Ships


Name Launched // Comm. Builder Tonnage, BRT Dimensions, m Speed, kts Machinery, Fuel, t Armament (angle of elevation) Fate
Alaunia F17 7.2.1925 // 10.1939 John Brown, Clydebank 14030 158.4(pp)x19.9x 15 2turbines, oil 1619 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 repair ship 12.1944
Alcantara F88 23.9.1926 // 12.1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 22209 192.2(pp)x23.9x 19 2diesels, oil 2680 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 6.1943
Andania 1.11.1921 // 11.1939 Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn 13950 158.6(pp)x19.9x 15 2turbines, oil 1847 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (14), 2 - 76/45 sunk 15.6.1940
Antenor F21 30.9.1924 // 1.1940 Palmers, Jarrow 11174 151.7(pp)x19.0 15 2turbines, oil 1170 6 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 10.1941
Antonia 11.3.1921 // 3.1941 Vickers, Barrow 13687 158.5(pp)x19.9x 15 2turbines, oil   repair ship 3.1942
Arawa F12 15.12.1921 // 10.1939 Beardmore, Dalmuir 14462 161.8(pp)x20.8x 15 2turbines, oil 1712 7 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 7.1941
Ascania F68 20.12.1923 // 10.1939 Armstrong, Elswick 14013 158.5(pp)x19.9x 15 2turbines, oil 2200 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 10.1942
Asturias F71 7.7.1925 // 10.1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 22048 192.2(pp)x23.9x 19 2diesels, oil 2710 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 4.1944
Aurania F28 6.2.1924 // 10.1939 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 13984 158.4(pp)x19.9x 15 2turbines, oil 1591 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 repair ship Artifex 10.1942
Ausonia F53 21.3.1921 // 10.1939 Armstrong, Elswick 13912 158.5(pp)x19.9x 15 2turbines, oil 1586 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (14), 2 - 76/45 repair ship 3.1942
Bulolo F82 31.5.1938 // 1.1940 Barclay Curle, Glasgow 6500 121.6(pp)x17.7x 15 2diesels, oil 624 7 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 LSH(L) 3.1942
California F55 17.4.1923 // 10.1939 A. Stephens, Linthouse 16792 168.5(pp)x21.5x 16 2turbines, oil 2713 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 4.1942
Canton F97 14.4.1938 // 9.1939 A. Stephens, Linthouse 15700 165.1(pp)x22.3x 19 2turbines, oil 1318 8 - 152/45 Mk XII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 4.1944
Carinthia 24.2.1925 // 10.1939 Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow 20277 183.1(pp)x22.5x 16.2 2turbines, oil 2270 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 sunk 7.6.1940
Carnarvon Castle F25 14.1.1926 // 10.1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 20063 192.2(pp)x22.4x 18 2diesels, oil 1420 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 11.1943
Carthage F99 18.8.1931 // 9.1939 A. Stephens, Linthouse 14182 159.2(pp)x21.8x 18 2turbines, oil 1288 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 12.1943
Cathay F05 31.10.1924 // 10.1939 Barclay Curle, Glasgow 15225 159.6(pp)x21.4x 16 2VQE, oil 1340 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 2.1942
Cheshire F18 20.4.1927 // 10.1939 Fairfield, Govan 10520 147.4(pp)x18.4x 15 2diesels, oil 794 6 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 7.1943
Chitral F57 27.1.1925 // 10.1939 A. Stephens, Linthouse 15346 160.1(pp)x21.4x 16 2VQE, oil 1850 7 - 152/45 Mk XII (30), 3 - 102/45 MkV troop transport 12.1943
Cilicia F54 21.10.1937 // 10.1939 Fairfield, Govan 11137 154.2x20.2x 16.5 2diesels, oil 1052 8 - 152/45 Mk XII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 2.1944
Circassia F91 8.6.1937 // 1.1940 Fairfield, Govan 11137 154.2x20.2x 16.5 2diesels, oil 1015 8 - 152/45 Mk XII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 3.1942
Comorin F49 31.10.1924 // 1.1940 Barclay Curle, Glasgow 15241 159.6(pp)x21.4x 16 2VQE, oil 1390 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 fire 6.4.1941
Corfu F86 20.5.1931 // 11.1939 A. Stephens, Linthouse 14170 159.2(pp)x21.8x 17 2turbines, oil 1380 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/40 troop transport 2.1944
Derbyshire F78 14.6.1935 // 12.1939 Fairfield, Govan 11650 147.1(pp)x20.2x 16 2diesels, oil 740 6 - 152/45 Mk XII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 2.1942
Dunnottar Castle F34 25.1.1936 // 10.1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 15007 164.6(pp)x21.9x 16 2diesels, oil 1372 7 - 152/45 Mk XII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 7.1942
Dunvegan Castle 26.3.1936 // 12.1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 15007 164.6(pp)x21.9x 16 2diesels, oil 1372 7 - 152/45 Mk XII (20), 2 - 76/40 sunk 28.8.1940
Esperance Bay F67 4.10.1921 // 11.1939 Vickers, Barrow 14204 161.7(pp)x20.8x 15 2turbines, oil 1701 7 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 11.1941
Forfar (ex-Montrose) F30 14.12.1920 /.11.1939 Fairfield, Govan 16402 167.2(pp)x21.4x 16 2turbines, oil 1728 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 sunk 2.12.1940
Hector F45 18.6.1924 // 1.1940 Scotts, Greenock 11198 152.0(pp)x19.0x 15 2turbines, oil 1180 6 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 sunk 5.4.1942
Jervis Bay F40 17.1.1922 // 10.1939 Vickers, Barrow 14164 161.7(pp)x20.8x 15 2turbines, oil 1859 7 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 sunk 5.11.1940
Kanimbla (1941- RAN) F23 12.12.1935 // 10.1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 10985 142.9(pp)x20.2x7.4 16.5 2diesels, oil 781 7 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 LSI(H) 6.1943
Laconia F42 9.4.1921 // 1.1940 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 19695 183.2(pp)x22.5x 16.5 2turbines, oil 1895 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (14), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 10.1941
Laurentic F51 16.6.1927 // 10.1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 18724 176.2(pp)x23.0x 16.5 3turbines, coal 3536 7 - 140/50 Mk I (25), 3 - 102/45 MkV sunk 4.11.1940
Letitia F16 14.10.1924 // 10.1939 Fairfield, Govan 13475 160.2(pp)x20.2x 15 2turbines, oil 1760 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 6.1941
Maloja F26 19.4.1923 // 11.1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 20914 183.1(pp)x22.4x 16 2VQE, oil 2725 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 11.1941
Manoora (RAN) F48 24.10.1934 // 12.1939 A. Stephens, Linthouse 10856 146.9x20.2x7.4 16 2diesels, oil 704 7 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 LSI(H) 9.1942
Monowai (RNZN) F59 16.10.1924 // 10.1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 10852 158.2x19.3x7.9 19 2VQE, oil 1560 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 6.1943
Montclare F85 18.12.1921 // 10.1939 John Brown, Clydebank 16314 167.5(pp)x21.4x 17 2turbines, oil 1965 7 - 140/50 Mk I (25), 3 - 102/45 MkV depot ship 6.1942
Mooltan F75 15.2.1923 // 10.1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 20952 183.1(pp)x22.4x 17 2VQE, oil 2876 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 1.1941
Moreton Bay F11 23.4.1921 // 8.1939 Vickers, Barrow 14193 161.7(pp)x20.8x 15 2turbines, oil 1701 7 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 9.1941
Patroclus 13.3.1923 // 1.1940 Scotts, Greenock 11314 152.0(pp)x19.0x 15 2turbines, coal 3073 6 - 152/45 Mk XII (20), 2 - 76/45 sunk 4.11.1940
Pretoria Castle F61 12.10.1938 // 11.1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 17160 173.9(pp)x23.3x 19.5 2diesels, oil 1332 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/40 CVE 8.1942
Queen of Bermuda F73 1.9.1932 // 10.1939 Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow 22575 168.7(pp)x23.3x 20 4turbo-electric, oil 2300 7 - 152/45 Mk XII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 4.1943
Rajputana F35 6.8.1925 // 12.1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 16644 166.9(pp)x21.7x 17 2VQE, oil 2100 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 sunk 13.4.1941
Ranchi F15 24.1.1925 // 10.1939 Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn 16738 168.2(pp)x21.7x 18 2VQE, oil 1885 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 3.1943
Ranpura F93 13.9.1924 // 12.1939 Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn 16688 168.2(pp)x21.7x 17 2VQE, oil 2250 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 repair ship 5.1943
Rawalpindi 26.3.1926 // 9.1939 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 16697 166.9(pp)x21.7x 17 2VQE, oil 2100 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20) sunk 23.11.1939
Rimutaka (ex-Mongolia) 24.8.1922 // 10.1939 Armstrong, Elswick 16575 168.1(pp)x21.9 16 2turbines, oil   returned 1939
Salopian (ex-Shropshire) F94 10.6.1926 // 10.1939 Fairfield, Govan 10515 147.4(pp)x18.4x 15 2diesels, oil 794 6 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 sunk 13.5.1941
Scotstoun (ex-Caledonia) 22.4.1925 // 10.1939 A. Stephens, Linthouse 17046 168.5(pp)x21.5x 16 2turbines, oil 2495 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 sunk 13.6.1940
Transylvania F56 11.3.1925 // 10.1939 Fairfield, Govan 16923 168.4(pp)x21.4x 16 2turbines, oil 2378 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 sunk 10.8.1940
Voltaire F47 14.8.1923 // 1.1940 Workman Clark, Belfast 13245 155.6(pp)x19.6x 14.5 2VQE, oil 1430 8 - 152/45 Mk VII (20) sunk 4.4.1941
Westralia (RAN) F95 25.4.1929 // 1.1940 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 8108 136.6x18.4x6.9 15.5 2diesels, oil 879 7 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 LSI(H) 6.1943
Wolfe (ex-Montcalm) F37 3.7.1920 // 1.1940 John Brown, Clydebank 16418 167.5(pp)x21.4x 16.5 2turbines, oil 1728 7 - 152/45 Mk XII (20), 2 - 76/40 depot ship 11.1941
Worcestershire F29 8.10.1930 // 11.1939 Fairfield, Govan 11402 147.2(pp)x19.6x 15 2diesels, oil 696 6 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 troop transport 6.1943
Prince David (RCN) F89 12.2.1930 // 12.1940 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 6892 117.4x17.4x6.4 21.5 2turbines, oil 1470 4 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 LSI(M) 12.1943
Prince Henry (RCN) F70 17.1.1930 // 12.1940 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 6893 117.4x17.4x6.4 21.5 2turbines, oil 1470 4 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 LSI(M) 1.1944
Prince Robert (RCN) F56 3.4.1930 // 7.1940 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead 6892 117.4x17.4x6.4 21.5 2turbines, oil 1470 4 - 152/45 Mk VII (20), 2 - 76/45 AA ship 6.1943


Standard scale images


<i>Jervis Bay</i> 1939
Jervis Bay 1939
<i>Prince David</i> 1941
Prince David 1941


Graphics


<i>Manoora</i>
Manoora
<i>Rawalpindi</i>
Rawalpindi
<i>Chitral</i> 1940
Chitral 1940
<i>Canton</i>
Canton


Project history

At beginning of war Admiralty confiscated more than 50 passenger and passenger-cargo liners of the average sizes for using as auxiliary cruisers for patrol and escort services. The majority has become operational after short refit in late 1939 - early 1940. For increasing of damage tolerance tween deck space was filled with empty oil barrels. Efficiency of a similar measure illustrates that fact, that for sinking of Forfar, Salopian and Patroclus it was required 5, 6 and 7 torpedoes respectively.

In 1939 - 1941 AMCs lost 15 ships, then Admiralty have come to conclusion as usage of so large ships as AMC is erroneous, but in a role of troop transports they could bring much bigger advantage (interestingly, that less than a year after a beginning of war German submarine forces HQ had a similar deciding concerning value of British auxiliary cruisers as objects of attacks: from mid-1940 troop transports were considered by the German submariners as more important targets). Since 1941 the gradual conversion of AMCs to transports has begun. This process basically was completed in 1943 though a number of the ships served as AMCs, but they were used already absolutely on other assignment.

Modernizations 12.

1940, Alcantara; 5.1941, Ausonia; 6.1942, Monowai: - 2 x 1 - 152/45 Mk VII (200); + 2 x 1 - 152/45 Mk XII (300)

11/1941, Ranpura: - 4 x 1 - 152/45 Mk VII (200); + 4 x 1 - 152/45 Mk XII (300)

1941, Alcantara, Asturias, Canton, Pretoria Castle, Queen of Bermuda; 1943, Cilicia, Corfu: + 1 - 2 seaplanes, 1 catapult

1941 - 1942, Alcantara, Carnarvon Castle, Cheshire, Worcestershire: all guns were modified for heavy shell with super-charge

1941 - 1943, Alaunia, Canton, Cathay, Cilicia, Dunottar Castle, Queen of Bermuda, Worcestershire: + 2 x 1 - 40/39

6/1942, Carthage: - 8 x 1 - 152/45 Mk VII (200); + 8 x 1 - 152/45 Mk XII (300)

8/1942, Canton: + 1 x 1 - 152/45 Mk XII (200), 2 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, all 152mm guns were modified for super-charge

10/1942, Asturias: - 8 x 1 - 152/45 Mk VII (200); + 6 x 1 - 152/45 Mk XII (300)

1942 - 1943, all survived ships: + up to 10 - 20/70

1/1943, Corfu: - 8 x 1 - 152/45 Mk VII (200); + 9 x 1 - 152/45 Mk XII (300), 2 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI

Naval service

Andania was sunk by 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. Hector was sunk by aircraft from Japanese carriers Hiryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku. Jervis Bay was sunk by German battleship Admiral Scheer, Rawalpindi by battlecruisers Scharnorst and Gneisenau and Voltaire by German commerce raider Thor.