ORONSAY

UK

Built 1925

20,043 gross tons,

Length 659ft x beam 75ft, two funnels, two masts, twin screw, speed 19 knots.

Accommodation for 1,836 passengers in two classes. Built 1925 by John Brown Ltd, Clydebank for the Orient Steam Navigation Co., she started her maiden voyage on 7th Feb.1925 when she left London for Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

In Dec.1938 she made one voyage extended to New Zealand ports, but then reverted to regular sailings. In 1939 she was converted to a troop transport and on 9th Oct.1942 was torpedoed and sunk by the Italian submarine ARCHIMEDE in the Atlantic about 500 miles SW from Freetown in position 04.29N 20.52W while sailing on government service on voyage Capetown to the UK via Freetown.

She was carrying 50 RAF personnel, 20 Distressed British Seamen, 8 DEMS personnel, 1,200 tons of copper and 3,000 tons of oranges.

The Master, Capt. N. Savage, 281 crew, 15 gunners, 25 RAF personnel, DBS and DEMS were rescued by HMS BRILLIANT, landed at Freetown where they transferred to the Union-Castle liner CAERNARVON CASTLE and sailed on 15th Oct.1942 for Glasgow. 6 crew were lost. 37 crew, 1 gunner and 25 RAF personnel were picked up by the Vichy French warship DUMONT D'URVILLE and a French merchant ship and landed at Dakar where they were taken prisoner.

Photo Credits: The late Allan Green Collection Vic Australia

Details: The Shiplist

Cheers and Gb

Gordy