Arandora Star

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Arandora Star

Post by shipstamps » Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:35 pm

The Arandora Star is featured on the $5 stamp, with the houseflag of the Blue Star Line. This vessel was built by Cammell Laird, at Birkenhead, along with two sister ships, for the same owners. She was launched on January 4. 1927, as a passenger and refrigerated cargo vessel. Gross tonnage 15,501; net 9,096 tons. Length 512ft, 8in., breadth 68ft. 3in., depth 42ft. 5in.
She was powered by four steam turbines single-reduction geared to twin-screw shafts. The Arandora Star made only a few South American voyages before being altered at the Fairfield Yard, Govan, during 1929-30. There she was given a white hull and superstructure and a carmine sheer line at first and looked most imposing. A tennis court was placed abaft her two funnels on the boat deck, while in the after well deck a large swimming pool was built.
More money was spent on her in 1934, 1935 and 1936 to keep her up to cruising standards.
In 1934 her mainmast was removed in an attempt to overcome her rolling tendency. Her sheer line was changed to green. By this time alterations had given her a capacity of about 375 passengers.
The ship was taken over at the beginning of the war as a transport. She was sunk on July 2, 1940, by a torpedo from a German submarine in position 55 deg. 20 min. N.. 10deg. 33W. (off the West of Ireland) while she was carrying 1,600 prisoners of war to Canada.
Sea Breezes December 1976 Ernest Argyle.
Grenada SG839 Liberia SG?
Attachments
Arandora Star.jpg
SG839
SG839
Arandora Star.jpeg

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