Atlantis S/S (Passenger, Cargo) 1913
Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 5:49 pm
She belongs to Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., Liverpool; Built in Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast; Gt 15.620, nt 9.481; Dimensions; 173.74m x 19.91m x 10.16m; three triple expansion steam engines, 14.000 hp., triple screw, Speed; 17 knots, Bunker capacity; 3,880 ton coal, Passenger Capacity; 380 1st class, 250 2nd class, 700 3rd class, she had five hatchways and holds, and a large refrigeration space.
She was laid down as Andes for Pacific Steam Navigation Co., but transferred to Royal Mail line during construction, she was launched on 8 May 1913, and sailed on her maiden voyage from Southampton for Buenos Aires and Valparaiso on 26 Sept. 1913.
On 22 March 1915, she was commissioned by the Royal Navy as an armed merchant cruiser in the 10th Cruiser Squadron; her armament 8-6”, 2-6 pdrs, plus depth charges. She took part in the sinking of the German raider Grief about 60 miles NE of the Shetlands on 29 Feb. 1916.
At the end of the war she repatriated British submarine crews trapped by the Soviet Revolution at Murmansk. Returned to Royal Mail on 22 Oct. 1919, and after a recondition at Belfast, put in service between Southampton and the River Plate, first sailing on 4 Nov. 1919. In 1929, she was converted by Harland and Wolff to a cruise liner, painted white, and renamed Atlantis. At the same time she was converted from coal to oil burning with passenger accommodation for 450 in one class.
She was the largest British ship engaged solely on cruising, made voyages to the Mediterranean, Baltic, West Indies, South America, South Africa and the Pacific Islands. In 1935, she was at the Spithead Naval Review for the Silver Jubilee, and in 1937, for the Coronation Review.
When the Second World War broke out, she was at Danzig on a cruise, but escaped and ordered back to Southampton. Converted to Hospital Ship No. 33 with 400 beds and 130 medical staff, she took part in the Norwegian Campaign in 1940, and was bombed five times. Then she sailed to the Middle East via Cape of Good Hope, and the following two years, she was running between Alexandria-Suez and Durban with wounded. In 1941, she was bought by the Ministry of War Transport (Royal Mail Lines Ltd. mgr.).
In 1943, she carried ex-prisoners of war, first with sick Italians from Avonmouth to Lisbon, and bringing British prisoners back from Algiers. Then she made a voyage with 800 Germans from Glasgow to Gothenburg in exchange for British prisoners, which she brought to Liverpool. Altogether, she carried over 35,000 sick and wounded, and sailed more as 280,000 miles during this period.
After the war, She carried servicemen, their wives and children to Australia. In November 1946, she brought Italian-born wives of Polish serviceman from Naples to Britain. She arrived in New Zealand in October 1947 with 227 immigrants and 200 Boy Scouts returning from a Jamboree held in France. She returned via Bombay to the U.K. After another voyage to New Zealand with 605 passengers in February 1948, she underwent an extensive refit and conversion into an immigrant ship, under a four year charter agreement with the New Zealand government. Passenger capacity was around 900 Third class.
She made a number of trips to Australia and New Zealand with emigrants, and on her return voyage called mostly at Djakarta or Surabaja to pick up Dutch serviceman and civilians for Amsterdam. On one return voyage in 1950 from the Dutch East Indies to Amsterdam, 54 babies were born on board the Atlantis.
Her last voyage to New Zealand was in September 1951. She brought about 9,000 new settlers out to the Dominion.
Broken up in 1952 by Metal Industries Ltd., at Faslane.
Bahamas 65c, 1999, S.G.?, Scott; 948.
Sources: Watercraft Philately.
She was laid down as Andes for Pacific Steam Navigation Co., but transferred to Royal Mail line during construction, she was launched on 8 May 1913, and sailed on her maiden voyage from Southampton for Buenos Aires and Valparaiso on 26 Sept. 1913.
On 22 March 1915, she was commissioned by the Royal Navy as an armed merchant cruiser in the 10th Cruiser Squadron; her armament 8-6”, 2-6 pdrs, plus depth charges. She took part in the sinking of the German raider Grief about 60 miles NE of the Shetlands on 29 Feb. 1916.
At the end of the war she repatriated British submarine crews trapped by the Soviet Revolution at Murmansk. Returned to Royal Mail on 22 Oct. 1919, and after a recondition at Belfast, put in service between Southampton and the River Plate, first sailing on 4 Nov. 1919. In 1929, she was converted by Harland and Wolff to a cruise liner, painted white, and renamed Atlantis. At the same time she was converted from coal to oil burning with passenger accommodation for 450 in one class.
She was the largest British ship engaged solely on cruising, made voyages to the Mediterranean, Baltic, West Indies, South America, South Africa and the Pacific Islands. In 1935, she was at the Spithead Naval Review for the Silver Jubilee, and in 1937, for the Coronation Review.
When the Second World War broke out, she was at Danzig on a cruise, but escaped and ordered back to Southampton. Converted to Hospital Ship No. 33 with 400 beds and 130 medical staff, she took part in the Norwegian Campaign in 1940, and was bombed five times. Then she sailed to the Middle East via Cape of Good Hope, and the following two years, she was running between Alexandria-Suez and Durban with wounded. In 1941, she was bought by the Ministry of War Transport (Royal Mail Lines Ltd. mgr.).
In 1943, she carried ex-prisoners of war, first with sick Italians from Avonmouth to Lisbon, and bringing British prisoners back from Algiers. Then she made a voyage with 800 Germans from Glasgow to Gothenburg in exchange for British prisoners, which she brought to Liverpool. Altogether, she carried over 35,000 sick and wounded, and sailed more as 280,000 miles during this period.
After the war, She carried servicemen, their wives and children to Australia. In November 1946, she brought Italian-born wives of Polish serviceman from Naples to Britain. She arrived in New Zealand in October 1947 with 227 immigrants and 200 Boy Scouts returning from a Jamboree held in France. She returned via Bombay to the U.K. After another voyage to New Zealand with 605 passengers in February 1948, she underwent an extensive refit and conversion into an immigrant ship, under a four year charter agreement with the New Zealand government. Passenger capacity was around 900 Third class.
She made a number of trips to Australia and New Zealand with emigrants, and on her return voyage called mostly at Djakarta or Surabaja to pick up Dutch serviceman and civilians for Amsterdam. On one return voyage in 1950 from the Dutch East Indies to Amsterdam, 54 babies were born on board the Atlantis.
Her last voyage to New Zealand was in September 1951. She brought about 9,000 new settlers out to the Dominion.
Broken up in 1952 by Metal Industries Ltd., at Faslane.
Bahamas 65c, 1999, S.G.?, Scott; 948.
Sources: Watercraft Philately.