ORION liner 1935
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:05 pm
Built as a passenger- cargo vessel under yard No 697 by Vickers Armstrong’s Ltd., Barrow for the Orient Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., London.
07 December 1934 launched under the name ORION, named after the mighty hunter of Greek mythology, one of the most conspicuous constellations.
The launching ceremony was performed by the Duke of Gloucester from Brisbane, Australia, by pressing a button that sent an electric signal around the world to Barrow, triggering the launching mechanism.
Tonnage 23.371 gross, 12.959 net, 12.000 dwt, dim. 665.0 x 82.6 x 47.6ft, draught 30.2ft.
Powered by six steam turbines manufactured by the shipbuilder, single reduction geared to twin screws.
24.000shp, speed 20 knots.
Passenger accommodation for 486 first and 653 tourist class.
Some of the public rooms and the first class cabins got air-condition. She was the first British vessel which got air-condition.
Cargo capacity 209.215 cubic feet refrigerated and 186.660 cubic feet general cargo.
She was special built for the service between England and Australia.
August 1935 delivered to owners. Building cost £920.000.
Her maiden voyage was to the Mediterranean before her first voyage to Australia.
28 September 1935 she sailed from London for her first voyage to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
During her first voyage she embarked the passengers from the White Star liner DORIC which was severe damaged during a collision with the French ship FORMIGNY on 05 September 1935 off the Portuguese coast.
Her funnel was heightened to reduce the smuts and smoke on deck.
17 September 1939 requisitioned for service as a troop transport.
Her first voyage with troops was to Egypt, and then she sailed to Wellington in New Zealand to board troops for Europe. Sailed from Wellington on 06 January 1940, she joined a convoy at Sydney, with the convoy she left Australia bound for Egypt.
15 September 1941 while taking part in a convoy and with on board troops for Singapore, she was following the battleship HMS REVENGE in the South Atlantic, when the steering gear on the REVENGE malfunctioned and the ORION rammed the REVENGE in which the ORION severe was damaged on her bow.
Under her own power she proceeded to Cape Town for temporary repairs, and then she sailed for Singapore for more permanent repairs.
At this time war with Japan had broken out and the Japanese were closing in on Singapore, the ORION was used to evacuate civilians to the safety of Australia.
She took part in the landings in North Africa in Operation Torch, she made two voyages with troops to this area with over 5000 troops each voyage on board.
1943 Her troop carrying capacity was increased to 7000; thereafter she was mostly used in the Pacific waters till the end of World War II.
When she was released from the British Government control she had carried over 175.000 war personnel and steamed over 380.000 miles.
18 April 1946 released for reconditioning and on the first of May 1946 she arrived on the builder’s yard.
25 January 1947 returned to owners, passenger accommodation for 546 first class, and 706 tourist class passengers, crew 563.
Gross tonnage increased to 23.696 tons.
She was then again used in the service between the U.K and Australia.
17 September 1954 sailed from Sydney for a new extended service via Auckland and Suva across the Pacific to Honolulu, Victoria, Vancouver and San Francisco. She returned home via the same ports.
02 March 1957 she arrived at Rotterdam with on board 400 evacuees from the Dutch East Indies.
1958 Refitted and passenger accommodation changed to 342 cabin and 722 tourist passengers.
02 May 1960 transferred to the P&O Orient Lines.
28 February 1963 she sailed for her last Australian voyage and returned home on 15 May 1963.
1963 Chartered to the firma Otto Friedrich Behnke for service as an accommodation ship during the International Horticultural Exhibition at Hamburg. Arrived at Hamburg on 23 May 1963 and was berthed at the Overseas Landing Stage, at that time she had capacity for 1150 guests. The exhibition ended on 30 September.
Sold to Jos Boel et Fils S.A., Tamise, Belgium.
01 October 1963 sailed from Hamburg and was delivered to the scrap yard in Tamise on 07 October.
30 November 1963 scrapping work commented.
Liberia 2002 $25 sg?, scott?
Grenada Grenadines 1996 $1 sg 2211 and sgms 2212, 1862e (the stamp gives the year 1915 but not any vessel under that name was built , and the stamp depict the vessel built in 1935.)
She is also depict in the margin of the MS114issued by the Cocos (Keeling)Islands 1984 sg114.
Sources: P&O A Fleet History by the World Ship Society. Origins Orient and Oriana by Charles F. Morris.
Schakkel tussen twee Werelden by A. Langedijk. North Star to Southern Cross by John M. Maber.
http://www.angelfire.com/on3/rmsorion/history.htm
07 December 1934 launched under the name ORION, named after the mighty hunter of Greek mythology, one of the most conspicuous constellations.
The launching ceremony was performed by the Duke of Gloucester from Brisbane, Australia, by pressing a button that sent an electric signal around the world to Barrow, triggering the launching mechanism.
Tonnage 23.371 gross, 12.959 net, 12.000 dwt, dim. 665.0 x 82.6 x 47.6ft, draught 30.2ft.
Powered by six steam turbines manufactured by the shipbuilder, single reduction geared to twin screws.
24.000shp, speed 20 knots.
Passenger accommodation for 486 first and 653 tourist class.
Some of the public rooms and the first class cabins got air-condition. She was the first British vessel which got air-condition.
Cargo capacity 209.215 cubic feet refrigerated and 186.660 cubic feet general cargo.
She was special built for the service between England and Australia.
August 1935 delivered to owners. Building cost £920.000.
Her maiden voyage was to the Mediterranean before her first voyage to Australia.
28 September 1935 she sailed from London for her first voyage to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
During her first voyage she embarked the passengers from the White Star liner DORIC which was severe damaged during a collision with the French ship FORMIGNY on 05 September 1935 off the Portuguese coast.
Her funnel was heightened to reduce the smuts and smoke on deck.
17 September 1939 requisitioned for service as a troop transport.
Her first voyage with troops was to Egypt, and then she sailed to Wellington in New Zealand to board troops for Europe. Sailed from Wellington on 06 January 1940, she joined a convoy at Sydney, with the convoy she left Australia bound for Egypt.
15 September 1941 while taking part in a convoy and with on board troops for Singapore, she was following the battleship HMS REVENGE in the South Atlantic, when the steering gear on the REVENGE malfunctioned and the ORION rammed the REVENGE in which the ORION severe was damaged on her bow.
Under her own power she proceeded to Cape Town for temporary repairs, and then she sailed for Singapore for more permanent repairs.
At this time war with Japan had broken out and the Japanese were closing in on Singapore, the ORION was used to evacuate civilians to the safety of Australia.
She took part in the landings in North Africa in Operation Torch, she made two voyages with troops to this area with over 5000 troops each voyage on board.
1943 Her troop carrying capacity was increased to 7000; thereafter she was mostly used in the Pacific waters till the end of World War II.
When she was released from the British Government control she had carried over 175.000 war personnel and steamed over 380.000 miles.
18 April 1946 released for reconditioning and on the first of May 1946 she arrived on the builder’s yard.
25 January 1947 returned to owners, passenger accommodation for 546 first class, and 706 tourist class passengers, crew 563.
Gross tonnage increased to 23.696 tons.
She was then again used in the service between the U.K and Australia.
17 September 1954 sailed from Sydney for a new extended service via Auckland and Suva across the Pacific to Honolulu, Victoria, Vancouver and San Francisco. She returned home via the same ports.
02 March 1957 she arrived at Rotterdam with on board 400 evacuees from the Dutch East Indies.
1958 Refitted and passenger accommodation changed to 342 cabin and 722 tourist passengers.
02 May 1960 transferred to the P&O Orient Lines.
28 February 1963 she sailed for her last Australian voyage and returned home on 15 May 1963.
1963 Chartered to the firma Otto Friedrich Behnke for service as an accommodation ship during the International Horticultural Exhibition at Hamburg. Arrived at Hamburg on 23 May 1963 and was berthed at the Overseas Landing Stage, at that time she had capacity for 1150 guests. The exhibition ended on 30 September.
Sold to Jos Boel et Fils S.A., Tamise, Belgium.
01 October 1963 sailed from Hamburg and was delivered to the scrap yard in Tamise on 07 October.
30 November 1963 scrapping work commented.
Liberia 2002 $25 sg?, scott?
Grenada Grenadines 1996 $1 sg 2211 and sgms 2212, 1862e (the stamp gives the year 1915 but not any vessel under that name was built , and the stamp depict the vessel built in 1935.)
She is also depict in the margin of the MS114issued by the Cocos (Keeling)Islands 1984 sg114.
Sources: P&O A Fleet History by the World Ship Society. Origins Orient and Oriana by Charles F. Morris.
Schakkel tussen twee Werelden by A. Langedijk. North Star to Southern Cross by John M. Maber.
http://www.angelfire.com/on3/rmsorion/history.htm