History
United Kingdom
Name
  • 1925-1939: RMS Caledonia
  • 1939-1940: HMS Scotstoun
Operator
BuilderAlexander Stephen and Sons, Linthouse, Glasgow
Launched21 April 1925
AcquiredAugust 1939 by the Royal Navy
In service1925
Out of serviceAugust 1939
FateSunk, 13 June 1940
General characteristics
Type
Tonnage17,046 GRT
Length552 ft (168 m)
Beam70.2 ft (21.4 m)
Speed15.5 knots (28.7 km/h; 17.8 mph)
Complement352
Armament

RMS Caledonia was a British ocean liner built by Alexander Stephen and Sons for the Anchor Line which was converted into an armed merchant cruiser during World War II.[1]

History

Passenger Service

The ship was ordered by the Anchor Line from Alexander Stephen and Sons. She was laid down in February 1920 and launched on 21 April 1925. Her sister ships were the SS California and the RMS Transylvania. On 3 October 1925, she departed on her maiden voyage on the Glasgow to New York route. In March 1936 the ship's accommodation was changed from first, second, and third-class to the cabin, tourist, and third class. in 1938 the ship has remodeled of the 3rd class accommodation, new propellers, and a speed of 17 knots.[2]

World War 2

In September 1939, the liner was decommissioned from passenger service and requisitioned by the Royal Navy as an armed merchant cruiser and was renamed as HMS Scotstoun.[3] She was credited with capturing the 6386-ton German tanker Biscaya off Reykjavík on 19 October 1939 and, in company with sister ship HMS Transylvania, sinking the 5864-ton German freighter Poseidon two days later.[4] On 13 June 1940 Scotstoun was torpedoed and sunk by U-25 north of Ireland.[5]

Citations

  1. ↑ "S/S Caledonia (4), Anchor Line - Norway Heritage".
  2. ↑ "SHIP DESCRIPTIONS - C - the ships list".
  3. ↑ Lenton, H.T.; Colledge, J.J. (1964). British and Dominion Warships of World War II. New York: Doubleday and Company. p. 267.
  4. ↑ "Armed Merchant Cruiser Northern Patrol". Warcovers. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  5. ↑ Brown, David (1995). Warship Losses of World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 34. ISBN 1-55750-914-X.

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