Windsor Castle (1922)

Builder:
John Brown & Co.
Clydebank, Scotland
Keel Laid:
1919
Launched:
March 9, 1921
Year Built:
1922
Completed:
March 1922
Fate:
Sunk March 23, 1943 while in convoy KMF-11 by German aircraft (torpedo).
*Hit by torpedo at 02:30 but did not sink until 17:25.

Location: Mediterranean Sea, 110 miles WNW of Algiers, Algeria.
(37.28N - 01.10E)

One crewman killed, Junior Engineer Officer William Ogilvie Mann.
2,699 troops and 289 crew were removed by HMS Whaddon L-45, HMS Eggesford L-15
and HMS Douglas D-90.


Owner:
Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co.
(Union-Castle Line)
Southampton, England


Dimensions, machinery and performance

Length:
686' (a)
Engines:
2 geared steam turbines
Beam:
72' 5"
Boilers:

N/A
Draft:
N/A
Shafts:
2
Gross Tons:
18,967 (b)
HP:
15,000
Displacement:
N/A
Speed:
17 knots (c)
Crew:
440
Funnels:
4 (d)
Passengers:
1,170
Masts:
2

Construction notes:
(a):
686' after 1937 refit.
(b):
18,967 after 1937 refit.
(c):
20 knots after 1937 refit.
(d):
2 after 1937 refit.


Captains
From
To
Name
Mar. 23, 1943
Capt. John C. Brown RNR


History:
Apr. 1922:
Maiden voyage Southampton - Cape Town, South Africa.
1921-1937:
UK to South Africa route.
1937-1938:
Refit at Harland & Wolff.
2 funnels removed, raked bow installed (adding 25' to the overall length), converted to
oil burning, GRT increased to 19,118, speed increased to 20 knots.

Jan. 1938:
Returned to commercial service.
Sept. 1939:
Requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted into a troopship.
Nov. 4, 1940:
Attacked by a German FW-200 Condor off Ireland. One bomb landed in the first class
smoking lounge but did not explode. Ship made port at Greenock 30 hours later and
the bomb was removed.

Nov. 14, 1942:
Departed the Clyde as part of convoy KMF-3, arrived at Algiers, Algeria Nov. 23, 1942.
Dec. 26, 1942:
Departed the Clyde as part of convoy KMF-6, arrived Philipeville, Algeria Jan. 3, 1943.
Feb. 8, 1943:
Departed the Clyde as part of convoy KMF-9, arrived at Oran, Algeria Feb. 16, 1943.
Mar. 15, 1943:
Departed the Clyde as part of convoy KMF-11 destination Algiers, Algeria.
Mar. 23, 1943:
Sunk.


Notes:
Christened by HRH Prince of Wales (Later King Edward VIII), the first passenger ship to be
christened by a member of the royal family.


Builder's Data
Page published Dec. 6, 2007