SS Orcades (1921)

SS Orcades was a British ocean liner built for the Orient Steam Navigation Company (Orient Line) in the early 1920s. She primarily operated on the route between the United Kingdom and Australia until her sinking during World War II.

History

Ordered by Orient Line, SS Orcades was built by Vickers Ltd. at their shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, England. She was launched on December 19, 1921, and completed in June 1922. Her maiden voyage commenced on October 14, 1922, from London to Australia. She was the first of two sister ships, the second being SS Otranto.

Specifications

The ship had a gross registered tonnage (GRT) of 14,891 tons. She measured approximately 165.8 meters (544 feet) in length and 20.3 meters (66.7 feet) in beam. Powered by steam turbines, SS Orcades achieved a service speed of around 17 knots. She was designed to carry a substantial number of passengers, typically accommodating around 300 in first class and 1,100 in third class, along with mail and cargo.

Service

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, SS Orcades maintained a regular passenger and mail service between the United Kingdom and Australia, primarily via the Suez Canal. She was known for her comfortable accommodations and reliable service on this long-distance route.

With the outbreak of World War II, SS Orcades was requisitioned by the British government for war service. She was converted into a troop transport, playing a vital role in carrying Allied personnel to various theaters of war.

Fate

On October 10, 1942, while serving as a troopship and carrying approximately 1,000 troops and civilians from Cape Town to Liverpool, SS Orcades was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-172 off the coast of South Africa, south of Cape Agulhas. Forty-five people were killed in the attack. The survivors were rescued by the British destroyer HMS Active.