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HIMALAYA (1892)
Service dates: 1892-1922
Official number: 99776
Shipping lines: P&O STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY
Ship type:
Passenger Liner.
Career
- 27.02.1892
- Launched.
- 13.06.1892
- Registered.
- 24.06.1892
- Ran trials and delivered as Himalaya for The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company Ltd. Constructed to Admiralty requirements regarding internal subdivision and watertight bulkheads, for which a £3,375 annual subsidy was paid. She and her sister Australia were developments of the 1887/8 ‘Jubilee’ class, designed for the Australian or Indian mail services. She had the finest saloons yet put on long-distance routes, and very complete bathroom facilities, which were highly popular with Australian travellers. Shakedown voyage with 200 guests London/Cherbourg/Cowes/London
- 16.10.1892
- Maiden voyage London/Bombay during which she had to halt for no less than 6 occasions (including repairs at Port Said) due to engine trouble. Broke the Bombay/Brindisi record on her return voyage.
- 06.01.1893
- First Australian sailing.
- 05/06.1893
- Broke by 17 hours the Australian mail record set by her sister Australia in the previous month.
- 05.04.1899
- Cargo capacity 3,781 cubic metres (133,532 cubic feet).
- 03.1903
- Deadweight 4,813 tons.
- 09.10.1908
- Last Australian sailing, thereafter she operated on the India and Japan services.
- 10.1910
- Several cases of plague reported on board when she was bound for Bombay, and after great public outcry, not helped by the fact that P&O had no alternative ship available, the full fares (a total of £8,975/11/7d) were refunded as compensation for the passengers’ anxiety.
- 08.1914
- Requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as an armed merchant cruiser and converted at Hong Kong. Eight 4.7-inch guns were fitted. Her war duties included patrolling the China Sea and surveillance of German shipping at Manila - colliers bound for their Eastern fleet. She also defended the Suez Canal against Turkish attack and patrolled the Red Sea.
- 14.11.1914
- Fired blank rounds in order to stop the British steamer Loongsang off the Philippines, prompting adverse comment in the local Press.
- 09.1915
- Ordered home.
- 21.06.1916
- Sold to the Admiralty and fitted with 6-inch guns, an aircraft deck and a seaplane at Simonstown, South Africa. Spent the rest of the War off East Africa or on convoy escort duties.
- 06.1919
- (Possibly) resold to the company.
- 1921
- Laid up at Southampton.
- 03.1922
- Sold to the Board of Trade, London.
- 04.1922
- Sold through Stelp & Leighton Ltd, London to German shipbreakers.
- 11.05.1922
- Arrived at Bremen to be broken up.