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CARTHAGE (1931)
Service dates: 1931-1961
Official number: 162658
Shipping lines: P&O STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY; P&O ORIENT LINE
Ship type:
Passenger Liner.
Career
- 18.08.1931
- Launched by Miss Jean Shaw, daughter of Hon. Alexander Shaw, P&O Deputy Chairman.
- 26.11.1931
- Ran trials.
- 28.11.1931
- Delivered as Carthage for The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.
- 08.01.1932
- Maiden voyage London/Suez/Aden/Colombo/Penang/Singapore/Hong Kong/Shanghai/Kobe/Yokohama.
- 14.02.1932
- Shelled (but not hit) by Chinese troops while berthed in Shanghai, during operations by the Japanese to capture the city.
- 04.1932
- Single voyage on Australian service.
- 02.1935
- Sank a lighter in Keppel Harbour, Singapore.
- 02.1939
- Minor damage when she hit a pier at Yokohama.
- 17.09.1939
- Requisitioned by the Admiralty. Discharged passengers and cargo at Colombo before sailing to Calcutta for conversion to an Armed Merchant Cruiser.
- 20.12.1939
- Commissioned. Served in the Indian Ocean on convoy escort duties.
- 03.11.1941
- Unit of a force intercepting Vichy French ships south-west of Madagascar. Towed immobilised Cap Padaran 58km (36 miles) to Port Elizabeth.
- 04.1942
- Refitted at Southampton, during which time had a serious fire in No.4 hold.
- 07.1942
- Refit completed.
- 08.1942
- Returned to Indian Ocean.
- 24.11.1942
- Rescued four Indian seamen survivors from torpedoed British India Steam Navigation Company’s steamer Tilawa.
- 29.10.1943
- Decommissioned at Swansea. Sailed to Norfolk, Virginia for conversion to a troopship.
- 30.12.1943
- Conversion completed. Further service from Calcutta.
- 27.02.1947
- Returned to builders for refit. Her aft funnel was removed and her forward funnel lengthened. Now painted white with buff funnel. 181 first class, 213 tourist passengers.
- 06.07.1948
- Resumed Far East service, now terminating at Hong Kong.
- 21.07.1958
- Rescued 23 crew from Panamanian steamer Allegra sinking in heavy seas and force 8 winds between Bombay and Aden.
- 05.1960
- Management and operation transferred to P&O-Orient Lines.
- 13.02.1961
- Last arrival at King George V Dock. Sold to Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, Osaka, for cargo voyage as Carthage Maru before demolition.
- 28.02.1961
- Sailed from London.
- 15.06.1961
- Demolition began by Miyachi Salvage Co. Ltd., at Sakai, Japan.