Sold for Scrap 1928
Port of Registry: Greenock
Propulsion: Two triple expansion steam engines, twin screws, 6500ihp, 16 knots.
Launched: Saturday, 07 October 1899
Ship's Role: Designed for the 'intermediate' passenger service, but employed almost exclusively as a troopship.
Tonnage: 7396 gross; 4484 net; 6250 dwt
Length: 450ft 0in
Breadth: 54ft 3in
Draught: 26ft 2in
Owner History:
Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company
07/10/1899: Launched.
17/12/1899: Completed. Advertised for a commercial voyage to Calcutta in January 1900, she was however taken up on completion as a Boer War transport, a notable passenger was General Cronje whom she took to St Helena as a prisoner of war, and for the Boxer Rising in China.
1903/1905: Taken up for peacetime Indian trooping in the 1903/04 and 1904/05 seasons.
20/03/1904: In collision in thick fog with the American steamer NEW YORK off Hurst Castle in the Solent. Her starboard bow was severely damaged and the bowsprit of NEW YORK was carried away. Repaired and returned to service.
1905/06: Laid up at Southampton. Trooped again 1906/07 and 1907/08 (being laid up in between).
1908: First commercial sailings between Bombay and the Far East. Draught now 26ft 9½in; deadweight 6,810 tons.
19/08/1914: Hired by the Admiralty for service as a troopship and later a hospital ship.
1921: Took troops to the Turkish troubles, and while in Constantinople collided (without much damage) with the Italian steamer UMBRIA.
1923/27: Indian trooping.
1927: Carried the Devonshire Regiment to the Shanghai disturbances as part of the Shanghai Defence Force. Converted into a hospital ship in Hong Kong.
1928: Reverted to a troopship to bring the Coldstream Guards home from Shanghai.
09/05/1928: Sold to Stavanger Skibs Ophugnings Co. A/S, Norway for £17,500.
17/05/1928: Sailed from Southend for Stavanger for demolition.
Scrapped - 1928.
