P&O RMS Strathaird

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With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian

P&O Line

RMS Strathaird

Strathaird was built with three funnels. Her forward and aft dummy funnels were removed after the war

She is seen here after her 1947 refit

RMS Strathaird (later SS Strathaird) and her sister RMS Strathnaver were built by Vickers-Armstrong Ltd, in Barrow-in-Furness, England. Strathaird was launched on July 18 1931, and completed on January 10, 1932. During her trials, Strathaird attained a respectable 23 knots. Both ships were built with three funnels; the first and the third funnel were dummies, and were removed after a refit after the war. Strathaird and her sister were the first of the P&O liners to receive a white hull and yellow funnels. This colour scheme was to be applied to all future P&O ships.

P&O postcard of the Strathaird with her three funnels

Specifications.

Tonnage: 22,544 GRT (Gross Registered Tons). Length: 202.4m (664ft). Breadth: 24.4m (80.1ft). Engines: Turbo electric steam turbine motors. Screws: Twin. Service speed 20 knots. Passengers: 498 First Class, 668 Tourist. Crew: 490.

RMS Strathaird departed Tilbury on her maiden voyage on February 12 1932, bound for Sydney Australia via the Suez Canal, a service she would remain on until the war.

Arriving in Sydney

On December 23 1932, Strathaird became the first P&O liner to undertake a cruise. This cruise five day cruise to Norfolk Island was the forerunner of P&O Cruises Australia which now operates three ships cruising Downunder. Ever since 1932, Australians (and New Zealanders) have had an ongoing love affair cruising with P&O until this day. Also, in December 1932, the Orient Line Oronsay operated a cruise from Sydney. Although the main deployment was the Mail service from the UK to Australia, both the Strathaird and her sister would operate occasional cruises out of Britain throughout the 30’s. In 1935 and 1937, the third and fourth of the famous “Strath” sisters, Strathmore and Stratheden, joined the Strathaird and Strathnaver on the Australian run. P&O decided that these slightly larger sisters would be built with just one funnel.

Troopship Strathaird is seen here departing Wellington New Zealand January 5, 1940

In September 1939, Strathaird and Strathnaver were requisitioned as troop she and her sister were dispatched to familiar waters as they headed Downunder once again and commenced transporting troops to the Middle East. Strathaird sailed on two convoys, before returning to Liverpool to undergo a refit. However, before completion, she was sent to Brest to evacuate 6000 civilians and troops, returning them to Plymouth, after which the refit was completed and she returned to her wartime duties. Having carried some 128,961 persons and covered 387,745 miles, Strathaird was handed back to P&O at the end of 1946.

During her 1947 refit, she received a total overhaul at the Vickers-Armstrong yard, which was complete in January 1948. During this refit she was painted white once again and her dummy funnels were removed whilst her remaining funnel was lengthened, giving her a more streamlined look. Now she accommodated 573 First Class and 496 Tourist class passengers, whilst her tonnage was now listed as 22,568 GRT.

Departing Tilbury on January 5, 1948, Strathaird returned to the Australian Mail service. Both ships continued to operate occasional cruises.

In 1954, Strathaird was converted and became a one-class liner accommodating 1252 passengers, with her first voyage departing Tilbury on April 8, 1954. With the two latter “Strath” ships and new builds Arcadia and Iberia all operating on the Australian Mail service, the Strathaird and Strathnaver were now the oldest ships of the fleet. Strathaird began to suffer a rage of mechanical problems which meant delays and even having to return to port. P&O decided to construct one large ship to replace the old “Strath” twins, this would be the Canberra.

Strathaird departed Tilbury for Australia on March 28, 1961, and then departed Sydney on May 9 for what would be the final voyage back to Britain. Upon return, she was sold to Hong Kong breakers. She departed Tilbury on June 17, 1961, arriving at the Shun Fung Iron Works in Hong Kong on July 24 and was handed over for demolition. She was the first of the “Strath” sisters to be broken up.

Special request: Ex passenger Libby Urbahn is looking for passengers who departed Tilbury on RMS Strathaird 14 February 1952 (or Southampton) for Australia to communicate with. Libby intends writing a historical novel that will include the voyage and she needs further details and information s she was rather young at the time. Required is information of ports of call and other details re the voyage, etc. Your assistance would greatly appreciated! Email Libby at: libbyandpete@bigpond.com.

Enter the Strathaird Photo Album

“Orient Line – A Fleet History”

Is available for £23.50 plus p&p from “Ships in Focus”

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Also Visit our Features on the following Orient Lines/P&O Ships

Orient Lines: RMS Orcades – SS Oronsay - SS Oriana - RMS Orion

P&O: RMS Strathaird - SS Iberia - SS Canberra

I trust you have enjoyed reading about this loved passenger liner. If you have sailed on her I would like to hear from you, and if you have any photographs I would greatly appreciate some, especially those of the interiors and out on deck. Email Me!

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