M.V. "WARWICK CASTLE" (4)

1947 - 1962

"PRETORIA CASTLE" 1938 - 1942

H.M.S. "PRETORIA CASTLE" 1942 - 1946

"PRETORIA CASTLE" 1946

Builder:                 Harland & Wolff, Belfast           

Yard No.               1006

Official No.           167220

Tonnage:             17,392 gross,  10,436 net.

Dimensions:       570.7ft x 76.4ft

Engines:              Burmeister & Wain design by builder.  3,284 h.p., 16,000 b.h.p., = 18.0 knots

Passengers:       220 1st. class & 335 tourist class.

Reefer space:     178,680 cu. ft.

Launched:           12th October 1938 as "PRETORIA CASTLE"

Completed:          March 1939

Sold:                      July !942 to Admiralty & converted to a Armed Merchant Cruiser.

Rebuild:                August 1942 - 9th April 1943  Converted to an escourt carrier by Swan Hunter & Wigham, Wallsend.

Repurchase:        January 1946 by Union-Castle.

Rebuild:                January 1946 - March 1947 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast & renamed "Warwick Castle".

Sold:                      June 1962 for demolition in Spain.

The name changes tell of the ships adventurous life.   The change of name in 1947 reflected the growing commercial and political influence of South Africa.   Before the 2nd World War in the rebuilding program of the 1930's a number of ships received South African names, but only one, the "Capetown Castle" in the prestigious mail fleet.   By 1946 it was clear to the Company that one of the two new mailships should be given a South African name.   The obvious choice was "Pretoria Castle" thus the old "Pretoria" was renamed "Warwick Castle", a name previously kept in the mailship fleet.

A sister to the "Durban Castle" their comparatively short lives were a result of the drastic downturn in passenger numbers and political changes in East Africa that made the Intermediate Service commercially unviable.

RETURN TO HOME PAGE