The builder’s model of the passenger liner MV Carnarvon Castle at the Science Museum, South Kensington, 15 November 2008.

The MV Carnarvon Castle was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, being launched and completed in 1926 for the Union Castle Line’s Southampton – Cape Town. The Carnarvon Castle was the first Union Castle motor ship used on this service, having Burmeister & Wain diesels of 13,000 nhp and twin screws. Her maximum speed was 18 kts. She measured 656 ft x 74 ft x ? ft, weighed 20,063 tons gross and was the first Union Castle ship over 20,000 tons.

In 1937-38, to meet the faster speeds required by a new Royal Mail contract, she was completely rebuilt with far more powerful 26,000 bhp diesels, one funnel, a greater length (686 ft), a clipper bow and much improved passenger accommodation. She then weighed 20,120 tons gross. Her new maximum speed was 20 kts and on return to service she set a new record for the passage to the Cape which lasted until 1954.

On the outbreak of WWII the Carnarvon Castle was converted to an Armed Merchant Cruiser at the RN base at Simonstown, South Africa. In 1940 in the South Atlantic she fought a fierce battle with the German raider Thor, in which HMS Carnravon Castle was badly damaged. She put into Montevideo for repairs where she apparently used some of the steel plate from the wreck of the KMS Graff Spee.