Canberra

[julian anstis]

CANBERRA-launched 16-03-1960 at Harland & Wolff Ltd Belfast, yard #1621,45,733tns,22knts.
Served as a troopship during the Falklands conflict.
Went to the breakers in 97, She was anchored off Gadani beach on the evening of 30-10-97 where they trimmed her to match the angle of the beach. The following morning with bagpipes playing at full volume over her deck speakers she was steamed at full speed onto the beach.
P&O had written into the contract with the breakers that ownership of the propellors,turbines,boilers,main engines would not pass into their hands untill Canberra was rendered totally unoperational and it would be impractical for her to ever sail again.
Photo shows her at Southampton in 1995.
photo courtesy of P.W.Hobday.

[Fairfield]

Her big moment.Launched by Dame Pattie Menzies,wife of the then Australian Prime Minister with I think,a bottle of Australian wine.
And her builders' plate.

[flyer682]

Such a sad end for a truly beautiful ship.
Some photos of "The Great White Whale" at Lyttelton on 1 March 1996, during her World Cruise of that year.

[Doxfordman]

The end of a golden age, such a shame!!!

[Doug Rogers]

Yes it was a bottle of Oz wine that was used at her launching by Dame Pattie Menzies, or perhaps Empire wine might have been more reminiscent of the era??.
She was an imposing vessel but let down in service by a slightly slower cruising speed than that projected and by some hull/stability problems that emerged after a short while in service.
That being said she gave amazing performance over the years and it was very sad to see her finally depart the scene after so long with P&O.