Joined
·
98 Posts
As the Amarapoora she was sent to Liverpool as soon as WWII was declared and converted to a hospital ship under naval control. For the next three years she was depot hospital ship at Scapa Flow, seldom leaving the anchorage except for bunkers, stores and refitting. In October 1942 she was sent out to be available for the North African landings but remained at Gibraltar as the casualties were fewer than expected. The following year she was present at the Salerno.
From the end of 1944 the Amarapoora acted as base hospital ship at Tricomalee while a shore base hospital was being built and she remained in Eastern waters until well after the war.
In 1946 she was purchased by the Ministry of Transport primarily for the transport of displaced persons, mainly Australia. She was reconditioned on the Clyde during 1948.
When taken over for the emigrant trade to New Zealand she underwent a second and more extensive refit by Alex. Stephen and Sons, Glasgow and this was completed in July 1952. She entered service to New Zealand under the management of P. Henderson and Company whose agents in New Zealand were the Shaw Savill Line. He first voyage to New Zealand was to Wellington in August 1953 !!!
The twelfth and last voyage of the Captain Hobson to New Zealand was made in mid 1958 and from Wellington the ship sailed for Bombay where she arrived in August, to lie up and await a buyer. The following December she was sold to P.D. Marchessini and Company but her new owners did not place the ship in service and she was quickly sold to Japanese ship-breakers. She arrived at Osaka in March 1959.
From the end of 1944 the Amarapoora acted as base hospital ship at Tricomalee while a shore base hospital was being built and she remained in Eastern waters until well after the war.
In 1946 she was purchased by the Ministry of Transport primarily for the transport of displaced persons, mainly Australia. She was reconditioned on the Clyde during 1948.
When taken over for the emigrant trade to New Zealand she underwent a second and more extensive refit by Alex. Stephen and Sons, Glasgow and this was completed in July 1952. She entered service to New Zealand under the management of P. Henderson and Company whose agents in New Zealand were the Shaw Savill Line. He first voyage to New Zealand was to Wellington in August 1953 !!!
The twelfth and last voyage of the Captain Hobson to New Zealand was made in mid 1958 and from Wellington the ship sailed for Bombay where she arrived in August, to lie up and await a buyer. The following December she was sold to P.D. Marchessini and Company but her new owners did not place the ship in service and she was quickly sold to Japanese ship-breakers. She arrived at Osaka in March 1959.
Report