SS Windsor Castle (1922)

The first SS "Windsor Castle", along with her sister, SS|Arundel Castle were ocean liners laid down by the Union-Castle Line for service from the United Kingdom to South Africa. Originally laid down in 1916, their construction was held up by World War I. They were not completed until 1922. They were the only four-stacked ocean liners built for a route other than the transatlantic. During the thirties, Windsor and Arundel were given refits to make them look more modern. This included reducing their funnels from four to two, and they both were given raked, more modern bows, which slightly increased their length.

Commissioned as a troop transport in World War II, the "Windsor Castle" was sunk by enemy aircraft in 1942 while in convoy KMF-11 by German aircraft (torpedo). She was hit by torpedo at 02:30 but did not sink until 17:25, she sank in Mediterranean Sea, 110 miles WNW of Algiers, Algeria. Only one crewman, Junior Engineer Officer William Ogilvie Mann, died. 2,699 troops and 289 crew were removed by HMS Whaddon L-45, HMS Whaddon L-45, HMS Eggesford L-15, and HMS Douglas D-90.

External links

* [http://www.maritimequest.com/liners/windsor_castle_1922.htm MaritimeQuest RMS Windsor Castle pages]
* [http://www.greatoceanliners.net/windsorcastle1.html The Great Ocean Liners: SS Windsor Castle]