RMS Viceroy of India

Design and construction

RMS Viceroy of India was laid down in April 1927 at the shipyard of Alexander Stephen & Sons in Glasgow. Originally ordered under the name “"Taj Mahal"”, she was designed for the prestigious Bombay service of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P & O). and was only the third vessel in the world at that time to have revolutionary Turbo-electric machinery.

The accommodation aboard was regarded as luxurious by the standards of the time. The first class staterooms were especially sumptuous, although standards were high in all classes on this ship. All cabins were single berth with interconnecting doors, with extra rooms for servants who often travelled with colonial families.

Much of the interior decoration was designed by the Hon. Elsie Mackay, the daughter of James Mackay, 1st Earl of Inchcape, who was the chairman of P & O from 1914 until his death in 1932.

Launch and service

" to avoid offending Indians, particularly Muslims, who regard the Taj Mahal as a sacred mausoleum.

Fitting out commenced at Shieldhall Wharf, Glasgow, but unfortunately on 8 January 1929 she was damaged amidships by the 7,131 tons Donaldson Lines cargo ship "Corinaldo" which was attempting to dock in poor visibility. However, by 17 February she was ready for her sea trials, during which she averaged 19.6 knots.

The "Viceroy" was delivered to P & O on 7 March and made her maiden voyage on the Indian Mail service. However, the beautifully appointed liner was ideal for the leisure cruise market, particularly with the unusual amenity of an indoor swimming pool, and therefore was used as a cruise ship every year until the outbreak of the Second World War.

In February 1939 as part of a cruise of the South Atlantic she was the first P & O liner to call at the island of Tristan da Cunha. But without doubt her finest achievement was in September 1932 when she recorded a new record time between London and Bombay of 17 days, 1 hour and 42 minutes.

Incidents

"Viceroy of India" was in service for little more than fourteen years from launching to destruction, but in that period she figured in many significant maritime incidents.
*On 23 November 1929 she rescued 25 crew members from the Italian steamer "Maria Luisa" which was sinking in the eastern Mediterranean.
*In September 1930 she was on standby when the crew of the Greek cargo ship "Theodoros Bulgararis" had to be transferred to another vessel after its cargo of grain shifted in storms in the Bay of Biscay.
*Incredibly, less than three months later, on 31 December 1930, the "Viceroy" was again called to the aid of the "Theodoros Bulgararis" in the Bay of Biscay, and rescued all of the crew. On this occasion the Greek vessel was lost.
*On 5 September 1935 the "Viceroy" rescued 241 passengers from the Cunard White Star liner "Doric" after her collision with the French steamer "Formigny" off Cape Finisterre.
*On 11 August 1940 279 passengers were rescued from another Cunard White Star liner, "Ceramic", after her collision with the cargo liner "Testbank" approaching Cape Town.

Conclusion

In November 1940 the "Viceroy" returned to the River Clyde for conversion to a troopship.

Exactly two years later, while returning from Algiers during the North Africa campaign she encountered the German U-boat U-407 approximately 30 miles north of Oran. The "Viceroy" was torpedoed and sunk. Fortunately only four crew members were lost out of a total of 432 crew and 22 passengers. Survivors were picked up by the Royal Navy destroyer HMS "Boadicea".

pecifications

*OWNERS: The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company Ltd.

*SERVICE: London - Bombay, and cruising.

*NATIONALITY AND PORT: British. Glasgow.

*BUILDERS: Alexander Stephens and Sons Ltd., Glasgow, 1929. Yard Number 519

*OFFICIAL NUMBERS: 160238. Signal letters, LCTV. Call sign, GLVX.

*TONNAGE: 19,648 gross tons, 10,069 net tons, Deadweight of 9,180 tons

*DIMENSIONS: length 586.1 feet, 612.3 feet overall, Breadth 76.2 feet, Depth or beam 41.5 feet, Draught 28.3 feet. 5 decks.

*ENGINES: Builders: Alexander Stephen and Sons Ltd. Two steam turbo-generators, each 900 kW., 2,690/3,110 r.p.m. 3 phase 2,720 volts. 2 electrical shaft motors on screw shaft, each 8,500 shaft horse power., 109 r.p.m. 3 phase, 3,150 volts. At reduced powers of 11,600 shaft horse power and under, only one turbo-generator was required for supplying power to both motors, thus maximum fuel economy is obtained. Variation of propeller speed in either direction is achieved by changing the turbine speed. 19,000 shaft horse power by British Thompson-Houston Co. Ltd. Rugby, Warwickshire. Twin screw. Normal speed 19 knots.

*BOILERS: 6 water tube, 400lb steam pressure. Steam pressure 700 degrees, super heated F.D. Oil Fuel.

*PAINTWORK: Hull black, with white band, red boot-topping, upper works stone, funnels black.

*COMPLEMENT: 415 1st class passengers, 258 2nd class passengers and 413 crew. (14 officers, 19 petty officers, 59 seamen, 18 engineers, 53 firemen, 248 pursers and stewards, 1 surgeon and 1 assistant).

*CARGO CAPACITY: 217,752 cubic feet (6,165 cubic metres)