SS Cathay (1924)
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SS Cathay while under P&O service.
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| History | |
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| Name: | Cathay |
| Owner: | Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. (P&O) |
| Port of registry: |
 UK, London
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| Route: | London - Sydney |
| Ordered: | 1923 |
| Builder: | Barclay Curle & Company |
| Yard number: | 602 |
| Laid down: | 1924 |
| Launched: | 31 October 1924 |
| Completed: | March 1925 |
| Acquired: | 12 March 1925 |
| Maiden voyage: | 27 March 1925 |
| In service: | 27 March 1925 |
| Out of service: | 11 November 1942 |
| Identification: | 148843 |
| Fate: | Sank during an air raid |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Passenger ship |
| Tonnage: | 15.225 GRT |
| Length: | 166.7 metres (546 ft 11 in) |
| Beam: | 21.4 metres (70 ft 3 in) |
| Depth: | 9.2 metres (30 ft 2 in) |
| Decks: | 3 |
| Installed power: | 2 x 4 cyl. Quadruple expansion engines |
| Propulsion: | Double screw propellers |
| Sail plan: | London - Sydney (Since 1932: Bombay) |
| Speed: | 16 knots |
| Capacity: |
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| Crew: | 278 |
The SS Cathay was a British passenger ship that was sunk during Operation Torch in 1942 by a German air raid in the Mediterranean Sea off Bougie, Algeria.
The SS Cathay was ordered in 1923 and laid down the following year at the Barclay Curle & Company shipyard in Glasgow, Scotland. It was launched by Lady Inchcape (wife of P&O's Chairman) on 31 October 1924. The ship was completed and acquired after completing its sea trials on 12 March 1925. The ship made its maiden voyage from London to Sydney on 27 March 1925.
The ship was 166.7 metres (546 ft 11 in) long, with a beam of 21.4 metres (70 ft 3 in) and a depth of 9.2 metres (30 ft 2 in). It was assessed at 15.225 GRT. It had 2 x 4 cyl. quadruple expansion engines driving double screw propellers and the engine was rated at 13.437 nhp. Its second funnel was a dummy.
After its maiden voyage in 1925, the SS Cathay kept on sailing for P&O on the Australian service route via the Suez Canal. In 1932 however, Bombay was added to its route. It also made an occasional run on the Far Eastern route.
On 14 December 1933 the SS Cathay lost a screw while trying to make up time between Colombo and Fremantle. It had to wait for repairs in Sutherland Dock, Australia, and returned to service in March 1934.
On 25 August 1939, the SS Cathay was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted at Bombay for service as an armed merchant cruiser. The second (dummy) funnel was removed and eight 6-inch and two 3-inch guns were fitted on the decks. The ship served on the Bombay–Durban patrol after its transformation in October 1939.
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