no.S97

Launch of Orcades

7 Dec 1936

Orcades built at Vickers Armstrong Barrow-in-Furness for the Orient Line. Launched 7th December 1936 and used for the NZ and Australian route, she was requisitioned by British Admiralty in 1939 and used as a troopship until torpedoed and sunk by U-Boat 172 off South Africa in October 1942. In the image Orcades is being tied up at the Deep Water Berth, perhaps to clear launch debris prior to entrance into dock gates - mooring party in the foreground.