History

The famous RMS Strathmore, the third of the "Strath" sisters. She was not turbo-electric powered like the first two Straths but reverted to conventional technology. Her design established a characteristic P&O appearance that was reflected in all of the future, large passenger ships of the P&O fleet that entered service until the S/S Arcadia and S/S Iberia of 1954. She was a contemporary of Orient Line's RMS Orion.

Design and Construction (1934 – 1935):

The RMS Strathmore was ordered in 1934 as the third of the “Strath” sisters. After the three-funnelled Strathnaver and Strathaird with their highly successful turbo-electric engines, the single-funnelled Strathmore, Stratheden and Strathallan reverted to geared turbines with their lower capital cost and which could be built in the shipyard’s own shops.

She was built at Vickers Armstrong Ltd, Barrow in Furness and was launched on the 4^th April 1935 by HRH The Duchess of York (later known as HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother). Her name derived from the title of the Duchess’s father, the Earl of Strathmore.

P&O Prewar Era (1935 – 1940):

She sailed on a shakedown cruise from London (Tilbury) on the 27^th September 1935 bound for the Atlantic Isles, Dakar, Cadiz and Lisbon. She sailed on her maiden voyage on the 26^th October 1935 from London (Tilbury) bound for Bombay, India. On the 20^th February 1936 she was delayed for three days in Gibraltar with engine trouble. On the 28^th March 1936 on her voyage from London to Bombay she carried the new Viceroy of India Lord Linlithgow out to Bombay and returned with his predecessor Lord Willingdon aboard. On the 8^th September 1936 she found herself in the line of fire between two Portuguese warships whose crews had mutinied off Lisbon, and loyalist guns on shore. The day’s call and shore excursions were cancelled! On the 22^nd April 1937 she damaged her bow in a collision with Ballard Pier in Bombay and had to be dry docked for repairs. Sadly by this time the Second World War intervened in her career.

War Service (1940 – 1948):

On the 31^st March 1940 the Strathmore was requisitioned by the Ministry of Shipping (later Ministry of War Transport) for service as a troop transport. She gave sterling service during the Second World War. On the 15^th May 1948 she was returned to P&O after war service and was reconditioned by Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd., Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

P&O Postwar Era (1948 – 1963):

On the 28^th October 1949 the Strathmore returned to commercial service and sailed on her first postwar voyage from London to Bombay and Australia. In July 1950 she made P&O’s first postwar call at Marseilles. On the 14^th January 1953 she broke down an hour after leaving Tilbury for India and Australia. As a result she had to be towed back to Gravesend for seven days’ repairs. In October 1956 she collided with the Norwegian cargo ship Baalbek off Gravesend. In 1961 she was refitted as a one class ship accommodating 1,200 tourist class passengers. Sadly by this time the Strathmore was showing her age and on the 22^nd October 1963 it was announced that she would be withdrawn from service. She sailed into Southampton at the end of her final voyage on the 27^th October 1963.

The Latsis Years (1963 – 1969):

She was sold to John Latsis, the Greek shipping tycoon, on the 8^th November 1963 and renamed Marianna Latsi for use as a pilgrim vessel and hotel ship at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. In 1966 she was renamed Henrietta Latsi. On the 18^th April 1967 with her pilgrim vessel and hotel ship era over she was laid up at Eleusis Bay, Greece awaiting her fate. Finally in 1969 she was sold to Terrestre Marittima S.p.A. of Italy for breaking up. She arrived at La Spezia on the 27^th May 1969 and demolition commenced in September 1969. It was the end of a fine and much loved British ocean liner.