Allied Warships

HMS Cathay (F 05)

Armed Merchant Cruiser

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeArmed Merchant Cruiser
Class[No specific class] 
PennantF 05 
Built byBarclay, Curle & Co. Ltd. (Glasgow, Scotland) 
Ordered 
Laid down 
Launched31 Oct 1924 
Commissioned11 Oct 1939 
End service5 Feb 1942 
Loss position
 
History

On 25 August 1939 the passenger ship Cathay of the P. & O. Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to an armed merchant cruiser. Conversion was completdc on 11 October 1939

Displacement: 15225 BRT
Armament: 8x 152mm, 2x 76mm
Speed: 17 knots

Career:
October 39 - August 40: East Indies Station
September 40 - November 41: Freetown Escort Force
December 41 - January 42: South Atlantic Station

On 5 February 1942 returned and used as troopship by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT).

On 11 November 1942 bombed and damaged during Operation Torch (the landings in North Africa) by German aircraft at Bougie. The next day, a delayed bomb exploded and blew the stern off, causing the ship to sink in 36°44´35N, 05°06´41E. One dead and 284 survivors.

 

Commands listed for HMS Cathay (F 05)

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CommanderFromTo
1Capt. (retired) Bertram William Lothian Nicholson, DSO, RN30 Aug 1939mid 1940
2A/Capt. (retired) Christopher McCabe Merewether, RNmid 1940

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