The RMS Canberra was a liner in the P&O fleet from 1961 to 1997. She was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland and was launched on March 16, 1960, and entered service with P&O in 1961. Canberra has the prefix RMS meaning Royal Mail Steamship as she carried mail. She was named after the new federal capital of Australia, Canberra.

P&O built the Canberra to serve the Orient Line between the United Kingdom and Australia. However, the arrival of the jet airliner, reduction in emigration to Australia, and wars forcing the closure of the Suez Canal saw the route becoming unprofitable. However a refit in 1974 saw the Canberra reclassed as a cruise liner.

After the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982 which initiated the Falklands War, the Ministry of Defence requisitioned the Canberra as use as a troopship. Nicknamed the Great White Whale, the Canberra proved vital in transporting the Parachute Regiment and Royal Marines to the islands more than 9,000 miles (14,000 km) from the UK. Whilst Queen Elizabeth 2 was held to be too vulnerable to enter the war zone, Canberra was sent to the heart of the conflict.

Canberra anchored in San Carlos Waters on May 23 as part of the landings by British forces to retake the islands. Although her size and white colour made her an unmissable target for the Argentine Air Force, the Canberra if sunk would not be completely submerged in the shallow waters at San Carlos. However, the liner was not badly hit during the landings as the Argentine pilots tended to attack the Royal Navy frigates and destroyers instead of the supply and troop ships. After the war, Argentine pilots claimed they were told not to hit the Canberra.

When the war ended, Canberra was used to repatriate the Argentine Army, before returning to Southampton to a rapturous welcome. After a lengthy refit, Canberra returned to civilian service as a cruise ship. She was eventually decommissioned in 1997.

Statistics

• Official No 302649: Entered P&O service May 1961
• Gross tonnage 45,733: Net tonnage 24399: Deadweight 9754
• Length overall: 818 ft 6 in (249 m)
• Breadth 102 ft 6 in (31.2 m)
• Draught 32 ft 8 in (10.0 m)
• Depth 32 ft 10 in (10.0 m)
• Cargo capacity 150,000 ft³ (4,200 m³)
• Cost £17,021,000
• Speed 22 knots (41 km/h)
• Passengers (as built) 1st class 596, 2nd class 1,616; Cruising one class 1,737
• Crew 803

External Links

• sscanberra.com, a site dedicated to the Canberra