Warwick Castle
Ship Number
840
Vessel Type
Passenger Ship
Built
Belfast
Yard
East Yard
Slip Number
12
Launch Date
April 29, 1930
Delivered
January 16, 1931
Owner
Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co.
Weight
20444 grt
BP Length
650 feet
Breadth
75 feet
No. of Screws
Twin
Speed (approx)
17 knots
Propulsion
Single Acting (S.A.) Diesel Engine 8 cylinder
Official No.
162527
Registered
London
Fate
Torpedoed
Warwick Castle

[Harland and Wolff Collection]
Like her sister, the Winchester Castle, she was similarly modified by Harland and Wolff  in 1938 to meet the conditions of the new mail contract.
 
In September 1939 she was taken over by the government for trooping  duties.
 
In November 1942 she was part of the KMF 1 (UK-Mediterranean Fast) assault force for Operation Torch, the North African landings. She landed her troops on 10th November and, empty, joined convoy MKF 1 for the return voyage home.
 
On 12th November at 08.50 hrs, when north of Gibraltar off the Portuguese coast, she was torpedoed by U-413 and sank 1hr.25mins later. The U-Boat had waited under the convoy and targeted the rearmost troopship.