Athlone Castle
Ship Number
942
Vessel Type
Passenger Ship
Built
Belfast
Slip Number
2
Launch Date
November 28, 1935
Launched By
HRH Princess Alice Countess Of Athlone/ Capt Barron
Delivered
May 13, 1936
Owner
Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co.
Weight
25567 grt
BP Length
680 feet
Breadth
82 feet
No. of Screws
Twin
Speed (approx)
20 knots
Propulsion
B&W 2 X 10 Cylinder, 2 Stroke Double Acting by Harland and Wolff, 4, 650 NHP
Official No.
164625
Registered
London
Fate
Scrapped
Athlone Castle

[Harland and Wolff Collection]
Sister of the Stirling Castle, she was launched by the Princess Alice, wife of the Earl of Athlone, a former Governor General of South Africa, on 28th November 1935.
 
On 5th November 1937 she was the first mail ship to call at Buffalo Harbour at East London and on 22nd December 1938 inaugurated the 14 days or under 'Accelerated' schedule as stipulated in the 1936 mail contract.
 
In 1940 she was the commodore ship of a Union-Castle convoy made up of the Arundel Castle, the Windsor Castle, the Winchester Castle, the Durban Castle and the Capetown Castle to carry South African troops to Suez following the outbreak of fighting in North Africa.
 
During 1943, together with her sister, she trooped between the USA and UK carrying some 150,000 troops without any serious incident.
 
 In 1946 she underwent a refit by Harland and Wolff, she continued in service until 6th August 1965 when she concluded her 141st voyage at Southampton.
 
Her sale had already been negotiated and ten days later she sailed for Kaohsuing in Taiwan where she arrived on 13th September 1965 for breaking up by the China Steel Corporation.