1926: A Pioneering Ocean Liner Named after a Medieval Structure is Launched

January 14, 1926

MV Carnarvon Castle, an ocean liner of the Union-Castle Line, was launched at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Northern Ireland’s capital city of Belfast. This vessel was named for a medieval fortress in northwestern Wales. Carnarvon Castle dates back to the 11^th century, with its current stone structure completed in 1283.

The ceremonial duties for the Thursday launch of MV Carnarvon Castle were handled by Lady Evelyn Suffield (1870-1951). She was the widow of Charles Harbord, 6^th Baron Suffield (1855-1924), a British Army officer and British Conservative politician.

In reporting on the vessel’s launch, the South Wales Argus noted that she “will have accommodation for about 1,500 passengers and crew.” The newspaper also highlighted that MV Carnarvon Castle embodied “the very lates advance in science, alike in naval architecture and marine engineering.”

MV Carnarvon Castle was the first Union-Castle mail ship to exceed 20,000 tons (18,143 metric tons). She also became the first motorized vessel to be used for regular voyages between the United Kingdom and the Cape of Good Hope.

This ship was used extensively for military service as HMS Carnarvon during World War II. After the outbreak of that global conflict in 1939, she was outfitted by the British Royal Navy as an armed merchant cruiser. She served in this capacity until being decommissioned in December 1943. She was subsequently converted into a troopship for Allied forces in New York City and continued in this role until March 1947, about a year-and-a-half after the war had ended.

Starting in 1950, MV Carnarvon Castle — refitted to more luxurious standards — was again used as an ocean liner. She was eventually retired and, in September 1963, scrapped in the Japanese city of Mihara.

Image Credit: Public Domain

For more information on MV Carnarvon Castle, please check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Carnarvon_Castle