HMY Alexandra

HMY Alexandra
History
United Kingdom
NameAlexandra
NamesakeQueen Alexandra of the United Kingdom
OwnerHis Majesty's Government
OperatorRoyal Navy
BuilderA. & J. Inglis, Glasgow
Yard number280
Launched30 May 1907
CompletedApril 1908
Maiden voyageJune 1908
Out of serviceJune 1922
FateSold to the Norwegian shipping company Nordenfjeldske Dampskibsselskab in May 1925
Norway
NamePrins Olav
NamesakePrince Olav of Norway
OwnerNordenfjeldske Dampskibsselskab
Port of registryTrondheim
Route
Cost£25,000
AcquiredMay 1925
Maiden voyageBergen–North Cape, beginning on 5 July 1925
Refit
Identification
FateSunk by German bombers on 9 June 1940
General characteristics as built
Type
Tonnage
Length90 m (300 ft)
Beam12.2 m (40 ft)
Draught13 ft (4.0 m)
PropulsionThree Parsons turbines with 4,035 ihp
Speed18 knots (33 km/h)
Capacity100 passengers (after 1925 rebuild)
General characteristics after 1937 rebuild
Type
  • Hurtigruten passenger/cargo
  • ship (1937–1940)
  • Troop ship (1940)
Tonnage
  • 2,147 tons (gross)
  • 1,247 tons (net)
Propulsion3,500 ihp four-cylinder compound engine
Speed17 knots (31 km/h)
Capacity450 passengers

HMY Alexandra was a steamship built as a British royal yacht, completed in 1908. Normally transporting Britain's royal family to European ports, Alexandra served as a hospital ship during the First World War. After 17 years of British service, she was sold to Norwegian commercial interests in 1925. Renamed Prins Olav, she was first used as a luxury cruise ship on trips to the North Cape, she was converted to take more passengers and cargo. In 1937 she began sailing as a Hurtigruten passenger/cargo ship along the coast of Norway. After being requisitioned by the Norwegian government following the 9 April 1940 German invasion of Norway, she transported troops for the Norwegian war effort. Prins Olav was sunk by German bombers on 9 June 1940, while attempting to escape to the United Kingdom as the Norwegian Campaign was coming to an end.