RMS Asturias (1925)

RML poster of Asturias with her funnels raised in height after she was rebuilt as a turbine steamship.
Painting by Kenneth Shoesmith.
History
United Kingdom
Name
  • RMS Asturias (1925–39; 1943–57)
  • HMS Asturias (F71) (1939–43)
NamesakePrincipality of Asturias
Owner
OperatorUnited Kingdom Royal Navy (1939–43)
Port of registryUnited Kingdom Belfast
RouteSouthampton – South America
BuilderHarland & Wolff, Belfast
Yard number507
Launched7 July 1925
Sponsored byRosalind Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn
Completed6 February 1926
Identification
FateSold for scrap, 14 September 1957
General characteristics
Type
Tonnage
  • 22,071 GRT
  • tonnage under deck 15,937
  • 13,206 NRT
Length630 ft 6 in (192.18 m)
Beam78 ft 6 in (23.93 m)
Draught44 ft 9 in (13.64 m)
Depth40 ft 6 in (12.34 m)
Decks7
Installed powerAs built: 3,366 NHP; 10,000 ihp, 7,500 bhp
Propulsion
Speed
  • 16+12 knots (30.6 km/h) (until 1934)
  • 19 knots (35 km/h) (from 1934)
Boats & landing
craft carried
Launched with 30 lifeboats, later reduced to 28
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
NotesSister ship: RMS Alcantara

RMS Asturias was a Royal Mail Lines ocean liner that was built in Belfast in 1925. She served in the Second World War as an armed merchant cruiser until she was crippled by a torpedo in 1943. She was out of action until 1948 when she returned to civilian service as an emigrant ship. She became a troop ship in 1954 and was scrapped in 1957.

  1. ^ "BR 6in 45cal BL Mk XII". NavHist. Flixco Pty Limited. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  2. ^ "BR 3in 45cal 12pdr 20cwt QF Mk I To IV". NavHist. Flixco Pty Limited. Retrieved 15 May 2017.