Royal Mail Steam Packet Company

For the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, see Cunard Line.

Royal Mail Steam Packet Company
IndustryShipping
Founded1839
FounderJames Macqueen
Defunct1932
FateLiquidated
SuccessorRoyal Mail Lines Ltd
Headquarters
London
,
United Kingdom
Key people
Lord Kylsant
Share of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, issued 16 February 1920
RMS Asturias in a 1930 poster by Kenneth Shoesmith, who created a number of images advertising Royal Mail Lines ships

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company was a British shipping company founded in London in 1839 by a Scot, James MacQueen. The line's motto was Per Mare Ubique (everywhere by sea). After a troubled start, it became the largest shipping group in the world in 1927 when it took over the White Star Line.[1] The company was liquidated and its assets taken over by the newly formed Royal Mail Lines in 1932 after financial trouble and scandal; over the years RML declined to no more than the name of a service run by former rival Hamburg Süd.

History as Royal Mail Steam Packet Company

The RMSPC, founded in 1839 by James MacQueen, ran tours and mail to various destinations in the Caribbean and South America, and by 1927, was the largest shipping group in the world.[2] MacQueen’s imperial visions for the RMSPC were clear; he hoped that new steamship communications between Britain and the Caribbean would mitigate post-Emancipation instabilities, in particular by promoting commerce.[3] From the outset the company aimed to be the vanguard of British maritime supremacy and technology, as F. Harcourt suggests, the RMSPC presented itself "as existing not merely for the good of its shareholders but for the good of the nation".[4] The high hopes for the business were boosted by the government’s mail contract subsidy, worth £240,000 a year.[5] The RMSPC evolved vastly from 1839 to the beginning of the 20th century. It introduced new technologies, such as John Elder’s marine compound steam engine in 1870, and worked to redefine seafaring by focusing on comfort and passenger requirements.[6]

In January 1903 Owen Philipps was elected to the RMSP's Court of Directors, and that March he was elected Chairman.[7] Under Philipps, RMSP grew by acquiring controlling interests in multiple companies. Philipps was knighted in 1909 and ennobled as Baron Kylsant in 1923. However, poor economic circumstances and controversy surrounding a deception by Philipps meant that the RMSPC collapsed in 1930, after which various constituent companies were sold off. In 1932, its successor, the Royal Mail Lines (RML) was formed, continuing the memory and operations of the RMSPC.[8]

Queen Victoria granted the initial Royal Charter of Incorporation of "The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company" on 26 September 1839.[9] In 1840 the Admiralty and the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company made a contract in which the latter agreed to provide a fleet of not fewer than 14 steam ships for the purpose of carrying all Her Majesty's mails, to sail twice every month to Barbados in the West Indies from Southampton or Falmouth. Fourteen new steam ships were built for the purpose: Thames, Medway, Trent, and Isis (built at Northfleet); Severn and Avon (built at Bristol); Tweed, Clyde, Teviot, Dee, and Solway (built at Greenock); Tay (built at Dumbarton); Forth (built at Leith); and Medina, (built at Cowes). In reference to their destination, these ships were known as the West Indies Mail Steamers.[10]

The West Indian Mail Service was established by the sailing of the first Royal Mail Steam Packet, PS Thames from Falmouth on 1 January 1841. A Supplemental Royal Charter was granted on 30 August 1851 extending the sphere of the Company's operations. In 1864, the mail service to the British Honduras was established. A further Supplemental Royal Charter was granted extending the sphere of the Company's operations on 7 March 1882.[9]

Philipps modernised RMSP's fleet in the decade before the First World War. He started in June 1903 by ordering three refrigerated cargo ships: Parana, Pardo and Potaro, to bring frozen meat to Europe from ports on the River Plate. All three were built in Belfast; two by Harland & Wolff. That October, Philipps ordered three smaller cargo ships for RMSP's Caribbean service, Conway, Caroni and Catalina, from Armstrong Whitworth on Tyneside. Then in November he impressed upon his fellow-Directors the need for new and larger ocean liners for the mail contract between Britain and the River Plate.[11]

This led to the introduction of a series of larger liners ranging from 9,588 GRT to 15,551 GRT on RMSP's Southampton – Buenos Aires route. Each had a name beginning with the letter "A", so collectively they were called the "A-liners" or the "A-series". The first was RMS Aragon in 1905, followed by sister ships Amazon, Araguaya and Avon in 1906, and Asturias in 1908. A few years later the final four "A-liners" were built: Arlanza in 1912, Andes and Alcantara in 1913 and Almanzora in 1915. Earlier members of the series, from Aragon to Asturias, had twin screws, each driven by a four-cylinder quadruple-expansion steam engine. The final four members of the series, from Arlanza to Almanzora, were significantly larger than the earlier five. They had triple screws, with the middle one driven by a low pressure Parsons steam turbine.[12]

The Union-Castle Line was acquired by RMSP from 1911, though it continued to operate between Europe and Africa under its old name and became independent again in the 1930s restructuring.

After the First World War RMSP faced not only existing foreign competition but a new UK challenger. Lord Vestey's Blue Star Line had joined the South American route and won a large share of the frozen meat trade. Then in 1926–27 Blue Star introduced its new "luxury five" ships Almeda, Andalucia, Arandora, Avelona and Avila to both increase refrigerated cargo capacity and enter the passenger trade. At the same time RMSP introduced a pair of new 22,200 GRT liners, RMS Asturias in 1926 and RMS Alcantara in 1927, which at that stage were the largest motor ships in the World. Although these were the biggest and most luxurious UK ships on the route, RMSP Chairman Lord Kylsant called Blue Star's quintet "very keen competition".[13]

Reconstitution as Royal Mail Lines

Royal Mail Lines Ltd
IndustryShipping, cruise line
PredecessorRoyal Mail Steam Packet Company
Founded1932
Defunct1965
FateAcquired
SuccessorFurness, Withy & Co.
Headquarters
United Kingdom Edit this on Wikidata

The company ran into financial trouble, and the UK Government investigated its affairs in 1930, resulting in the Royal Mail Case. In 1931 Lord Kylsant was jailed for 12 months for misrepresenting the state of the company to shareholders.[1] So much of Britain's shipping industry was involved in RMSPC that arrangements were made to guarantee the continuation of ship operations after it was liquidated. Royal Mail Lines Ltd (RML) was created in 1932 and took over the ships of RMSPC and other companies of the former group.[14] The new company was chaired by Lord Essendon.[15]

The new company's operations were concentrated on the west coast of South America, the West Indies and Caribbean, and the Pacific coast of North America; the Southampton – Lisbon – Brazil – Uruguay – Argentina route was operated from 1850 to 1980. RML was also a leading cruise ship operator.

RMS's largest ship was the 25,895 GRT turbine steamship RMS Andes. She was designed as an ocean liner but when launched in 1939 was immediately fitted out as a troopship. She finally entered civilian liner service in 1948, was converted to full-time cruising in 1960 and was scrapped in 1971.[16]

RMSP and RML lost a number of ships in their long history. One of the last was the 17,547 GRT turbine steamship RMS Magdalena, which was launched in 1948 and grounded and sank off Brazil on her maiden voyage in 1949.[17]

In 1965 RML was bought by Furness, Withy & Co.,[1] and rapidly lost its identity. In the 1970s parts of the Furness Withy Group, including RML, were sold on to Hong Kong shipowner CY Tung, and later sold on to former River Plate rival Hamburg Süd; by the 1990s Royal Mail Lines was no more than the name of a Hamburg-Süd refrigerated cargo service from South America to Europe.

Fleet

List of RMSP Company ships

[18]

For conciseness smaller ships such as schooners and lighters are omitted.[19]

Ship Date Commissioned GT Propulsion Hull Notes
Clyde 1841 1,841 paddle wood
Tweed 1841 1,800 paddle wood
Thames 1841 1,889 paddle wood
Forth 1841 1,900 paddle wood
Solway 1841 1,700 paddle wood
Tay 1841 1,858 paddle wood
Medina 1841 1,800 paddle wood
Medway 1841 1,895 paddle wood
Dee 1841 1,849 paddle wood
Trent 1841 1,856 paddle wood Served as a troopship during the Crimean War. Involved in the Trent Affair between the UK and US. Scrapped in 1865
Teviot 1841 1,744 paddle wood
Isis 1841 1,900 paddle wood
City of Glasgow 1841 1,700 paddle wood
Avon 1841 2,069 paddle wood Wrecked 1863.
Severn 1841 1,886 paddle wood
Great Western 1847 1,775 paddle wood Brunel's first ship
Amazon 1851 2,256 paddle wood Caught fire at sea and sank on Maiden Voyage
Orinoco 1851 2,901 paddle wood
Parana 1852 3,070 paddle wood
Magdalena 1852 2,943 paddle wood
Demerara 1851 2,318 paddle wood
La Plata 1852 2,826 paddle wood Swamped by a tsunami following the Virgin Islands earthquake in 1867. Most of the crew were killed.[20]
Atrato 1853 3,184 paddle iron
Solent 1853 1,804 paddle composite
Tamar 1854 1,850 paddle wood
Tyne 1854 1,603 paddle iron Grounded January 18, 1857 on the coast of Purbeck in Dorset; refloated within 6 weeks.[21]
Oneida 1858 2,285 paddle iron
Paramatta 1859 3,439 paddle iron
Mersey 1859 1,039 paddle iron
Shannon 1859 3,609 paddle iron
Tasmanian 1858 2,956 screw iron
Seine 1860 3,440 paddle iron
Eider 1864 1,569 paddle iron
Douro 1865 2,824 screw iron
Arno 1865 1,038 screw iron
Rhone 1865 2,738 screw iron
Danube 1865 2,000 screw iron
Corsica 1867 1,134 screw iron
Neva 1868 3,025 screw iron
Nile 1869 3,039 screw iron
Elbe 1870 3,063 screw iron
Tiber 1871 1,591 screw iron
Ebro 1871 1,509 screw iron
Liffey 1871 1,504 screw iron
Moselle 1871 3,298 screw iron
Belize 1871 1,038 screw iron
Tagus 1871 3,299 screw iron
Boyne 1871 3,318 screw iron
Essequibo 1873 1,831 screw iron
Larne 1873 1,670 screw iron
Severn 1873 1,736 screw iron
Minho 1874 2,540 screw iron
Mondego 1874 2,564 screw iron
Dee 1875 1,864 screw iron
Guadiana 1875 2,504 screw iron
Para 1875 4,028 screw iron
Don 1875 4,028 screw iron
Medway 1877 3,687 screw iron
Solent 1878 1,915 screw iron
Tamar 1878 2,923 screw iron
Trent 1878 2,912 screw iron
Derwent 1879 2,466 screw iron
Humber 1880 2,371 screw iron
Avon 1880 2,162 screw iron Sold to Ellerman Lines 1903. Sank after colliding with SS Boynton, 19 April 1916.
La Plata 1882 3,240 screw iron
Eden 1882 2,145 screw iron
Esk 1882 2,145 screw iron
Dart 1883 2,641 screw iron Sank off San Sebastian, to the north of Santos, Brazil.[22]
Orinoco 1886 4,572 screw steel
Atrato 1888 5,347 screw steel
Magdalena 1889 5,373 screw steel
Thames 1889 5,261 screw steel
Clyde 1890 5,618 screw steel
Nile 1893 5,855 screw steel
Danube 1893 5,891 screw steel
La Plata 1896 3,445 screw steel
Minho 1896 3,445 screw steel
Ebro 1896 3,445 screw steel
Severn 1898 3,760 screw steel
Tagus 1899 5,545 screw steel
Trent 1899 5,525 screw steel Requisitioned by the Admiralty as a depot ship, 1915-1919. Scrapped in 1922.
Tyne 1900 2,902 screw steel
Eider 1900 1,236 screw steel
La Plata 1901 4,464 screw steel
Dee 1902 1,871 screw steel
Tamar 1902 3,207 screw steel
Teviot 1902 3,271 screw steel
Parana 1904 4,515 screw steel
Pardo 1904 4,464 screw steel
Potaro 1904 4,464 screw steel
Conway 1904 2,650 screw steel
Caroni 1904 2,628 screw steel
Catalina 1904 4,464 screw steel
Aragon 1905 9,588 screw steel
Oruba 1906 5,737 screw steel
Orotava 1906 5,851 screw steel Ex PSNC. Requisitioned as an Armed Merchant Cruiser 1914–1919. Scrapped 1921.
Oroya 1906 6,297 screw steel Ex PSNC. Scrapped 1909
Arcadian 1906 7,945 screw steel Ex PSNC Ortona. Requisitioned in 1915 and converted to an armed merchant cruiser. Torpedoed and sunk by UC-74 15 April 1917.
Marima 1906 2,742 screw steel Ex Bucknall Line Zulu. Sold 1911 and renamed Marika.
Manau 1906 2,745 screw steel Ex Bucknall Line Transvaal. Wrecked near Bahia in 1906.
Amazon 1906 10,037 screw steel Torpedoed and sunk by U-110 on 15 Mar 1918.
Segura 1906 4,756 screw steel Ex Union-Castle Line Greek. Transferred to Shire Line and renamed Pembrokeshire. Returned to RSMP in 1913 and renamed Chignecto. Scrapped in 1927.
Sabor 1906 4,758 screw steel Ex Union-Castle Line Gaul. Transferred to Shire Line and renamed Carmarthenshire. Returned to RSMP in 1913 and renamed Chaleur. Scrapped in 1927.
Araguaya 1906 10,537 screw steel Requisitioned for conversion to a Hospital ship in 1917. Returned to RMSP in 1920. Sold to Jugoslavenski Lloyd in 1930 and renamed Kraljica Marija. Sold to France in 1940 and renamed Savoie II. Sunk at Casablanca on 8 Nov 1942 by US Naval Forces.
Avon 1906 11,073 screw steel Requisitioned as a troopship 1914. Converted to an AMC as HMS Avoca. Returned to RMSP 1919 and resumed original name. Scrapped 1930.
Monmouthshire 1907 5,091 screw steel Ex Shire Line. Renamed Tyne 1919. Sold to Japan 1922 and renamed Toku Maru. Scrapped 1934.
Denbighshire 1907 3,844 screw steel Ex Shire Line. Renamed Tamar 1919. Sold 1923 and renamed Joyce Nancy. Resold 1925 and renamed Sassa. Sold again the same year and renamed Argostoli. Sold once more 1928 and renamed Avgy. Scrapped 1930.
Flintshire 1907 3,815 screw steel Ex Shire Line. Sold 1913 to Ellerman Lines and renamed Algerian. Mined by UC-5 on 12 January 1916.
Asturias 1908 12,015 screw steel Requisitioned for use as a hospital ship in WW1. Torpedoed by UC-66 on 20 March 1917 and beached. Subsequently salvaged for use as an ammunition hulk. Repurchased by RMSP 1920 and refitted as a cruise ship and renamed Arcadian. Scrapped 1933.
Arzila 1908 2,722 screw steel Ex Mersey Steamship Co. Sold in 1922 to Kehdivial Mail Line and renamed Bilbeis. Wrecked 5 March 1934.
Agadir 1908 2,722 screw steel Ex Mersey Steamship Co. Sold 1922 to Kehdivial Mail Line and renamed Belkas. Resold 1935 and renamed Damas. Sold again 1940 and renamed Sakara. Requisitioned by the MoWT in WW2. Returned to KML 1946 and scrapped 1955.
Berbice 1909 2,379 screw steel Originally deployed on the West Indies inter-island service. Requisitioned 1915 as a hospital ship. Sold to Mitchell Cotts & Co 1922 and renamed Suntemple. Resold 1924 and renamed Baltara. Wrecked 1929.
Balantia 1909 2,379 screw steel Originally deployed on the West Indies inter-island service. Requisitioned 1916 as a hospital ship and renamed St. Margaret of Scotland. Returned 1918 and resumed former name. Sold 1922 to Kehdivial Mail Line and renamed Boulac. Scrapped 1935.
Deseado 1911 11,475 screw steel Passed to RML. Scrapped 1934.
Arlanza 1912 15,044 screw steel Requisitioned as an AMC in WW1. Returned to civilian service 1920. Passed to RML. Scrapped 1938.
Demerara 1911 11,484 screw steel Scrapped 1933.
Desna 1912 11,484 screw steel Scrapped 1933.
Alcala 1913 10,660 screw steel Ex Lamport and Holt Vauban. Returned to L&H 1914 and resumed original name. Chartered again for a short time 1922. Scrapped 1932 after having been laid up for two years.
Andes 1913 15,620 screw steel Requisitioned as an AMC in WW1. Renamed Atlantis 1929 and redeployed as a cruise chip. Passed to RML. Requisitioned as a hospital ship in WW2 and retained as an emigrant ship afterwards. Scrapped 1952.
Radnorshire 1913 4,302 screw steel Operated by Shire Line. Captured and sunk by SMS Möwe 7 January 1917.
Caribbean 1913 5,824 screw steel Ex Union-Castle Line Dunnottar Castle. Requisitioned as an AMC in WW1. Foundered 27 September 1915.
Merionethshire 1913 4,308 screw steel Ex Cambrian SN Co Reptonian. Operated by Shire Line. Torpedoed and sunk by U-62 27 May 1918.
Cardiganshire 1913 9,426 screw steel Operated by Shire Line. Requisitioned as a troopship in WW1. Sold to Christian Salvesen 1929 and renamed Salvestria. Mined and sunk 27 July 1940.
Cobequid 1913 4,738 screw steel Ex Union-Castle Line Goth. Stranded and wrecked 13 January 1914.
Caraquet 1913 4,917 screw steel Ex Union-Castle Line Guelph. Ran aground on a reef and sank 25 June 1923.
Alcantara 1913 15,831 screw steel Requisitioned as an AMC in WW1. Sunk in action with SMS Greif 29 February 1916.
Carnarvonshire 1913 9,406 screw steel Operated by Shire Line. Scrapped 1933.
Drina 1913 11,483 screw steel Ex Elder Dempster Lines. Initially requisitioned as a hospital ship but returned to RMSP. Mined and sunk 1 March 1917.
Almanzora 1914 15,551 screw steel Requisitioned as an AMC in WW1. Passed to RML. Requisitioned as troopship in WW2, retained as an emigrant ship until 1947, scrapped 1948.
Essequibo 1914 8,489 screw steel Requisitioned as an AMC in WW1. Sold to Pacific Steam Navigation Company (PSNC) 1922. Sold to USSR 1935 and renamed Neva.
Ebro 1914 8,480 screw steel Requisitioned as an AMC in WW1. Sold to PSNC 1922. Resold to Yugoslavia 1935 and renamed Princess Olga. Sold to Portugal 1940 and renamed Serpa Pinto. Scrapped 1954.
Carmarthenshire 1915 7,823 screw steel Sold to Christian Salveson in 1929 and converted to a whale factory ship. Renamed Sourabaya. Torpedoed and sunk by U-436 on 27 Oct 1942.
Pembrokeshire 1915 7,821 screw steel Scrapped 1933.
Larne 1916 3,808 screw steel Ex Aberdeen Line Ninevah, ex E&ASC Aldenham. Sold 1917, scrapped 1923.
Brecknockshire 1916 8,422 screw steel Operated by Shire Line. Captured and sunk on her maiden voyage by SMS Möwe 15 February 1915.
Darro 1916 11,493 screw steel Collided with the troopship SS Mendi 21 February 1917, the latter sank with great loss of life. Scrapped 1933.
Navasota 1917 8,795 screw steel Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by U-47 5 December 1939.
Sambre 1919 5,260 screw steel Ex War Swift. Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by U-34 27 July 1940.
Glamorganshire 1919 8,192 screw steel Ex War Armour. Operated by Shire Line. Scrapped 1933
Nagara 1919 8,803 screw steel Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by U-404 29 March 1943.
Segura 1919 5,295 screw steel Ex War Pansy. Sold 1921 to Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway. Resold 1932 to Houlder Line and renamed Langton Grange. Sold to Greece 1937 and renamed Nicolaos M. Embiricos. Mined and sunk 4 November 1939.
Somme 1919 5,265 screw steel Ex War Toucan. Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by U-108 18 February 1942.
Severn 1919 5,246 screw steel Ex War Pelican. Sold to Greece 1932 and renamed Leonidas II. Scrapped 1934.
Radnorshire 1919 6,723 screw steel Ex War Diamond. Operated by Shire Line. Sold to Henry Thompson 1931 and renamed Sithonia. Torpedoed and sunk by U-201 13 July 1942.
Silarus 1919 5,101 screw steel Sold to G N Stathatos 1931 and renamed Nemea. Torpedoed and sunk by the Italian submarine Luigi Torelli 15 January 1941.
Siris 1919 5,242 screw steel Ex War Gem. Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by U-201 12 July 1942.
Narenta 1919 8,266 screw steel Passed to RML. Sold to Japan 1939. and renamed Kosei Maru. Torpedoed and sunk by USS Tunny 7 April 1943.
Nictheroy 1920 8,265 screw steel Passed to RML. Sold to Lauro Lines 1937 and renamed Cuma. Mined and sunk 18 October 1940.
Orcana 1920 7,814 screw steel Ex Aberdeen Line Militiades. Sold to PSNC 1922. Scrapped 1924.
Oruba 1920 7,818 screw steel Ex Aberdeen Line Marathon. Sold to PSNC 1922. Scrapped 1924.
Natia 1920 8,723 screw steel Passed to RML. Captured and scuttled by the German auxiliary cruiser Thor 8 October 1940.
Nariva 1920 8,723 screw steel Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by U-91 17 March 1943.
Nebraska 1920 8,261 screw steel Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by U-843 8 April 1944.
Sarthe 1920 5,371 screw steel Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by U-68 8 October 1942.
Sabor 1920 5,212 screw steel Ex War Whale. Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by U-506 7 March 1943.
Montgomeryshire 1921 6,650 screw steel Ex War Valour. Operated by Shire Line. Sold to Italy 1931 and renamed Riv. Sunk in an air raid 30 August 1941.
Lochkatrine 1921 9,419 screw steel Passed to RML. Torpedoed and sunk by U-552 3 August 1942.
Lochgoil 1922 9,462 screw steel Passed to RML. Taken over by MoWT 1939 and converted to CAM ship Empire Rowan. Torpedoed by Italian aircraft 27 March 1943 and beached. Wreck blew up 1951.
Culebra 1923 3,044 screw steel Ex War Mirage, ex Riposto. Passed to RML. Sunk by gunfire from U-123 25 January 1942.
Orca 1923 16,063 screw steel Ex PSNC. sold to White Star Line 1927 and renamed Calgaric. Scrapped 1934.
Orduña 1923 15,499 screw steel Ex PSNC. Returned to PSNC 1926. Scrapped 1951.
Orbita 1923 15,486 screw steel Ex PSNC. Chartered 1921 then purchased 1923. Returned to PSNC 1926. Scrapped 1950.
Ohio 1923 18,940 screw steel Sold to White Star Line 1927 and renamed Albertic. Scrapped 1934.
Lochmonar 1923 9,412 screw steel Wrecked off Liverpool 30 November 1927.
Asturias 1925 22,048 screw steel Passed to RML. Requisitioned as an AMC in WW2, later converted into an emigrant ship. Scrapped 1958.
Alcantara 1926 22,209 screw steel Passed to RML. Requisitioned as an AMC in WW2, later converted to a troopship. Returned to service in 1948, scrapped 1958.

List of Royal Mail Lines ships

This list is of the additional ships acquired by RML in addition to those passed directly from RMSP.

Ship Service GRT Notes
Albertic 1920-1927 18,940 Sold to White Star Line. Scrapped in 1934
Asturias 1925-1957 22,181 Sold for scrap, 14 September 1957
Alcantara 1926-1958 22,181 Returned to civilian service 1948 Broken up 1958
Highland Chieftain 1932–58 14,131 ex Nelson Line. Sold and renamed Calpean Star
Highland Brigade 1932–59 14,131 ex Nelson Line. Troopship in WWII. Sold and renamed Henrietta.
Highland Monarch 1932–58 14,139 ex Nelson Line. Scrapped 1960.
Highland Patriot 1932–40 14,157 ex Nelson Line. Torpedoed and sunk by U-38 in the North Atlantic.
Highland Princess 1932–59 14,128 ex Nelson Line. Sold and renamed Marianna.
Nagoya 1932–36 8,442 ex Nelson Line Highland Warrior. Sold and renamed Marlene.
Nasina 1932–35 7,206 ex Nelson Line Meissonier. Sold and renamed Asmara.
Nela 1932–46 7,206 ex Nelson Line Moliere.
Nalon 1932–40 7,206 ex Nelson Line Murillo. Bombed and sunk off Ireland 6 November 1940.
Andes 1947-1971 26,689 Requisitioned by the Admiralty as a troop ship. Returned to Royal Mail Line in 1947, scrapped in Ghent in 1971
Magdalena 1948–49 17,547 Sank off the coast of Brazil on maiden voyage.
Amazon 1959–68 20,348 Transferred to Shaw, Savill and Albion Line and renamed Akaroa.
Aragon 1959–69 20,348 Transferred to Shaw, Savill and Albion and renamed Arawa.
Arlanza 1960–69 20,348 Transferred to Shaw, Savill and Albion and renamed Aranda.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Royal Mail Steam Packet Company". Shipping Lines. Plimsoll.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2004. Retrieved 17 April 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ Hunt, BC (1936). The Development of the Business Corporation in England 1800–1867. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  3. ^ MacQueen, James (1838). A General Plan for a Mail Communication by Steam between Great Britain and the Eastern and Western Parts of the World; also, to Canton and Sydney, Westward by the Pacific. London: B Fellowes.
  4. ^ Harcourt, F (2006). Flagships of Imperialism: The P&O Company and the Politics of Empire from its Origins to 1867. Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 3.
  5. ^ Anim-Addo, Anyaa (2013). "Steaming between the Islands: Nineteenth-Century Maritime Networks and the Caribbean Archipelago". Island Studies Journal. 8 (1): 24. doi:10.24043/isj.274. S2CID 246312982.
  6. ^ Woolward, Robert (1894). Nigh on sixty years at sea. London: Digby, Long & Co. pp. 172–175.
  7. ^ Nicol 2001a, pp. 90–91.
  8. ^ Green & Moss 1982, pp. 18–19.
  9. ^ Dodd, George (1867). Railways steamers and telegraphs: a glance at their recent progress and present state. London: W&R Chambers. pp. 159–161.
  10. ^ Nicol 2001a, p. 92.
  11. ^ Nicol 2001b, p. 101.
  12. ^ Nicol 2001a, p. 130.
  13. ^ Nicol, Stuart. "The Royal Mail Story". Users.on.net. Archived from the original on 8 December 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  14. ^ Nicol 2001b, p. 138.
  15. ^ Nicol 2001b, pp. 162–186.
  16. ^ Nicol 2001b, pp. 186–193.
  17. ^ Nicol 2001a, pp. 222–241.
  18. ^ The steamer Dane was running to Cape Town in 1860: Morning Chronicle, 30 November 1860 - Cape of Good Hope
  19. ^ "M 7.3 - The 1867 Virgin Islands Earthquake". earthquake.usgs.gov. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  20. ^ Purbeck Society (1856–1857). Papers read before the Purbeck Society. London Natural History Museum Library. Warwick.
  21. ^ "Accidents". The Cornishman. No. 322. 18 September 1884. p. 6.

Bibliography

  • Anonymous (1910). A Link of Empire; or, 70 years of British Shipping: Souvenir of the 70th year of incorporation of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. London: Royal Mail Steam Packet Company.
  • Bushell, TA (1958) [1939]. Royal Mail: a Centenary History of the Royal Mail Line 1839–1939. London: Trade and Travel Publications Ltd.
  • Bushell, TA (1950). Eight Bells, Royal Mail Lines War Story 1939–1945. London: Trade and Travel Publications Ltd.
  • Green, Edwin; Moss, Michael (1982). A Business of National Importance: The Royal Mail Shipping Group 1902–1937. London: Methuen & Co.
  • Haws, Duncan (1982). Royal Mail & Nelson Lines. Merchant Fleets. Vol. 5. Crowborough: Travel Creatours Ltd Publications. ISBN 0-946378-00-2.
  • Nicol, Stuart (2001a). MacQueen's Legacy; A History of the Royal Mail Line. Vol. 1. Brimscombe Port and Charleston, SC: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2118-2.
  • Nicol, Stuart (2001b). MacQueen's Legacy; Ships of the Royal Mail Line. Vol. 2. Brimscombe Port and Charleston, SC: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2119-0.