Official Number:                       148874

Pennant No:                            F 65

Laid down:

Builder:                                   Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Govan

Launched:                               11 March 1925

Into Service:                            August 1939

Out of service:                         10 August 1940

Fate:                                      Torpedoed and sunk

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW2 to for service as an Armed Merchant Cruiser

Career Data:

 11 March 1925 launched by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd., Goven as Yard Nr: 595 named Transylvania for Anchor Line, Glasgow

2 September 1925 completed 279 x 1st class & 344 2nd Class passengers

12 September 1925 maiden voyage Glasgow to New York

28 November 1930 sailed Glasgow to New York with 144 passengers

August 1939 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an Armed Merchant Cruiser

5 October 1939 commissioned as HMS Transylvania. Captain (Rtd) Francis N Miles OBE Royal Navy was Commanding Officer

10 August 1940 was torpedoed and damaged by the German submarine U-56 40 miles NW of Malin Head, Co Donegal in position 55.50N 08.03W. Taken in tow but sank with the loss of 36 lives. 300 survivors were rescued by naerly trawlers and the destroyer HMS Ashanti