The second of four sister ships launched in 1924 and 1925 for the P&O Line, the s.s. Ranchi was built at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. The Ranpura, which was the first of the sisters to be launched, was also built at Newcastle. The later pair, the Rawalpindi and the Rajputana, were built at Greenock, Scotland.
When launched, they were each powered by a pair of quadruple-expansion steam engines, but in the early 1930 a pair of low-pressure steam turbines were added to re-use exhaust steam from the reciprocating engines. This improved their fuel efficiency and service speed.
The R-class was built for the P&O Line’s service from London to India. Except for one voyage to Australia by the Ranpura in 1929, the sisters operated in the UK to India service until the outbreak of World War II. They accommodated 308 first-class and 282 second-class passengers.
In October 1939, the Ranchi was commissioned into the Royal Navy as an AMC (armed merchant cruiser) and fitted with six-inch guns. From 1939 to January 1943 she was attached to the East Indies Station and later to the Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean.
In March 1943 the Admiralty released her from service in the Royal Navy and she was converted to a troopship, continuing in this capacity until the end of the war. She served in the Mediterranean and Far East services, steaming nearly 90,000 miles and carrying more than 50,000 troops. In the two years after the war ended, the Ranchi was used to repatriate troops and POWs.
The only one of the R-class to be returned to P&O – two being lost to enemy action and the other being bought by the Royal Navy – the Ranchi was refitted as a migrant ship with accommodation for 940 passengers in eight, 10 and 12-berth cabins. On her first voyage in this capacity, she left London on June 17, 1948, and reached Melbourne on July 22, having made a stop at Fremantle five days earlier.
Her four-year charter ended in 1952, and after leaving Sydney for London on November 3, she was sold by P&O to shipbreakers in Wales.
MAURIE HUTCHINSON
President, Peninsula Ship Society
T: 9787 5780
The Peninsula Ship Society meets at Hastings Yacht Club at 10.00am on the fourth Tuesday of each month (except November and December). Visitors are always welcome.
