Otranto (2)

The Otranto (2) was the last of three 20,000-ton vessels ordered by Orient Line in the early 1920s, built to enable fortnightly departures to Australia during peak seasons. Named in memory of her predecessor lost in a collision with the Kashmir in 1918, she was launched on June 9, 1925, by Mrs. Amery at Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd., Barrow-in-Furness.

Construction and Design

The vessel was designed with passenger comfort in mind, featuring a high proportion of single cabins and relatively uncluttered decks. Her seven holds were specially designed to carry insulated, refrigerated, and perishable cargoes including frozen meat. A distinctive "Ozonaire" ventilation system was later installed to manage cargo odors, notably preventing passenger intoxication from the smell of transported oranges.

Early Service (1926-1935)

The Otranto (2) commenced her maiden voyage on January 9, 1926, following the traditional Orient Line route from London to Brisbane via Gibraltar, Toulon, Naples, Port Said, Aden, Colombo, Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. Her early career saw two notable accidents: striking rocks off Cape Matapan during a Mediterranean cruise in May 1926, and a collision with the Japanese freighter Kitano Maru that forced the cancellation of a Norwegian fjords cruise.

From March 1933, the ship added Hobart, Tasmania to its itinerary as a cruise extension. That same year, she set a record by transporting 18,000 cases of oranges from Australia to Britain - the largest single-ship citrus shipment of its time. In 1935, the vessel was converted from her original first and third class configuration to first and tourist class.

Wartime Service (1939-1945)

When war was declared, Otranto (2) immediately returned to Sydney at full speed from a cruise, where she was dry-docked and prepared for wartime service. She served throughout World War II as a troop transport to the Middle East and India, and later as an assault ship. The vessel participated in several major operations including the evacuation of Dunkirk and Allied landings at Algiers, Sicily, and Salerno.

Post-War Service (1945-1957)

Following a post-war refit, Otranto (2) was converted to a single-class tourist ship, primarily carrying government-assisted migrants to Australia. She continued in this role for eight years until being scrapped in August 1957. Her ship's bell was preserved and presented to the Sydney Mission to Seamen.

Key Facts

Specification	Details
Gross Tonnage	20,026 tons
Length	660 ft (201.1m)
Beam	75 ft (22.9m)
Draught	30 ft (9.1m)
Propulsion	Six Parsons S.R.G. steam turbines (20,000 SHP)
Speed	20 knots
Passenger Capacity	Initially 572 first class, 1,114 third class; Later 1,686 tourist class
Crew	470
Sister Ships	Orama (2), Oronsay (1), Orford, Orontes (2)