Ranchi

The Ranchi was one of four 16,650-ton vessels built for P&O Line's Far Eastern service in the mid-1920s. Delivered by Hawthorn, Leslie & Co. of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, she represented a significant advancement over the previous 'C' class ships with more substantial superstructure and distinctive 'fantail' docking bridge.

Construction and Early Service

Launched on January 24, 1925, and completed that July, Ranchi commenced her maiden voyage on July 29, 1925. The vessel was designed specifically for the Far Eastern run, particularly serving India. Her regular route included calls at Gibraltar, Tangier, Marseilles, Port Said, Aden and Bombay, occasionally extending to Karachi. The ship featured innovative short-boomed deck cranes to facilitate cargo handling at ports with minimal infrastructure.

Wartime Service

In 1937, Ranchi's appearance was modified with a light stone colored superstructure. During World War II, she was requisitioned by the British Navy as an armed merchant cruiser. In 1943, she was converted into a troopship, serving in both the Far East and Mediterranean theaters.

Post-war Emigrant Service

Following decommissioning and complete overhaul, Ranchi was chartered by the British Ministry of Transport for the Australian migrant trade. Her first voyage in this new role began on June 17, 1948. The conversion included removing the aft funnel and adding accommodation in the forward well deck, increasing capacity to 950 single-class passengers. For four years, she operated on the trans-Suez migrant route, carrying settlers to Australia and returning with Australians bound for Europe.

Final Years

The introduction of P&O's Himalaya class vessels marked the end of Ranchi's service life. She was sold to Welsh ship breakers in late 1952.

Sister Ships

Ranchi had three sister ships:

  • Ranpura - Later purchased outright by the Navy
  • Rawalpindi - Lost in heroic action against German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau
  • Rajputana - Sunk by U-boat torpedo in 1941

Key Facts

Specification Details
Tonnage 16,650 GRT
Dimensions 570 ft x 71 ft (173.7 m x 21.6 m)
Draught 28 ft (8.5 m)
Engine Hawthorn quadruple-expansion (15,000 IHP)
Speed 17 knots
Passenger Capacity Initially 308 first class & 282 second class; later 950 one class
Crew 357