History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | Hector |
Namesake | Hector |
Owner | Ocean Steam Ship Co |
Operator |
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Port of registry | Liverpool (1924–39) |
Route | Liverpool – Far East |
Builder | Scotts Shilbuilding & Eng Co |
Cost | £419,254 |
Yard number | 521 |
Launched | 18 June 1924 |
Completed | 19 September 1924 |
Commissioned | 20 December 1939 |
Reclassified | Armed merchant cruiser 1939–42 |
Identification |
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Fate |
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General characteristics | |
Type | Refrigerated cargo and passenger liner |
Tonnage | |
Length | 498.8 ft (152.0 m) |
Beam | 62.3 ft (19.0 m) |
Draught | 26.4 ft (8.0 m) |
Propulsion | steam turbines; twin screws |
Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h) |
Sensors and processing systems | wireless direction finding (by 1934) |
Armament |
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Notes |
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HMS Hector was a UK steam turbine passenger and refrigerated cargo liner launched in 1924. She was the fourth of six civilian ships to bear the name.[1]
In the Second World War Hector was converted into an armed merchant cruiser. She was the eleventh HMS Hector in the history of the Royal Navy.
A Japanese air raid sank her in Ceylon in 1942. In 1946 she was raised and scrapped.
Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company built Hector in Greenock, Scotland.[2] Isobel Cripps launched her on 18 June 1924 and she was completed on 16 September.[3]
Hector was the third of a set of four sister ships built for Alfred Holt and Company of Liverpool, who owned Blue Funnel Line and other shipping lines including the Ocean Steam Ship Company. Her sisters were Sarpedon and Patroclus launched in 1923, and Antenor launched in 1924. All were named after characters in Homer's Iliad.
Hector was 498.8 ft (152.0 m) long, 62.3 ft (19.0 m) beam and had a depth of 26.4 ft (8.0 m).[2] She had a counter stern, slightly raked stem, one funnel and two masts.[4] She had accommodation for first class passengers only.[5]
Hector's tonnages were 11,198 GRT and 6,841 NRT. She had steam turbines driving twin screws via single-reduction gearing,[2] which gave her a service speed of 15 knots (28 km/h).[6] By 1934 Patroclus had been fitted with wireless direction finding equipment.[7]
Scotts delivered Hector to Blue Funnel on 23 September 1924[3] and she made her maiden voyage from Liverpool to the Far East on 24 September 1924.[8] This was the regular route for Hector and her three sisters.[4]