RMS Windsor Castle (1921)

Windsor Castle at Cape Town, South Africa.
History
United Kingdom
NameWindsor Castle
NamesakeWindsor Castle
Owner Union-Castle Line
Operator
  • Union-Castle Line (1922–1939)
  • Royal Navy (1939–1943)
Port of registry Southampton, United Kingdom
BuilderJohn Brown & Company, Clydebank
Laid down1916
Launched9 March 1921
Maiden voyageApril 1922
FateSunk on 23 March 1943 by a German aircraft off Algiers, Algeria
NotesSister ship to RMS Arundel Castle
General characteristics
TypeOcean liner
Tonnage18,967 GRT, 19,141 GRT after 1937 refit.
Length661 ft (201 m), lengthened to 686 ft (209 m) during 1937 refit.
Beam72 ft 6 in (22.10 m)
PropulsionSteam turbines turning two propellers.
Speed
  • 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) after 1937 refit.
CapacityAs built 234 first class, 362 second class, and 274 third class (later reduced in 1937)

RMS Windsor Castle, along with her sister, RMS Arundel Castle, was an ocean liner laid down by the Union-Castle Line for service from the United Kingdom to South Africa. During the Second World War the Windsor Castle was requisitioned as a troopship and on 23 March 1943 was sunk by an aerial torpedo off the coast of Algeria.