RMS Alcantara (1926) Complete Story from Construction to Final Years

The RMS Alcantara was a British passenger liner built in 1926 by the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was a significant vessel of its time, measuring 540 feet in length and 70 feet in width.

The Alcantara was designed to be a luxurious cruise ship, offering comfortable accommodations and fine dining to its passengers. It had a gross tonnage of 13,000 tons and a top speed of 18 knots.

The Alcantara's maiden voyage took place in 1926, sailing from Southampton to New York. This marked the beginning of a successful career for the ship, which would go on to make numerous transatlantic crossings over the years.

The RMS Alcantara was commanded by the Royal Mail Lines to replace its predecessor, the SS Alcantara, which was sunk in 1916 by a German cruiser in the North Sea.

It was built by the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, the same yard that constructed the Titanic, and was launched on September 26, 1926.

The ship entered service in 1927, making its maiden voyage on March 4, 1927.

The construction of the ship was a significant milestone in its history. It was ordered by the Royal Mail Lines to replace its predecessor, the SS Alcantara, which was sunk in the North Sea during World War I.

The ship was built by Harland and Wolff, the same shipyard in Belfast that constructed the Titanic. It was launched on September 26, 1926, and entered service the following year.

The SS Alcantara was a notable predecessor, having been lost in 1916 after being torpedoed by a German cruiser. Its replacement was a crucial step in maintaining the company's fleet.

The Alcantara's reconversion into a merchant cruiser was a significant event in its history. It happened in 1939, during the early stages of World War II, as a response to the threat posed by German cruisers in the Atlantic Ocean.

The conversion process involved removing one of its two chimneys and adding six 150mm guns and light armament. This transformation allowed the Alcantara to play a crucial role in protecting Allied shipping and troop transports.

After completing its conversion, the Alcantara was sent to Malta for further work but collided with the Franconia, a British ship, while en route. The damage was severe enough that it required repairs in Alexandria, Egypt.

From December 1939, the Alcantara began its mission of surveillance and patrolling in the South Atlantic.

RMS Alcantara remained a troop ship well after the end of the war.

The ship didn't return to civilian service until October 1948, after a long period of continued military use.

Alcantara resumed its route between Southampton and South America, a route it had previously shared with Asturias.

In April 1958, Alcantara was withdrawn from service and sold to Japanese shipbreakers.

The ship was renamed Kaisho Maru and taken to Japan, where it was broken up in the same year.

The RMS Alcantara had a significant maritime line, connecting Southampton to South America via various European and African ports.

It operated this route from 1927 to 1934, then again from 1935 to 1939, and finally from 1948 to 1958.

The ship's route took it through the Atlantic Ocean, spanning over 10,000 miles.

It sailed from Southampton to Cherbourg, then continued to Vigo in Spain, Lisbon in Portugal, and other ports before reaching its final destination in South America.

The RMS Alcantara made 172 voyages between England and Argentina during its time in service.

The maritime line played a significant role in connecting Southampton to South America.

This line operated from 1927 to 1934, then from 1935 to 1939, and finally from 1948 to 1958.

It linked Southampton to various ports in South America via multiple stops in Europe and the Atlantic Ocean.

Some of the notable ports included Cherbourg in France, Vigo in Spain, Lisbon in Portugal, and Recife in Brazil.

The ship made 172 voyages between England and Argentina during its operation.

It was sold to Japanese shipyards in 1958 and was renamed Kaisho Maru.

SS Alcantara's South America Voyage Album is a treasure trove of maritime history. The ship's voyage from Liverpool to Buenos Aires in 1878 was a significant event in the development of the White Star Line.

One of the most notable aspects of the voyage was the ship's impressive speed, reaching a top speed of 17 knots. The crew and passengers alike were thrilled with the ship's performance.

The SS Alcantara was a relatively new ship at the time, having been built in 1875 by the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast. Its sleek design and advanced technology made it a standout among other ships of its era.

The voyage album contains many photographs and illustrations of the ship and its crew, providing a unique glimpse into life on board during the 19th century. These images are a valuable resource for historians and enthusiasts alike.

The SS Alcantara's South America Voyage Album is a fascinating piece of maritime history that showcases the ship's impressive capabilities and the lives of those who sailed on it.

During World War II, the Alcantara was converted into a warship to counter the threat of German cruisers in the Atlantic Ocean. This conversion began in 1939.

In 1939, the Alcantara was converted into a croiseur auxiliaire marchand, a type of auxiliary cruiser. It was given 6 canons de 150 mm and an armament léger.

The conversion process involved removing one of its two cheminées (factice) and adding the new armament. The Alcantara was then sent to Malte for further work, but it collided with the Franconia, a British ship, en route.

After the collision, the Alcantara arrived in Alexandrie, Égypte, to repair the damages. It began its mission of surveillance and patrouille in the Atlantic Ocean sud in December 1939.

The Alcantara made an escale in Rio de Janeiro to repair the damages and was later sent to Liverpool for more extensive repairs. In Liverpool, it was given a more complete armament before returning to its patrouille duties in the Atlantic sud.