RMS Pendennis Castle Ship Design Construction and Operations

The RMS Pendennis Castle was a majestic ship, and let's take a closer look at its design. It was built by the Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company in Dundee, Scotland.

The ship's design was a result of its intended use as a passenger liner, with a gross tonnage of 20,000 tons and a length of 630 feet.

With a beam of 75 feet and a depth of 43 feet, the Pendennis Castle was a sturdy vessel that could accommodate over 1,000 passengers and crew.

Its construction took around 18 months to complete, with the ship being launched on June 23, 1928.

Pendennis Castle was a key location for the British military during World War II, serving as a command center for the Royal Navy's Western Approaches.

The castle's operational details reveal its significance in the war effort.

Pendennis Castle played a vital role in the D-Day landings, serving as a radar and command center for the Allied forces.

Sir George Christopher took the helm of Union-Castle in 1953, marking a significant change in leadership.

The company ordered Pendennis Castle from Harland & Wolff in 1955 to replace the aging Arundel Castle, which had served for over 30 years.

Pendennis Castle was originally intended to be a third example of the Pretoria Castle class, but its design was altered due to the addition of Denny-Brown stabilizers.

This change required lengthening the ship amidships, increasing its overall length by 18ft.

The ship's keel was laid on November 8, 1955, and it was scheduled to be launched on December 10, 1957.

However, a shipyard strike caused the launch to be canceled, and Pendennis Castle was instead simply christened by the Dowager Lady Rotherwick on December 24, 1957.

After successful sea trials, Pendennis Castle was delivered to Union-Castle by Harland and Wolff on November 14, 1958.

The Union-Castle Line was a prominent shipping line that operated between the UK and South Africa. They had a fleet of ships, including the Pendennis Castle.

Their routes took them to various ports in South Africa, including Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, and Cape Town. The duration of their stay in these ports varied, with some visits lasting only a day, while others lasted several days.

One of their most notable routes was from Southampton to Cape Town, which could take anywhere from 9 to 11 days. They also visited Las Palmas, a port in the Canary Islands, which was a common stopover for many ships traveling between Europe and South Africa.

Here are some specific dates and routes for the Pendennis Castle:

The Union-Castle Line also visited other ports, including Madeira and Port Elizabeth. Their routes were not limited to the UK and South Africa, as they also traveled to Las Palmas and other ports in the Canary Islands.