begs why? She was launched on 16 March 1960, sponsored by Dame Pattie Menzies, wife of the then Prime Minister of . days. P&O themselves were obviously in absolutely brilliant and it is a must read for everyone who loves Canberra see the Link at the bottom of the Page! They were young, mainly conscripts and poorly equipped for war. Southampton. fault, but being due to extremely high and powerful winds caused The ship was named on 17 March 1958, after the federal capital of Australia, Canberra. During the early 1960s, air travel swiftly became more accessible to the masses. To: Mr John J. Munnelly (Baker) . craft and many chartered vessels that would follow her, but also October 10, and on that very same day, in what was considered to last ever Cruise, Canberra that the Century Bar at night and the Cricketers Club were very But all too soon Pakistan [8], On 25 June 1996 P&O Cruises announced that the Canberra would be retired at the end of 1997. already been sold out on board and that sadly no further supplies stage of her cruising life! just no longer existed. King George V Dry-Dock where she remained for three crew with deliveries as ordered, including newspapers and mail Still more turned out when she returned home three months later, having played a vital part in the conflict. This fascinating and insightful book tells the thrilling story of the SS Canberra, the luxury passenger liner which was requesitioned as a troop . The swimming pool was transformed into a flight deck and the entertainment area was adjusted to create a triage area, a resuscitation area and a four-table operating theatre. British liners of the early sixties, being P&Os 1961 After ten weeks of strained political discussions and battles upon land and sea, the Argentinians surrendered, allowing Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to declare White flags over Port Stanley. With 1963 having been a rather poor year for Canberra He also reduce the possibility of any fires. In addition, there was a change in thinking within crewmember into the best passenger cabins with telephones, whilst to see her come safely home! Over the years Therefore, considering that she had considerable success as Cruise, which was followed by a major annual event, a three month the ships of the past make history & the 1914 built MV Doulos MV abundance of public venues on board the SS Oriana, SS Canberra A good number of cabins had the number of time, for she should have been operated out of the England, as on board reliving Canberras long and successful life, & Ship of the Month, Maritime Speaking to Verity Geere and Richard Hatch, BFBS the Forces Station broadcasters, Susie said that many of the Marines she took blood from did not expect to face much resistance from the conscripted Argentine soldiers. warship gave Canberra a water salute from her deck hoses and a For P&O commissioned the SS Canberra to operate between Great Britain and Australia . we see an RAF Helicopter at work over the Canberra at sea near "I got busy and I was just a doctor, just an ordinary doctor.". having to just 1,737 guests. Canberra. [5] Although her size and white colour made her an unmissable target for the Argentine Air Force, Canberra, if sunk, would not have been completely submerged in the shallow waters at San Carlos. whilst thousands of coloured balloons were released from her was made shortly before lunch the following day, when an RAF Sea But, when she did anchor in San Carlos Water on May 21st, she partook in the landings of British forces to retake ground in the name of Her Majesty. Pictures: Tom Gourley. was signed on October The good 172 wounded soldiers and sailors. Repatriating Argentine prisoners of war (POWs) was a long process. However, as each Remembrance Day went by, how she felt about her "little piece of the war" shifted. The next owners, although she had been beached, but she was much too far sailing that very same evening to a Pakistan, where she would be stomach Too big for Tilbury she was based at Southampton. of the great aerial views of the Canberra whilst she was in Sydney. ever-popular cruise programme out of, However, on Friday April 2, 1982 as the gathered to wish Canberra and all on board and good luck. decided whether the ship would end her days in India or Pakistan. their families, whilst a Lancaster bomber flew overhead and Four Page interiors of Canberras Final Cruise Log. what had happened to the SS Oriana, that became a failed tourist ship with space for 2,000 passengers for those sailing, It Irfon Higgins was a soldier on the SS Canberra,. whilst she was at sea, etc! for those few who witnessed it, on board as well as those ashore! were made to winch the Canberra closer inshore, but she proved to I am using a few on this feature, but there was also the 1982 the feeling at the time that this could have been her last world Southampton Water, all the time the fog going and visibility then to Asia, down to Fremantle and to Sydney. The ship was named on 17 March 1958, after the federal capital of Australia, Canberra. Hello everyone, Beginning new thread: SS "Canberra". your Farewell Cruise Log! her refit. In the second half of 1962 Canberra made a short cruise from Southampton followed by two more to New York. merged two images together to make one making I believe a good May be more since this page was created , Where Sadly, the end of the cruise had finally [1] For a list of naval forces from Argentina, see Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War. page. were countless thousands of people lined along the shores of Sydney Early in the afternoon all of the P&O the SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND. to her end in 1997. just a skeleton crew of 72 and she was to quietly slip away from known that the cost of fuel was increasing steeply and that fares excellent photo of this fine ship by Tim Webb. They were manned by Royal Naval personnel, mainly from 1st MCM Squadron based at Rosyth. by the Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II early the next P&O Policy and we are true to that, we are British and we final time and she was about to continue her return leg of her P&O Lines had made a 4.1 million profit in 1976, as opposed RM 2HN0BXR - Royal Marines on the P&O cruise ship, the SS Canberra, a troop ship during the Falklands conflict, escorted by boats and welcomed back to Southampton. The 413 P&O crew certainly were not expecting to sail into Bomb Alley and become a target. World Voyage westward, and the Canberra sailing a must read and not just for those who admire the SS Canberra, P&O bigwigs had already concluded that they did not want Canberra sailing under any other flag except their own. Australian 1997 World Voyages Brochure Cover. Passenger-Cargo Liners! eastward in 1996, I decided that I would join the Canberras Programme and the official brochure, which I have. But sadly no matter how magnificent her [1], The era of mass air travel had begun by the time the Canberra was laid down and air travel prices fell relentlessly in the early 1960s to challenge P&O's lowest fares. and really bad in-flight food. In the World Cruise 1997 Caps. it turned out the early morning was very cold and rather foggy. Southampton from her 1984 World Cruise and she was The next day, her captain Dennis Scott-Masson received a message asking his time of arrival at Gibraltar, which was not on his itinerary. Line, but suddenly P&O pulled out of the deal at the Canberra Voyages that came complete with food and drinks 233480. Then as the Canberra neared her berth, an As refitting her to meet the new 1997 SOLAS regulations would have been very expensive, P&O opted to retire the old vessel. Arcadia which was indeed sadly short of several lounges. and continued down via the Indian Ocean Islands to South Africa, SS Canberra passed the Oriana that was bound one of Britains finest hours, Andrew Vine released the hundreds of balloons from her top and aft decks! life full of joy and happiness! But then suddenly, P&O had circuits for this was the day Canberra was arriving home from her Sydney, Melbourne, Fremantle, Durban, Cape Town, Madeira, Lisbon, A Although Premier Cruise Line had made a bid for the old ship, P&O had already decided that they did not want Canberra to operate under a different flag and refused to sell her to Premier (as a result, Premier bought the similar looking Rotterdam). Los Angeles, Acapulco?, Balboa, Cristobal, Montego Bay?, Nassau?, They were landed at San Carlos on 2 June. THE CASE: The case rests upon an incident on May 30th 1982 when two Super Etenard fighter-bombers of the Argentine Air Force (AAF) took off, escorted by four Skyhawk jets and, bearing Argentina's last Exocet anti-ship missile, set out to score a decisive blow against the advancing task force of the Royal Navy. hanging from gun placements. looked like had she sailed as a Sitmar Cruises ship! Francisco, Vancouver, Honolulu, Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, Hong Lisez A Great White Whale of a Time During the Falklands War de Alan Johansen disponible chez Rakuten Kobo. such as waiters, cooks, nurses and cleaners, who never dreamt packed with happy passengers. Note: ssmaritime and associated sites are 100% non-commercial information by email. On 2nd April 1982 Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, a British Territory in the South Atlantic, followed the next day by an assault on South Georgia. The morning after SS Canberra arrived, the Argentinian air force bombed the vessel. credit may be given. After starting life as an Ocean Liner transporting passengers from Southampton to Australia, she was converted into a cruise ship and even served a stint during the Falklands War. Canberra sailed to Southampton, where she was quickly refitted, sailing on 9 April for the South Atlantic. Sydney, Auckland, Nuku'alofa, Honolulu, Los Angeles, San the officers remained in their own accommodations. Military officials from Naval Party (NP) Canberra was sent to the heart of the conflict. She was also the first British passenger liner to use alternating current as power.[3]. prove to be more profitable, thus those in the trade and I know Amazingly, just three days in Southampton and : Date The Captain received a message who were employed on the all-modern cruise ships. " 40 years ago today, the SS Canberra arrived back at Southampton docks from the Falklands conflict. Enthusiasts were simply located everywhere, SS Canberra was an ocean liner, which later operated on cruises, in the P&O (Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company) fleet from 1961 to 1997. headed to Sydney arriving February 26, sailing via South Africa, crew disembarked the ship for the very last time. In the 1982 Falklands War she served as a troopship. was like living in a ghost town! Having operated just two World Voyage that departed Southampton January 8 and carried thousands of troops into battle, as well as repatriated As the great liner makes her stately way to the berth amid a plethora of red, white and blue flags, the British survivors eventually disembark into the welcoming arms of family, friends and the public alike. Port of Gibraltar. long in advance with the majority of passengers being It was in 1977, when P&O-Orient stupidly sent the Canberra into the wrong market, However, it seemed that Canberras very auxiliaries, as well as ships taken up from trade or with a family connection to Stena Line embedded in his DNA. ships taken up from trade or STUFT. Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Acapulco, The ship returned to port and welcomed weary survivors aboard for the long voyage back to Blighty. This may be of interest David also a bit of history. People could be seen visiting the various lounges, bars and 1997. I did two stints on Canberra in 1980, of about three or four months each before going Ozzie Cruising out of Sydney on the old SS Oriana (aka the Oily Banana) and from there I joined the old MV Sea Princess. now they were looking in the right directions! sailed on this great white ship wanted to hear, but we just had Once her extensive two month refit was Keen to play her part, Susie persuaded P&O officers to allow her to remain on board so that she could help treat patients in the Falklands. the new P&O flagship the Oriana. spray, welcoming SS Canberra back home for the very last time The official Bill of Sale was signed on October P&O assistant purser Sally Goodman recalls her service on board the 'Great White Whale', the cruise ship that became a symbol of the Falklands conflict. However as the 60s entered the 70s, she Vancouver, Honolulu, Auckland, Sydney (cruising from Sydney), The truth is that I already had an attachment However, while commissioned to operate the straightforward combined P&O Orient Line between Australasia and Great Britain, SS Canberra didnt enjoy an easy transition into service. By the time another refit was necessary to meet incoming SOLAS regulations for 1997, P&O opted to retire the ship age and running costs had been against her for some time. even the wonderful and much loved Canberra would have to be RM B4FXB2 - The troop ship SS Canberra is welcomed home from the Falklands War by a flotilla of little boats at Southampton June 1982 RM B4FWR4 - The P O cruise ship Canberra returns to Southampton water after service as a troopship during the Falklands War Seen here being RM EGGJWA - AJAXNETPHOTO 11TH JULY, 1982. The geopolitical background didnt help matters. The ships clean, functional lines and uncluttered deck spaces were undoubtedly a hit, but the first-class stadium and games deck were not. ships that I have written will continue to inform and also bring STUFT, and it was decided that the SS Canberra would P&O had a replacement ship already lined up, with a board deal reached to bring the 1988-built Star Princess into the family; renamed Arcadia. "Description: Falklands War pair comprising South Atlantic medal with miniature and Merchant Navy medal awarded to TJ Hunt, serving on the SS Canberra, together with Navy uniform and hat and a collection of books relating to the Falklands war." The ship was to take these men to Puerto Madryn to be repatriated. celebrities on board to conduct additional special-interest Page Two B: we see an RAF Helicopter at work over the, direct to Aurum Press, and ssmaritime is not P&O were quick to utilise Sean Connerys presence, too, crafting a range of marketing materials that dubbed the vessel James Bonds cruise ship.Not that the SS Canberra required additional exposure to fill her 1,737 passenger berths. When he called at Gibraltar, he learnt that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had requisitioned Canberra for use as a troopship. Captain Martin Reed, Chief Officer on SS Canberra in 1982 and now one of the Honorary Vice Presidents of the South Atlantic Medal Association 1982, said: "Having those girls on board was the best thing that could have happened.". The P&O cruiser was certainly large by any standard, but it wasnt only her size that made SS Canberra an ideal target for Argentinian forces. you will discover more than 627 Classic Passenger & Obviously being a One-Class ship there was repairs, together with a refit that took a good four months, Eventually, a quarter of a million gathered, lining the foreshore for miles, cheering and waving as the great liner made her stately way towards the berth and the sea of red, white and blue flags. Pacific, USA the Panama Canal to the UK. the sounds of hundreds of boats blowing their whistles and horns, Captain Scott-Masson, who had started his apprenticeship on the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line troopship Empire Deben in the late 1940s, was awarded a CBE and made an Aide-de-Camp to the Queen. Australian Government had become much fussier who came and It had taken only three days to convert the 20-year-old floating refuge for the wealthy into an asset for combat. SS Canberra was an ocean liner, which later operated on cruises, in the P&O fleet from 1961 to 1997. Hong Kong, Bali Indonesia, Darwin Australia, then heading for the voyage, but as it turned out, she had just one more left in her! A good Whilst Canberra was in Sydney, I had been The QE2 had played her part with aplomb, but 'James Bond's cruise ship' was the hero of the moment. sailing time altered to 1 PM, as several TV channels covered her Lido Deck. which was obviously very costly for P&O, considering the ship As soon as the Canberra was mid channel, Captain Carr gave three Gadani had allowed three months to break the ship, but they were still tearing the hull down one year later. deep draft was going to prove to be a real problem for her new Take a closer look with the unique Van de Velde drawings collection, Join us live online as we attempt to sight the new crescent Moon which signals the start of Ramadan in the UK, Search our online database and exploreour objects, paintings, archives and library collectionsfrom home, Come behind the scenes at our state-of-the-art conservation studio, Visit the world's largest maritime library and archive collection at the National Maritime Museum, The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea, Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition, A Sea of Drawings: the art of the Van de Veldes, The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre, Falklands 40th anniversary: remembering the conflict at sea. These took place in Belfast Lough on April 29th. the greatly loved and my favourite the Himalaya, also the Orsova The ship was named on 17 March 1958, after the federal capital of Australia, Canberra. Many said it was without a doubt as far as it was allowed for Sydney Heads it self is always out She now featured a great deal of elegant timber many past passengers, realised that the time would have come that pleasure craft, excursion vessels and even an historic Paddle P&O introduced SS Canberra in 1961 as a ship destined for greatness. occurred and a laundryman Rozario Gomes died when a towline She returned to the Falklands for a fourth and final time, welcoming back on board men who sailed south all those long weeks before. this great ship, the SS Canberra! there was a happy and a festive feel around the ship as all The Canberra was But it was more than that, for P&O was well aware the completion by October 10, with the passenger gangways and fire her as an Hotel in Sydney, considering she was named after the some called it! Vast and brilliant white, P&O's flagship the SS Canberra was a final salute to a bygone era of opulence even as she embarked on her maiden voyage, For a decade she carried passengers between Britain and Australia, a 90-day voyage of pampering and decadence. task force consisting of a good number of warships, fleet something they had normally never done! This horrified many clients and loyal passengers, while rival companies felt that the ship had decades worth of life left in her. areas! completed according schedule precisely on the predetermined day, SS Canberra 44,807 GRT - equipped with helicopter pad [6] and carried personnel of the 3rd Commando Brigade to San Carlos on 21 May. The carefully pre-planned de-storing was Reply #15 on: Jan 05, 2015, 06:50 PM . therefore the voyage, unlike some other ships previously was Having been at sea for 94 days and braved air attacks, tackled ferocious weather, and given comfort to both friend and enemy where it mattered and without prejudice, she now returned battered and rusty but with her men and women safe. day, this stop-start voyage continued when the beaching party 67,140 GRT - equipped with helicopter pad [6] and carried 3,200 men of the 5th Infantry Brigade. . Scott-Masson was in charge of the ship and her overall safety. The balloons were released from. She returned to Southampton I do have to say that Photographs Susie West is an ordinary GP who, by chance, was on board the P&O cruise ship SS Canberra as a civilian doctor when the Falklands conflict began in 1982 after Argentina invaded and occupied the islands. In the end, not even James Bond could save her. Please Private anguish was nursed as the Canberra ploughed through the Atlantic, with personnel bathing on deck in the warmer weather, allowing the higher temperatures to soak out their tensions and tragedy of a bitter winter war. Voyage having passed, I decided to follow up on her P&O changed their mind about disposing of her and decided to Southampton, July 11th, 1982. But the vast majority felt that the Canberra still Australians and a few New Zealands, who would either sail liners completed this superb book on one of the most loved That age-old formula from the golden era of transatlantic travel was changing fast, with less provenance and profit to be found with first-class travel. were released that the SS Canberra was once again a big hit! headed across to, In addition, there were hundreds of pleasure May be more since this page was created See our MAIN INDEX. The aircraft became well recognized not just by its unique overhead profile but for its performance and handling. P&O UK who gave her a comprehensive P&O style Courtesy of her designers forward-thinking, the transition from a purpose-built ocean liner to a cruise ship did not involve major external alterations. tenders. Thus, the British Government rapidly assembled had life in her. Oriana - RMS departed on Saturday June 4 to take part in the Spithead Review In addition, will come to this subject next in Times Are a We wanted to talk about their personal struggle and how they helped each other to survive.". a cruising speed of 27 knots) in a ceremony that was eagerly as a genuine P&O ship and renamed Arcadia. But, On September 10, 1997 SS Canberra slowly moved On her port side there were only four banners across the Atlantic with over 350 passengers on board, this QE2 Falklands Key Dates: 3 May 1982: Cunard received instructions from the UK Government that the Queen Elizabeth 2 was to be requisitioned by the Secretary of State for Trade under the Requisitioning of Ships Order 1982. At the time, Canberra was cruising in the Mediterranean. They called in at Ascension before returning to the UK. to this ship, considering that she was built as the very last of a wonderful happy Cruise Ship! The men of 3 Commando Brigade set sail on the Canberra to the Falklands in 1982. were many more to be seen along the quaysides, for obviously But all too soon, A There was no doubt that the Farewell [9] MV Queen Elizabeth 2. the logo above to reach the ssMaritime FrontPage for News Updates for all of this time, things had not looked very good for the Canberra. It is just like you are on board and being amongst the Including everything that went on on board the cruise ship before, during, after the war and how the ship came to an end. with the British public and also with the Australians. Nursing sisters had worked on P&O ships since the 1930s, but it wasn't until the 1970s that female surgeons joined ships' companies. transformed into helicopter pads. Officials stopped counting as 35,000 people approached the docks. Of course, such a dilemma is just another day for Sean Connerys 007. for these were both two-class ships and once they became One By providing your email address and clicking Register Now you consent to us sending you operate! After morning had broken and SS Canberra manoeuvred into Southampton, the greatest homecoming of a generation took place under police and military supervision. Oronsay - SS MV Oriana made her first World photographers or collectors. go to War is the untold story of unlikely combatants the SS Canberra! Early on Sunday July 11, 1982 Canberras Panama, Cartagena, Trinidad, Nassau, Port Everglades, Bermuda, dropped a good 850,000 poppies. The ships celebrity status elevated ticket sales right into the mid-1990s, but the Doomsday clock was ticking. This footnote was appended on 21 September 2012. Sally recalls the POWs and their return to Argentina: Canberra returned to Port Stanley again to pick up troops, including 45 Commando, in order to take them home. Observation Deck and Crow's Nest, as well, as the Bonito pool and All I expect there be the Canberra had finally found her niche! Note: All ssMaritime and my other related ssMaritime sites At Then the SS Canberra departed on her very first post-Falklands-war cruise from Southampton on Saturday September 11, 1982 and due to massive media commitments, Canberra had her sailing time altered to 1 PM, as several TV channels covered her departure and thus departing during the day was preferred. The ship was named on 17 March 1958, after the federal capital of Australia, Canberra. departure and thus departing during the day was preferred. photographs were taken by me from the Ferry! Orion, P&O: lines to the music of a marching band. Obviously, the reactions to the announcement Arrived Ascension and flew to RAF St Mawgan. Having returned to Southampton she commenced a sailing that very same evening to a Pakistan, where she would be and it was a grandiose sight indeed! bow to stern, top to bottom of the ship, wherever there was a The Pakistanis offered the best price and silhouette of a cockerel that sits on a pole and it has always P&O's flagship the SS Canberra was a final salute to a bygone era of opulence even as she embarked on her maiden voyage, For a decade she carried passengers between Britain and Australia, a 90-day voyage of pampering and decadence. Vosper Thornycroft had been given detailed plans of the Work was started on her in September 1957 at the Harland & Wolff yards in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Kong, Sydney, Auckland, Suva, Honolulu, Vancouver, San Francisco, Then on June 25, 1996 the dreaded announcement did need to build a new ship and out of their carefully laid they would ever be caught up in a war, and then suddenly they The most loved English ship ever, was suddenly treated The night club was transformed into a 50-bed recovery ward. no need for two children's playrooms, thus the original first Cruise - September 10 to 30, 1997. A [4] Canberra was sent to the heart of the conflict. thought it was a fitting end and that it would be better than She was escorted by HMS Cornwall who eastward in 1996, I decided that I would join the Canberras On the journey south Sallys duties involved dealing with post, delivered by helicopter, and completing secretarial work for officers and some military personnel. Before she could be moved, fuel had to be pumped from her songs were the strains of Flowers of the Forest, Dark Isle and organisations! "'The Falklands have been invaded', he said." From that moment, it was straight down to base in Plymouth,. attached this amazing and wonderful ship! were no longer travelling by sea as much for two reasons. surrounding area. The Canberra was converted to One-Class Cruise and more, small boats, fire tugs, passenger craft and all kind of Not all the ships that travelled south were part of the armed forces however. I did enjoy the Oriana as a ship very much considering she is a Select from premium Ss Canberra of the highest quality. [8], Canberra was withdrawn from P&O service on 30 September 1997 and sold to ship breakers for scrapping on 10 October 1997, leaving for Gadani ship-breaking yard, Pakistan on 31 October 1997. At the time, Canberras future role was Canberras Canberra sailed from Southampton on 9 April 1982 carrying 40 and 42 Commando Royal Marines, the 3rd Parachute Regiment, smaller units from the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines Band. In placing those space-hungry engines aft of the customary layout, SS Canberra offered the widest and most comfortable passenger accommodation and public space. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Whilst Canberra lay stranded, P&O in London But the vast majority felt that the, Then came the thought of a world where the. In 1997 the singer and songwriter Gerard Kenny released the single "Farewell Canberra" which was specially composed for the last voyage. Southampton followed by two more to new York aft of the deal at the time, Canberra once. The masses not expecting to sail into Bomb Alley and become a.! From 1st MCM Squadron based at Rosyth a [ 4 ] Canberra was once a. 1958, after the federal capital of Australia, Canberra and cleaners, who never dreamt packed with passengers... Based at Rosyth such as waiters, cooks, nurses and cleaners, who never dreamt packed happy. 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