I have received a question from a none member and not strictly postal history, but given that we have a number of keen Royal Navy collectors on the forum, I thought I would ask.
Can anyone identify the ship on the attached picture. The question also asked about the camouflage, to be honest I have never seen this before. This has a RN tombstone to reverse 1945 - not for publication etc.
Any thoughts welcomed.
Regards
Peter
It looks like a small support ship, not big enough to be a Depot Ship
No gun turrets
A crane in front of the bridge
Small boats on the stern?
Will keep looking through my reference books
Frank Schofield
Peter
Found her:-
Ex Cunard AURANIA hired in 1939 as an Armed Merchant Cruiser
1942 purchased by the Admiralty and renamed ARTIFEX
and converted into a repair ship
she was only armed with 20 AA guns
This picture appears in WARSHIPS OF WWII, by Linton & Colledge page 324
Frank Schofield
Hi Frank,
I can not thank you enough for this and I will pass these details on. Again this is another question from a non-member and I always have the hope this type of help will encourage people to join the society.
Thank you.
Peter
My wife's grandfather served on the Aurania in WWII. His brother was lost when the ship was torpedoed on 21st October 1941, although the ship was escorted to Rothesay Bay and repaired.