Ship Identification

[Peter Harvey]

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 This has a RN tombstone to reverse 1945 - not for publication etc.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

[Frank Schofield]

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

[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

[Peter Harvey]

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

[Alan Baker]

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.