R.M.S. ORCADES
The last journey
RMS Orcades was a British passenger ship that Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd of Barrow-in-Furness built as an ocean liner in 1937. Her owner was Orient Line, which operated her between Britain and Australia 1937–39, and also as a cruise ship. The Admiralty then requisitioned her and had her converted into a troopship.
Context
The preparation for MH370
The Malaysian Government announced in 2014 that Deep Ocean Search Limited (DOS) and Ixblue were to be awarded a search contract for MH370 to deploy DOS’s survey vessel John Lethbridge and its comprehensive ultra deep water assets and experienced personnel.
DOS decided to conduct some equipment tests in very deep water near Capetown.
CONTEXT
Testing equipment
As part of a series of tests for DOS’s 6,000m side scan sonar (see sonar details under “Operations”) the DOS team went to look for the British liner Orcades (23,456 grt) sunk by seven torpedoes fired by U-172 on 10th October 1942, not far from Cape Town.
R.M.S. Orcades
The search
DOS located the wreck of Orcades very quickly. She is in one piece and lying at a depth of 4,800m.
THE SEARCH
Located by MAKiX
Finding, identifying and inspecting the wreck in a couple of days was a good test amd illustration of DOS’s search capabilities.
Once rhe inspection concluded, we left the wrecksite taking nothing except the data we had collected.
R.M.S. Orcades
Meeting the wreck
THE SEARCH
First view by COMANCHE
DOS has documented the condition of the wreck by taking photographs and video using its 6,000m Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV). No recoveries of objects were attempted.
The photo survey of Orcades has been offered to the Imperial War Museum.
I was on this ship when I was 2 years old , moved from England to Australia in 1965 I think .
Hi Maria,
You’ll have been on the namesake ship built in 1947, after this one was sunk in 1942. Both carried the name Orcades. Wikipedia carries descriptions of both ships.
This article is (at the time of writing) somewhat misleading, as it carries photos of both ships!
Richard
Hi Richard,
Thanks for your comments.
That was a mistake indeed: we have replaced wrong pictures by Orcades 1937. We will update the film shortly as well.
All the best,
DOS team.
Hi
I migrated from Uk to New Zealand on the ss Orcades which left London (Tilbury) on 18 January 1964 and arrived in Auckland on 22 February 1964 after an absolutely fabulous voyage on a great ship
Thank you for finding her and publishing such incredible images of her, as a maritime nut I loved the lines of this ship. Think you are doing great work in bringing the stories and histories of these ships back to life. I hope one day you will look for the IJN Shinano, largest ship sunk during WW2. Imagine being able to see an intact (hopefully) Yamato class hull!!
Dear Alex,
Thanks for your kind comments. regarding the IJN Shinano: maybe one day!?
My father, still with us!, was on the Orcades in 1942 on her outward bound journey from Liverpool (I believe), spending the next 3 and a bit years fighting in Burma. One day on the trip it was announced that there would be a talk on cricket if anyone was interested. A cricket lover and nothing else to do he went along and found himself listening to Douglas Jardine.
Hi Gerry!
I am very much interested in the story of the ‘Orcades’, and those who sailed aboard her during the war.
Is there a way I can reach out to you? I would love to chat with you about your father and his experiences aboard the Orcades!
Best,
Liam
My uncle, having joined the Merchant Navy in the Spring of 1942, was on the ship on its fateful voyage serving as an Assistant Butcher.
He was a casualty of the U boat torpedo action undertaken in October 1942 off the coast of South Africa and his death, along with the deaths of fellow Merchant Navy personnel who lost their lives in World War II is commemorated in the memorial at Trinity Square Gardens in London, EC1.