KING GEORGE V - Pass Cruise 789 grt / 1926 blt / UK Leaving Oban - 13.9.1969 Don Smith Collection Notes:- Launched 29.4.1926 TheKing George V was a passenger turbine steamer that operated on the Firth of Clyde for nearly 50 years and became famous for its heroic service during World War II.  Built in Dumbarton: The ship was built in 1926 by William Denny and Brothers for Turbine Steamers Ltd., a company that served routes on the River Clyde. A pioneering design: The King George V was one of the first passenger vessels to use high-pressure, geared turbines. However, the advanced engineering led to early problems, including boiler explosions that killed two firemen in 1927. Operational routes: After being re-boilered, the steamer served popular routes to Inveraray and Campbeltown. In 1935, its ownership was transferred to David MacBrayne Ltd., and it became based out of Oban, cruising to scenic spots in the Inner Hebrides.  Dunkirk evacuation: In 1940, the King George V transported troops from the beaches of Dunkirk, making six voyages and rescuing 4,300 men. Atlantic Charter: In 1941, the vessel carried Prime Minister Winston Churchill to his battleship to meet with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt for the Atlantic Conference.  Post-war career: After the war, the steamer returned to its cruising routes on the Clyde. It was incorporated into the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet in 1973. Retirement and fire: The ship was withdrawn from service in 1974 and sold to a company intending to convert it into a floating pub or restaurant. In 1981, while undergoing conversion in Cardiff, a fire destroyed the vessel. Scrapping: The fire-damaged hulk was finally scrapped in 1984, bringing an end to the ship's 58-year career

BALMORAL - Passenger Ship 735 grt / 1949 blt / UK / 5034927 Off Ilfracombe - June 1977 Don Smith Collection Notes:- Balmoral was built as a ferry by John I Thorneycroft & Co at Woolston in 1949, for the Southampton, Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.Limited, more normally known as the Red Funnel Line. As built, Balmoral could carry up to 10 cars on her aft car deck, and she normally operated on her owner's ferry service from Southampton on the English mainland to Cowes on the Isle of Wight . From her introduction she also occasionally performed excursion duties, but as dedicated car ferries were introduced to her main route, her role became more focussed on offering coastal cruises around the South Coast. Red Funnel ceased operating excursions in 1968, after which Balmoral was acquired by P & A Campbell. She moved to the Bristol Channel, where she became part of P&A Campbell's White Funnel Fleet until 1980, by which time she was the last working member of the fleet. Balmoral moved to Dundee to become a floating restraunt. This was unsuccessful and the ship was placed for sale again.  

Northern Star - Passenger Liner/Cruise Ship Shaw Savill and Albion Co.Ltd 24731/1961/BR/5257543 Arriving at Southampton  - 24.5.1974 Don Smith Collection Notes:- Built By Vickers-Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd High Walker - Yard No 175 Broken up December 1975 by Li Chong Steel & Iron Works Co,Kaohsiung

ORSOVA (1954) - Ocean Liner / Passenger Cruise Ship 28790/1954/UK/5265772 29091 grt in  1969 Docked at Southampton - 30.5.1972 Don Smith Collection   Notes:- Operators 1954/1960 Orient Line 1960/1966 P & O Orient Lines 1966/1974 P & O Line Built by Vickers Armstrong - Barrow in Furness Launched 1953 Maiden Voyage 17.3.1954 Out of Service 1973 Scrapped 1974

SS BRITANIS / BRITANIS - ex Matsonia/Monterey - Passenger Cruise Ship - Chandris Line 24346/1932/Greece/5229223 Leaving Tilbury - 18.6.1976 Don Smith Collection Notes:- The S.S. Britanis was a passenger cruise ship with a long history under several names, beginning as the Matson Lines' S.S. Monterey in 1931. The ship was later purchased by the Chandris Line, who renamed it Britanis and operated it as a cruise ship for decades Ship history and timeline  Early career as S.S. Monterey (1931–1970) 1931: Launched as a luxury ocean liner by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation. 1932: Entered service for Matson Lines, offering voyages from the U.S. to Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia.World War II: Requisitioned by the U.S. government for use as a troop transport, carrying thousands of soldiers. 1946–1956: After the war, she was laid up until Matson Lines repurchased her. She was then renamed S.S. Matsonia in 1957, operating on the San Francisco–Honolulu route. 1963: Matson changed her name to S.S. Lurline. Service with Chandris Lines as S.S. Britanis (1970–1998) 1970: Purchased by Chandris Lines and renamed S.S. Britanis. 1971–1974: Operated as a liner on the Southampton-to-Australia route.1974 onwards and Converted to a full-time cruise ship, sailing itineraries in the Caribbean and Europe. 1980's–1990's: Sailed under the Chandris Fantasy Cruises brand. She continued service well into the 1990s and became known as one of the oldest liners still in operation. 1994: Ended her cruise career. She was chartered by the U.S. government as a floating barracks for military personnel at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Final years and sinking (1998–2000)  1998: After being laid up, she was sold to AG Belofin Investments and renamed Belofin-1. October 2000: While being towed to a scrapyard in India, the ship began taking on water. The crew of the tugboat cut the ship loose, and it eventually capsized and sank off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa.

ARGONAUT -  Passenger  Cruise Ship - Epirotiki Line 3999/1929/Greece/5265069 Docked at Dover - 28.6.1972 Don Smith Collection Notes:- Built by Krupp Germania Werft, Kiel, Germany, 1929. Names: MY Orion 1929 - 1940. USS Vixen PG-53 1940 - 1950. MY & MS Orion 1950 - 1964. MS Argonaut 1964 - 1996. MS Regina Maris 1996 - 2004. Beached at Aliaga on 2.12.2004 for breaking

LIBERTE - Ex Europa -  Ocean Liner / Passenger Cruise Ship Europa  49746/  1929/ German Liberte 51839/ 1946 rebuilt / France / 5607332 Anchored at Cork,Southern Ireland - Pre 1962 Don Smith Collection   Notes:- SS Europa / North German Lloyd line Built by Blohm and Voss Shipyard, Hamburg ,Germany Launched August 1928 Maiden voyage: Bremen-Southampton-New York, March 19, 1930. 49,746 GRT Tonnage   SS Liberté Ship Facts Named Liberte in 1946 / French Line 51839 grt  when rebuilt / 1946 / France / 5607332 Operated by Compagnie Générale Transatlantique Route : Le Havre to rew York French flag On August 2, 1950 the Liberte made the inaugural voyage as a French vessel. Final voyage was November 1961 Laid up in 1962  and Scrapped 1963 at La Spezia,Italy