RMS Duke of Argyll (1928)

Duke of Argyll
History
Name:	RMS Duke of Argyll
Owner:	1928–47: London Midland and Scottish Railway 1948–56: British Transport Commission
Operator:	1928–47: London Midland and Scottish Railway 1948–56: British Transport Commission
Port of registry:	Lancaster
Route:	1928–56: Heysham – Belfast
Builder:	William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton
Yard number:	1194
Launched:	23 January 1928
General characteristics
Type:	Turbine steam ship
Tonnage:	3,604 GRT tonnage under deck 1,998 1,493 NRT
Length:	349.1 ft (106.4 m) p/p 360 ft (110 m) o/a
Beam:	53.1 ft (16.2 m)
Depth:	18.5 ft (5.6 m)
Installed power:	1,628 NHP
Propulsion:	4 steam turbines; twin screws
Speed:	21 knots (39 km/h)
Capacity:	1,500 day passengers; overnight cabins for 450 passengers; space for 250 cattle

RMS Duke of Argyll was an Irish Sea ferry that operated from 1928 to 1956. William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton on the Firth of Clyde built her for the London Midland and Scottish Railway. When the LMS was nationalised in 1948 she passed to the British Transport Commission.^[1]

History

The LMS ordered Duke of Argyll and two sister ships, RMS Duke of Lancaster and RMS Duke of Rothesay, for its passenger ferry route between Heysham and Belfast.^[1] William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton built her, completing her in April 1928.

In the Second World War Duke of Argyll became Hospital Ship 65. She assisted the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.

Replacement

In 1956 the BTC replaced Duke of Argyll with TSS Duke of Argyll.^[2]

References

1. Clegg & Styring 1962, p. 55.
2. Clegg & Styring 1962, p. 111.

Sources

• Clegg, W Paul; Styring, John S (1962). Steamers of British Railways and Associate Companies. Prescot: T Stephenson & Sons. pp. 55, 111.