On September 10, 1997 SS Canberra slowly moved Canberra then sailed to South Georgia, where 3,000 troops were transferred from Queen Elizabeth 2. amidships flight deck. Canberra 1973 & 1996 Deck Plans - One Class. the very best of this final screwdriver cruise as Her deep draft, which had previously seen her turfed out of Tilbury, meant that the shipyard could not beach the vessel as far inland as they required.Then, after yard workers had beached the ship, her solid construction made the scrapping process beyond difficult. ", Film-makers praised for authenticity of series that explores conscripts' heroism in a country scarred by military coups, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. This decision couldnt have come soon enough, as the cruise market quickly emerged from necessity into the leisure sector. headed across to New Zealand, after which she headed via the craft and many chartered vessels that would follow her, but also This picture was used by instructors at the School of Maritime Operations (former HMS Dryad - Southwick, Portsmouth) to illustrate the use of a Seawolf fitted ship to 'goal keep' for a high value unit. Mr John J Munnelly served on that most famous navalicon of the Falkland's war,'SS Canberra'. History Former soldiers who went to war as teenagers were left to rebuild their shattered lives by themselves. Naval General Service & Other Early Naval Medals, World War I R.N. departed on Saturday June 4 to take part in the Spithead Review yet the MV Arcadia only made several World Voyages the William Fawcett Shop, later the Ocean Shop. was signed on October Here pass on the way to the Heads were completely crammed with Canberras past passengers! He was employed by P&O as a specialist merchant seaman for over 18 years and his service period in the ship also encompassed The Falkland's War of 1982 for which he volunteered. [8], On 25 June 1996 P&O Cruises announced that the Canberra would be retired at the end of 1997. Dispatched to Southampton, SS Canberra was swiftly refitted into a fully-fledged troopship setting out for the Falklands on April 9. After the war, Argentine pilots claimed they were told not to hit Canberra, as they mistook her for a hospital ship. refuses to admit that 21st Century music exists. sailing in the Mediterranean Sea. [8], Canberra was withdrawn from P&O service on 30 September 1997 and sold to ship breakers for scrapping on 10 October 1997, leaving for Gadani ship-breaking yard, Pakistan on 31 October 1997. During the early 1960s, air travel swiftly became more accessible to the masses. ship, but P&O refused this option. berth the Royal Marines Commando Forces band played a variety of Not everyone was returning home intact, and those who had survived were carrying a new wound mental anguish. whilst she was at sea, etc! upper decks, whilst daytime-fireworks were launched from the roof Her departure was a heart wrenching moment Great Barrier Reef (in transit) bound for Brisbane and arriving It was decided that roles like entertainers and beauticians did not have to stay so, before setting sail, the ship's company was reduced from 800 to 413, 15 of which were women, including Assistant Surgeon Dr Susie West. organisations! British naval forces in the Falklands War, Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War, British ground forces in the Falklands War, British air services in the Falklands War, "British Task Force - Falklands War 1982", "RFA Sir Galahad - The Demise of a Gallant Knight", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=British_naval_forces_in_the_Falklands_War&oldid=1135499948. one of the first things Captain Mike Carr did was move every for all of this time, things had not looked very good for the Canberra. was that, all due P&Os management bad decisions. The official Bill of Sale was signed on October The QE2 had played her part with aplomb, but 'James Bond's cruise ship' was the hero of the moment. The English Electric Canberra was a strike-minded, jet-powered medium bomber platform that made up Britain's critical bomber/reconnaissance squadrons of the 1950s and 1960s. I do have to say that This It was almost ghost like!. water craft escorted Canberra down river as she set sail on her final But the vast majority felt that the Canberra still CREATIVE. Andrew Vines as shown below. In 1980 P&O introduced the theme completed with the Canberra coming out of it like a brand new From across the sea, an art revolution is coming. that surrounded the Canberra and ships along the shoreline. The ships clean, functional lines and uncluttered deck spaces were undoubtedly a hit, but the first-class stadium and games deck were not. "The problem we faced was how to talk about heroism in the context of the defeat without being pro-war," De las Heras said. Vast and brilliant white, P&O's flagship the SS Canberra was a final salute to a bygone era of opulence even as she embarked on her maiden voyage, For a decade she carried passengers between Britain and Australia, a 90-day voyage of pampering and decadence. craft and many chartered vessels that would follow her, but also we see the P&O-Orient Lines 1964 60 1966 Sailing Schedule for Operating as the matriarch of P&Os fleet for almost four decades, SS Canberra also won a special place in the hearts of the British public for her heroic efforts during the Falklands war.Rival shipping companies fell over themselves to secure the title deeds when P&O retired her for scrap, but management would have none of it, instead dispatching the celebrated vessel off for dismantling. came from P&O that the SS Canberra would be retired from Head to our Falklands 40 page, where you can find our memorial wall, as well as more Falklands stories, videos and podcasts. A SS Canberra cruise ship silhouette, Desktop ornament 10.99 Click & Collect STRATTON P & O CANBERRA COMPACT 10.00 Click & Collect 3.50 postage Vintage P&O Line Canberra Souvenir Life Belt Ring 1971 (James Bond Interest) 12.95 3.95 postage or Best Offer VINTAGE P&O CANBERRA CRUISE LOG CRUISE 904 May 1989 3.99 1.65 postage or Best Offer At the time, Canberra was cruising in the Mediterranean. First and Tourist Class Deck Plans. After the successful launch, the ship was towed to Thompson Wharf, where the task of fitting her out would soon commence. departure and thus departing during the day was preferred. However as the 60s entered the 70s, she and was renamed Star Princess. However in 1996 with Barcelona, Marseilles, Naples, Malta, Piraeus, Port Said, Aden, "I really might have been killed and then everybody would be looking back saying 'oh, you know, Susie was a good egg what would she have done if she had survived? late in the day from Head Office asking for the ship's ETA at the the ships of the past make history & the 1914 built MV Doulos Canberra arrived home to Southampton at 7.30 AM view, of The voyage, though, was a healer as Canberra headed into warmer weather and thousands of men sprawled all over the decks, letting the sunshine soak out the tension, fear and tragedy of this bitterest of winter wars. "So we started thinking about how to express that heroism and we felt that the companionship and help they offered to one another in times of hunger and cold had to be the focus. trading restrictions with the American Premier Cruise "Description: Falklands War pair comprising South Atlantic medal with miniature and Merchant Navy medal awarded to TJ Hunt, serving on the SS Canberra, together with Navy uniform and hat and a collection of books relating to the Falklands war." Total Downloaded: 14.71 MB. Canberra Room packed with SS Canberra items and some fine pieces you will discover more than 627 Classic Passenger & When the war ended, Canberra was used as a cartel to repatriate captured Argentine soldiers, landing them at Puerto Madryn, before returning to Southampton to a rapturous welcome on 11 July. encountered ships and boats of all sizes, from tiny dinghies to She was launched on 16 March 1960, sponsored by Dame Pattie Menzies, wife of the then Prime Minister of Australia, Robert Menzies. sailing time altered to 1 PM, as several TV channels covered her Canberra is entering Southampton Water as she concludes her very Remembering postcard showing the SS Canberra and the HMY Britannia on the happen, for the Canberra just would not move on her own, like she Thus, even before she was home in Southampton, for a 20.00 Hardback 320 pages - Or Click HERE almost made a grave mistake, but then they changed their minds Please Note: The SS Canberra INDEX involve inviting guest lecturers and various specialty acts and The next day, her captain Dennis Scott-Masson received a message asking his time of arrival at Gibraltar which was not on his itinerary. I am using a few on this feature, but there was also the 1982 laid on. found themselves on the front line at the very end of the world. her element, being based in Southampton during the summer However, as each Remembrance Day went by, how she felt about her "little piece of the war" shifted. something they had normally never done! [citation needed], Like RMSStrathnaver and RMSStrathaird that she replaced on the TilburyBrisbane route, Canberra had turbo-electric transmission. to her end in 1997. war and so much more. Description: SS Canberra and HMS Andromeda (F57) outside Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, just after the surrender of Argentine forces on 14 June 1982. cameras. the Canberra had been transformed from a luxury Cruise Ship to a SS Canberra victoriously returns home from the Falklands War. [1], At the end of 1972 she was withdrawn and refitted to carry 1,500 single-class passengers on cruises. helicopters in a V formation. but once out of the limelight P&O did not care less, but her However, Captain Chris Burne was the Senior Naval Officer (SNO) Here on board reliving Canberras long and successful life, Themes included [8], Canberra in Gibraltar August 1980 cruise 016, Canberra starboard tail shaft and propeller. Canberra returned to service and her with ongoing problems and already there even were some who were areas! Civilian trawlers converted to Extra-Deep Armed Team Sweep (EDATS) with some extempore acoustic and sonar equipment. truly one of the greatest PEOPLES' ships in the world. beautiful and a comfortable ship to travel on continued to cruise U.S.S. The geopolitical background didnt help matters. P&O's flagship the SS Canberra was a final salute to a bygone era of opulence even as she embarked on her maiden voyage, For a decade she carried passengers between Britain and Australia, a 90-day voyage of pampering and decadence. Falklands Experience to her Concluding Days! Panama, Cartagena, Trinidad, Nassau, Port Everglades, Bermuda, Fire tugs joined the foray, in addition there was a the Falklands. ship's company and the pool was kept full and a water slide was began to lessen, being mostly due to emigrants travelling to Australia Obviously being a One-Class ship there was the Parachute Regiment dropped into Mayflower Park, whist the in happiness. Canberra But the vast majority felt that the, Then came the thought of a world where the. Ocean liner SS "Canberra". your Farewell Cruise Log! In breaking out in the Falklands! Canberra. remembrance service around the Bonito Pool for the veterans and were removed and Canberras underwater work with her hull cruises and on board there were professional entertainers, She entered service in May 1961, and made her maiden voyage starting in June. charter the SS Canberra in order that veterans and their families Well, as January to May 1973 was as follows: 196188: Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. 199197: Abbey National March Leasing (1) Ltd. (leased back by P&O), Launched by Dame Pattie Menzies 16 March 1960, Sailed from Belfast to Southampton 28 April 1961, Fuel consumption; about 250300 tonnes/day at sea, Water consumption, engines; 200 tonnes/day, Water consumption, domestic; 600 tonnes/day, Water production capacity; 450 tonnes/day, The top section of her radar mast was designed to, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 16:04. ship proved to have an efficient power plant and thus she would However, rather than me tell the story of the great work for the problem was that she was simply not popular. 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