Queen of the Channel
1935
(Albatros AL-175)
- Class: Passenger ferry
- Displacement: 1,162 tons
- Dimensions: 255 x 34 x 9.25 ft.
- Machinery: twin screw, 2 x 1500hp Type TS Sulzer diesels = 20 knots
- Passengers: 1600
- Builder: Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton, England, 1935
- Service: Built for the New Medway Steam Packet Company. Company taken over by General Steam Navigation in 1936 giving them monopoly of the Thames excursion business. Used for daytime excursions across to France and back. During WWII, she helped evacuate British troops from Dunkirk. Just after departing Dunkirk the morning of 28 May 1940 she was hit and sunk by German dive bombers. Most of the 950 soldiers on board were rescued by coaster Dorrien Rose. The sinking led to daylight evacuation by the larger unarmed ships being halted.
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