H.M.S. Monowai
1944
(Albatros ALK-131)
- Class: Landing Ship Infantry (Large) -- mercantile conversion
- Displacement: 10,852 tons
- Dimensions: 519 x 62 x 25-6 ft.
- Machinery: steam quadruple expansion, twin screws, 12,000 IHP = 19 knots
- Armament: 1-4in, 2-12pdr, 2-2pdr, 2-40mm AA guns
- Landing Craft: 20 LCA
- Complement:
- Builder: Harland & Wolff, Greenock, Scotland, 1925
- Launched: 16 Oct 1924
- Service: Built as Razmak for P&O Line. Maiden voyage 13 May 1925 London-Aden. Entered service on Aden-Bombay route, then Marseille-Bombay in 1926 until that route service ended in 1929.
Sold 1930 to Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (British flag) and renamed Monowai. First voyage 27 Nov Sydney-San Francisco. 1933 on Sydney-Vancouver service in the Canadian Australasian Line's timetable with homeport in Wellington, then Wellington-Sydney service in 1934. Laid up 1936-39. Became armed merchant cruiser for Royal New Zealand Navy 30 Aug 1940; then to trooping Jun 1943. Released from naval service 1946 and refitted for Wellington-Sydney service in 1949 at 11,037 GRT with capacity for 181 first class and 205 tourist class. Broken up at Hong Kong 1960.
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