H.M.S. Artifex
F.128
1945
(Wirral WHM-296)
- Class: Alaunia - 4 repair ship conversions of 1942
- Displacement: 19,000 tons
- Dimensions: 540 x 65 x 31.5
- Machinery: 2-shaft steam turbines, SHP 8,500 = 15 knots
- Armament: 20-20mm (20x1) AA
- Complement: 592
- Builder: Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson
- Launched: 6 Feb 1924
- Commissioned: 2 Oct 1939
- Purchased: Nov 1942
- Notes: Built as liner Aurania for Cunard, with capacity for 290 cabin class and 890 third class passengers. Requisitioned for use as Armed Merchant Cruiser and given standard outfit of 8-6in guns and 2-12pdr AA. In 1942 she was purchased outright for conversion to a repair ship and renamed Artifex. Sold for scrapping 1960. Three near sisters, Alaunia, Ausonia, and Wayland (ex-Antonia) had a similar service history as AMCs and then repair ships.
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