SS Llandaff Castle
SS Llandaff Castle was a British steam passenger–cargo liner operated by the Union-Castle Line. Built in 1926, she was used extensively during the Second World War for troop transport, and was sunk by a German submarine in 1942 off the coast of Zululand.
Construction
Llandaff Castle was built by Workman, Clark & Co. in Belfast with the yard number 488. The ship was launched on 10 August 1926, and completed in January 1927. She was a steel-hulled twin-screw vessel, measuring in length with a beam of and a depth of. The vessel was measured at and she was powered by two quadruple-expansion steam engines producing 1,086 nominal horsepower, giving a service speed of approximately.She was named after Llandaff Castle in Cardiff, Wales.
Civilian service
The ship operated on Union-Castle's "Round Africa" mail service, making voyages between the United Kingdom and southern and eastern Africa via Mediterranean and East African ports. She carried first- and third-class passengers, with accommodation for 225 in first class and 186 in third class.Wartime service
With the outbreak of the Second World War, Llandaff Castle was requisitioned in 1939 for use as a troop transport. During her conversion, the passenger cabins were reconfigured to accommodate up to 1,150 troops. She was also armed with a 4.7‑inch naval gun on her stern, along with two machine guns mounted amidships. This armament remained in place throughout her wartime service.In August 1940, she transported 300 child evacuees to South Africa under the auspices of the Children's Overseas Reception Board scheme.
During 1941 and 1942, she conveyed British and Commonwealth forces between Africa and the Middle East. In May 1942, she took part in Operation Ironclad, the Allied invasion of Madagascar.
Sinking
On 26 November 1942, Llandaff Castle departed Dar es Salaam en route to Durban, carrying 155 crew, 4 gunners, and 150 passengers, including Soviet military personnel and their families, along with around 300 tons of cargo. On 30 November, she was torpedoed and sunk by the under the command of Kapitänleutnant Robert Gysae, approximately east of Zululand at.The ship was hit by two torpedoes at 17:29 hours and broke in two. A third torpedo struck the stern section at 17:47, followed by a coup de grâce at 18:09. Three crewmen were killed, but 310 survivors were rescued on 2 December by and taken to Durban. According to reports, when the German U-boat surfaced and asked the survivors if they were all right, one replied they were "just wet", prompting laughter from the Germans, who then departed.