The Strath-class of passenger liners were built by the Vickers-Armstrongs Shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, better simply known nowadays as P & O.
The 5 vessels were soon to become popularly known as the ‘Strath-Sisters’, or sometimes the ‘Five White Sisters’, due to their distinctive white hulls and buff-coloured funnels. These funnels themselves were a curiosity as whilst the class boasted 3 large structures, only the middle one was functional authentic. The other two were purely cosmetic, in order to portray power and speed, a much-desired marketing tool in the hugely competitive cruise transport industry.
They were all revolutionary turbine-electric ships, with oil-fired boilers producing huge volumes of pressurised steam to power the two turbo generators. In turn, the electricity generated powered two electric propulsion motors driving twin screws – a basic concept not dissimilar to modern ships such as today’s Type 45 Destroyers and Queen Elizabeth Class carriers.
In all respects these were magnificent, innovative new ships that marked the dawning of a new era in ocean travel.
RMS Strathnaver & RMS Strathaird on the Fitting Out Quay
Within these web pages, we pay tribute to the 5 individual vessels and their amazing stories, whilst recognising their importance in the 150-years of ship building on the North West Coast at Barrow-in-Furness.
Ships of the class (click to visit individual web pages)
Specifications
| Strathnaver | Strathaird | Strathmore | Stratheden | Strathallan | |
| Launch date | 05/02/1931 | 18/07/1931 | 04/04/1935 | 10/06/1937 | 29/09/1937 |
|
Gross Registered
Tonnes (GRT)
|
22,283 | 22,284 | 23,428 | 23,722 | 23,722 |
| Length |
638.7 ft
(194.7m)
|
638.7 ft
(194.7m)
|
640.3 ft
(195.2m)
|
639.5 ft
(194.9m)
|
664.5 ft
(202.5m)
|
| Beam |
80.2 ft
(24.4 m)
|
80.2 ft
(24.4m)
|
82.2 ft
(25.1m)
|
82.2 ft
(25.1m)
|
82.2 ft
(25.1m)
|
| Draught |
29 ft 2 in
(8.9 m)
|
29 ft 2 in
(8.9 m)
|
30 ft 2 in
(9.19m)
|
30 ft 2 in
(9.19m)
|
30 ft 2 in
(9.19m)
|
| Depth |
33.1 ft
(10.1 m)
|
33.1 ft
(10.1 m)
|
33.6 ft
(10.23m)
|
33.6 ft
(10.23m)
|
33.6 ft
(10.23m)
|
|
Installed
Power
|
Turbine
Electric
6,315 NHP
|
Turbine
Electric
6,315 NHP
|
Turbine
Electric
4,912 NHP
|
Turbine
Electric
4,912 NHP
|
Turbine
Electric
4,912 NHP
|
| Propulsion | Twin Screw | Twin Screw | Twin Screw | Twin Screw | Twin Screw |
|
Rated
Speed
|
22 kns
(41 km/h)
|
22 kns
(41 km/h)
|
20 kns
(37km/h)
|
20 kns
(37 km/h)
|
21 kns
(39 km/h)
|
|
Capacity at
Launch
|
498 1st 670 Tourist |
498 1st 668 Tourist |
445 1st
665 Tourist
|
448 1st 563 Tourist |
448 1st 563 Tourist |
|
Special
features
|
DF - ES - G | DF - ES - G | DF - ES - G | DF - ES - G | DF - ES - G |
| Fate |
Scrapped
1962
|
Scrapped
1961
|
Scrapped
1969
|
Scrapped
1969
|
Sunk
1942
|
Special Features: DF = Direction Finding ES = Echo Sounding G = Gyrocompass
