Possible location: Fremantle port, Western Australia.
Photographer: Allen. C. Green.

Projecting the illusion of floating in a calm ocean without even a ripple to indicate her gentle approach. The HMS Ranchi nears what possibly is the Fremantle Harbour in Western Australia, in this photo captured by Allen Charles Green. A professional portrait photographer by trade, yet one whose love for maritime photography led to a vast collection of warship and sail ship photos – mostly in the black and white medium.

Named after the yesteryear town of Ranchi, which once was the regional administrative headquarters of the Bengal Presidency’s Chota Nagpur province. The HMS Ranchi was a top of the line passenger ship of her time. Designed to ferry passengers and their belongings from England to India via the Suez Canal. But one whose career had been altered by World War II, and seen her sail dangerous waters without the protection of formidable warships.

Where the HMS Ranchi was built.

Constructed at the 537 Newcastle-upon-Tyne yard by English shipbuilders Hawthorn Leslie. The HMS Ranchi had measured 174 meters in length and was equipped with twin screws and two quadruple-expansion steam engines capable of generating 15000 ihp power.

She had a top speed of 17 knots and was among the first to offer refrigerated spaces for transportation of perishable commodities. Her spacious interior could comfortably accommodate 953 people at a time, including a crew of 366 personnel. While her cargo hold had measured nearly 9,744 cubic metres.

The ship had begun its maritime career with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. A successful maritime enterprise that since its founding in 1837 had operated for approximately 163 years. Before relinquishing its holdings and commercial interests to the British-American Luxury Cruise provider, the Carnival Corporation, and the Danish shipping giant Maersk Line, in the year 2000.

Acquired by this shipping company for a total cost of £ 919,080. The HMS Ranchi had first seen service in 1925 when she had been commissioned to serve alongside her sisters, the HMS Ranpura, the HMS Rawalpindi and the HMS Rajputana. As a part of the Bombay-England mail service that connected harbours at London and Southampton with Bombay.

Her military tenure had begun on the 27th of August 1939. Barely four days before the German army had invaded Poland on the 1st of September 1939 and set the stage for war in Europe.

Wartime Duties.

Requisitioned by the British Admiralty to serve as an armed merchant vessel at this critical juncture. She had found herself at the Bombay Harbour getting her after funnel removed and equipped with two 3 inch guns and 8 six-inch guns.

In October 1939, she had set sail for active service with the East Indies Station (a squadron of the British Navy, patrolling the Indian Ocean). Later she had served with the British Eastern Fleet, on escort and patrol duties. A tour that had lasted till 1943 and seen her clocking a total of 300,000 miles of sailing time.

On the 16th of March 1943, the HMS Ranchi had docked at Southampton to be refitted and reassigned for her new role of a troop transport. Assigned to operate in the Middle East and the Mediterranean arena this time around, she had eventually come to participate in the allied invasion of Italy.

In the same year, as the flagship of an eastbound convoy, she had come close to being hit by an enemy bomb, near Benghazi. However, a chance deflect by the wirespan of her forecastle had saved her from a death at sea – with the bomb ultimately falling through a troop’s latrine without exploding.

Transporting the 407th Air Division.

The historical work, Chinese America: History and Perspectives that was published in 1993 reveals the HMS Ranchi to be the very ship that had transported troops of the American 407th Air Division to Burma in 1944.

Informs the book that on this occasion the ship had been filled to maximum capacity. Soldiers and officers had not only occupied her first and second class compartments. But also used every inch of her floor for sleep. Her showers had provided the saltwater of the sea for baths and the troops had been fed with only two meals a day.

The morning meal had comprised of salted fish, biscuits, margarine and tea. While the evening meal had included watery stew, sausages and biscuits.

Yet the living conditions of the troops, in spite of being claustrophobic and minimal, was still far better than that of the ship’s own East Indies Crew. Which, states the book, some of the soldiers on board noted to be worst for those of the lowest ranks. 

On this voyage, the HMS Ranchi had been spotted by a German reconnaissance plane, somewhere in the Mediterranean. Fearing an aerial assault she had assembled the troops on the deck in full gear, in anticipation of having to abandon ship on being sunk.

The last years of her service.

The year 1945 had ushered in the last year of her military service. Though assigned to participate in the liberation of Malaya from Japanese hold, and prepped up to blockade a Malayan river. With the Japanese surrender on the 2nd of September 1945, bringing the war to an end. She had been subsequently derequisitioned by the British Admiralty – after having successfully ferried 54,711 troops over 86,000 miles.

Returning back to her former civilian life, the HMS Ranchi had been refitted and requipped in 1947, for what had eventually turned out to be her last role at sea. An emigrant ship ferrying passengers both homebound and to new destinations.

A role she is known to have performed admirably well from 1947 to 1952. Transporting a total of 925 emigrant passengers to Australia in 1948, and later from Jakarta to Amsterdam.

On 7th January 1953, a year after she had suffered from a fire near Sydney harbour, she had been sold to the salvage company: The British Iron and Steel Corporation for £ 200,000.

Handed over on the 19th of January 1953. She had been dismantled shortly afterwards, bringing to an end her 27-year career at sea. A time span that had witnessed her sailing perhaps more than 600, 000 miles of salty waters with her military duties alone making up, 386,000 miles.

Out of the four sister ships of the England-Bombay mail service, only the HMS Ranchi and the HMS Rangpura survived the war.