The sinking of HMS Rawalpindi

Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Rawalpindi [Photo: Uboat]

Many natives of Rawalpindi city of Pakistan wouldn't know that there was once a passenger ship called HMS Rawalpindi. The same way many natives of Sahiwal wouldn't know that a ship called Sahiwal Express once sailed in Australia. And I wonder if many know why Sahiwal is known as Sahiwal and why Australia named a ship after this city of Central Punjab in Pakistan.

Those who do not know why Sahiwal is known as Sahiwal may read my earlier post 'Cow and the City.'

But for now lets us talk of HMS Rawalpindi and how did it sink. 

HMS Rawalpindi was a passenger ship launched on 26 March 1926, built by Harland & Wolff Ltd. (Greenock, Scotland). However during the WW-II, when the British Navy was in desperate need to expand its navy to counter the superior German Navy, the passenger ship Rawalpindi of the P. & O. Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to an armed merchant cruiser on 26 August 1939. Conversion was completed on 19 September 1939 by the addition of eight elderly 6 in (150 mm) guns and two 3 in (76 mm) guns.

HMS Rawalpindi, now an armed merchant cruiser, was tasked to patrol  the Northern Patrol covering the area around Iceland in October 1939. On 19 October in the Denmark Strait, Rawalpindi intercepted the German tanker Gonnzenheim. The tanker was scuttled by her crew before a boarding party could get on board.

Then came the fateful day in the life of HMS Rawalpindi when it was patrolling north of the Faroe Islands on 23 November 1939. She was intercepted by two powerful German warships the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Being a merchant / passenger ship by design,  she was simply out gunned  But her captain  Edward Coverley Kennedy decided to to fight rather than surrendering to the Germans.  He was heard to say "We’ll fight them both, they’ll sink us, and that will be that. Good-bye".

And that was the last of HMS Rawalpindi that was heard back.  238 men died, including Captain Kennedy as the ship sank. Thirty-seven men were rescued by the German ships, and a further 11 were picked up by HMS Chitral (another converted passenger ship).

This bring to forth another ship HMS Chitral, about which I will write sometime later.

For detailed eye witness account of the sinking of HMS Rawalpindi, please read:
My Night to Remember- The Sinking of the HMS Rawalpindi
We manned the guns of the HMS Rawalpindi
Reference: Wikipedia | Uboat |

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Vava-II, the $160 Million Superyacht owned by former Miss UK sets for its maiden sail

Travelling is a passion, a pastime and education. Travelers would like to explore the world even if empty pocketed as they know hoe o make their way to the people's hears of the place they are visiting and get along even when sitting on bullock carts or taking a ride on bicycle. That is how ordinary travelers travel, visit places and make their travel memorable for the rest of the lives.

But what if you are a rich man, remind of the beautiful song of the yester years "If I were a rich man," then you would probably be looking for an expensive airlines or a ship liner to travel and enjoy a luxurious travel. If you fall into that category, here is a Superyacht for you to travel - I am not talking of an ordinary yacht but a $160 million Superyacht, which is owned by the richest woman of England. The yacht has set its course for its first maiden journey.

Vava - II with Miss Kirsty

Do you remember Kirsty Bertarelli - once the Miss UK? Well if you do, it is her who owns this Superyacht. Miss Kirsty has recently became the wealthiest woman in Britain. Although the yacht has set for its maiden journey from Plymouth Sound Friday for the Caribbean, it is yet not clear wheter Miss Kirsty and her husband are aboard the yacht or not. 

The Superyacht has taken two years to be build by approximately 200 craftsmen has been named Vava II. The vessel is 33rd largest yacht in the world and has a helicopter landing pad, lavish guest cabins and four boats to carry passengers to shore. And you know what: it costs nearly $400,000 just to fill the gas tank. For a world tour, imagine how much fuel would this Superyacht would consume.

This is how celebrities and rich travel. How about you?

Read more: Business Insider

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Travel to Atlantic to Celebrate Titanic's Drowning Centenary Next Year

It will be 100 years on  April 14 at 2.20am 2012 since drowning of the famous giant luxury liner RMS Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean on that cold and shivering night of April 14 at 2.20am, 1912. The movie "Titanic" released awhile ago, though based on pure fiction, brought to fore the glory and luxury of the ship which sank on its maiden journey to New York.

Left: Sailing RMS Titanic - Right: Drowned Titanic (Photos: Corbis) 

In order to commemorate the centenary of the tragedy, plans are afoot to take tourists on exactly the same route and stop at the point of drowning of the ship exactly at 2.20 AM on April 14, 2012. Already two cruisers have been booked and travel agencies are planning more and more ships to take tourists to Atlantic.

One travel company has even gone a step ahead - charging an eye-watering $66,257 (£41,784) to dive down to the wreck itself. The 15-day 'exclusive' dive expedition - scheduled to take place from June to August next year - will offer Titanic 'fans' the chance to see the ship's eerie remains 12,500ft below the surface of the Atlantic.

Full Story: Mail Online 

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