Dunbar Castle (2)

DUNBAR CASTLE (2) was built in 1930 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with a tonnage of 10002grt, a length of 471ft 2in, a beam of 61ft 2in and a service speed of 14.5 knots.

She was launched for the Round Africa service on 31st October 1929.

Standing in a class by herself and quite unlike Llangibby Castle of which she is sometimes erroneously decribed as a sister ship.

Her passenger arrangements presented several new features, notably the large open-air lounge at the forward end of the 1st Class Promenade Deck. Ideal for dancing at night.

As is the case with other motor vessels she has the low funnels characteristic of the new type of vessel but in her case are particularly unattractive.

She made her first voyage to the Cape in June 1930.

1938 Transferred to The Round Africa Service

1940 Mined and sunk off Ramsgate

Master	From	To
E S Vincent	6/1930	5/1932
H R Northwood	4/1931	5/1931
E A Comley	3/1932	6/1932
D Nicoll	6/1932	12/1932
E S Vincent	12/1932	3/1933
W Weller	3/1933	6/1933
C N Bickford	7/1933	7/1934
A H Blackman	8/1934	2/1936
H E Jackson	3/1936
E A Comley	3/1936	8/1936
W S Colbourne	10/1936	11/1937
A E Castle	11/1937	2/1939
H A Causton	3/1939	1/1940 Killed

On 8th January 1940, after sailing from London for Beira, she hit a magnetic mine off east Cliff, Ramsgate in the English Channel.

Breaking her back she heeled over and sank onto an even keel in 30 minutes with the loss of 9 lives including her Master (Capt H A Causton) who was killed when the foremast collapsed onto the bridge.

The superstructure remained above water until it was demolished after the war.