A vessel of 5,574 gross tons, length 420 ft x beam 54 ft, with one funnel, two masts, single screw, maximum speed 11 knots, accommodation for only twelve passengers. It was completed in December 1893 by R. & W. Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn-on-Tyne, for the Elderslie SS Co. (Turnbull, Martin & Co).

In 1899, the SS Perthshire went missing on a passage from Sydney to Wellington, but was found by the Union SS Company of New Zealand ship, SS Talune, and on 19th June 1899, it was towed back to Sydney, having lost her tailshaft.

In 1910, the SS Perthshire was transferred to the Scottish Shire Line Ltd.

In 1915, it was requisitioned by the Admiralty as a frozen meat carrier.

In 1919, it was designated HMS Perthshire as a fleet supply ship.

In 1929, it was set on the China Station and painted white with a yellow funnel.

She was decommissioned and scrapped in 1932.

As RFA Perthshire

Chart from the Aukland Star of 18 June 1899

26 April 1899 she sailed Sydney bound for Bluff, New Zealand and disappeared.

28 April 1899 she broke her tailshaft 391 miles from Sydney and drifted for 42 days, covering some 1400 miles in the process, before temporary repairs were effected on 10 June when she got going again at a speed of 4 knots.

13 June 1899 A search had been mounted for her and the Union Steamship Co's vessel TALUNE found her and towed her back to Sydney for permanent repairs

18 June 1899 sighted while under tow of the ss Talhune off The Heads, Sydney, NSW, Australia

19 June 1899 berthed at Sydney, NSW

8 July 1899 at the Water Police Court, Sydney, NSW  Henry Buck, a seaman from the Perthshire was sentenced to three weeks hard labour for being absent without leave from the ship

21 July 1899 at Sydney NSW onboard the Perthshire Chief Engineer J Blair was presented with an illuminated address, and the 2nd Engineer and those under him were presented with framed photos

22 July 1899 sailed Sydney, NSW to Port Chalmers, New Zealand with a new tail shaft fitted

25 July 1899 the towing of the Perthshire by the ss Talhune resulted in a payment of £5,000 being made to the owners of the Talhune

3 August 1899 arrived at Port Chalmers, New Zealand - the Chief Engineer was reported in the local press as Mr John Blair a resident of Otago

5 August 1899 sailed Port Chalmers, New Zealand for Lyttelton

10 August 1899 sailed Lyttelton for London via Las Palmas

30 August 1899 Captain Jas Wallace and Chief Engineer Officer J Blair each awarded the Lloyds Silver Medal for Meritorious Service

She was originally built for the Australian emigrant and meat trade and was specially fitted for the carriage of frozen meat.

When new, she inaugurated a new monthly service from the U.K. to New Zealand.

Together with 13 other elderly vessels, she was acquired by the Admiralty to become Dummy Battleships during WW1.

She also served as a water tanker and an oiler before becoming the Mediterranean Fleet’s Supply Ship.

During her career she thus served under the Red, White and Blue Ensigns.