# RMS Orontes

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{{Short description|Ocean liner of the Orient Line}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Distinguish|SS Orontes|HMS Orontes}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 |image = StateLibQld_1_54592_Orontes_(ship).jpg
 |image_caption = ''Orontes''
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header = 
 |country = [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland)
 |flag = {{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|government}}
 |name = ''Orontes''
 |owner = *1902–22: [Orient Steam Navigation Co](/source/Orient_Steam_Navigation_Company)
          *1922: British World Trade Expeditions Ltd
          *1922–25: Orient Steam Navigation Co
 |operator = *as owner, except:
             *1916–19: {{flagicon|United Kingdom|naval}} [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy)
 |registry = [Glasgow](/source/Glasgow)
 |route = *1902–16: [London](/source/Port_of_London) – [Sydney](/source/Port_Jackson)
          *1919–21: London – [Brisbane](/source/Port_of_Brisbane)
 |ordered = 
 |builder = [Fairfield Eng & Shipbuilding Co](/source/Fairfield_Shipbuilding_and_Engineering_Company), [Govan](/source/Govan)
 |yard_number = 418
 |way_number = 
 |laid_down = 
 |launched = 10 May 1902
 |christened = 
 |completed = September 1902
 |acquired = 
 |maiden_voyage = 24 October 1902, London – [Suez](/source/Suez) – [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne) – Sydney
 |out_of_service = 1921–22
 |identification= *UK [official number](/source/official_number) 115707
                  *[Code letters](/source/Code_letters) TPWN
                  *{{ICS|Tango}}{{ICS|Papa}}{{ICS|Whiskey}}{{ICS|November}}
                  *[Call sign](/source/Maritime_call_sign) MOZ
 |fate = Scrapped in 1925
 |notes = 
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 |hide_header = 
 |header_caption = 
 |type = [Ocean liner](/source/Ocean_liner)
 |tonnage = {{GRT|9023}}, {{NRT|4622}}
 |displacement = 
 |length = {{cvt|513.7|ft|abbr=on}}
 |beam = {{cvt|58.2|ft|abbr=on}}
 |height = 
 |draught = 
 |depth = {{cvt|34.4|ft|abbr=on}}
 |decks = 
 |power= 1,700 [NHP](/source/Horsepower)
 |propulsion= *2 × [quadruple-expansion steam engines](/source/Marine_steam_engine)
              *2 × [screws](/source/Propeller)
 |speed = {{convert|18.8|kn|km/h}}
 |capacity = *200 first class
             *200 second class
             *600 third class
 |crew = 
 |notes = 
 }}
}}

'''RMS ''Orontes''''' was a [steam](/source/Steamship) [ocean liner](/source/ocean_liner) of the [Orient Steam Navigation Company](/source/Orient_Steam_Navigation_Company) that was launched in 1902 and scrapped in 1925.

''Orontes'' was a [troop ship](/source/Troopship) in the [First World War](/source/World_War_I). In 1922 she was sold for conversion into an exhibition ship, but the venture fell through so Orient Line repossessed her. ''Orontes'' was scrapped in 1925.

This was the first of two Orient Line ships called ''Orontes''. The second was the {{GRT|19970}} [turbine steamship](/source/Steam_turbine) [SS Orontes](/source/SS_Orontes) that was launched in 1929 and scrapped in 1962.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://shippingandshipbuilding.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=204674&vessel=ORONTES |title=Orontes |work=Shipping and Shipbuilding |publisher=Tees Built Ships |access-date=21 December 2020}}</ref>

==Building==
The [Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company](/source/Fairfield_Shipbuilding_and_Engineering_Company) of [Govan](/source/Govan) launched ''Orontes'' on 10 May 1902 and completed her that September.<ref name=SBS>{{cite web |url= http://clydeships.co.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=6396&vessel=ORONTES |title=Orontes |work=Scottish Built Ships |publisher=Caledonian Maritime Research Trust |access-date=21 December 2020}}</ref> At {{GRT|9028}} she was Orient Line's largest ship until {{SS|Orsova|1908|2}} and her [sisters](/source/sister_ship) entered service in 1909.{{sfn|Dowling|1909|pp=345–346}}

Orient Line registered her at Glasgow. Her UK [official number](/source/official_number) was 115707 and her [code letters](/source/code_letters) were TPWN.<ref>{{cite book |author=Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen |year=1903 |title=Mercantile Navy List |page=296 |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?name=Orontes&year=1903&steamsail=Steam&submit=Enter |publisher=[Board of Trade](/source/Board_of_Trade) |via=Crew List Index Project |access-date=19 January 2021}}</ref>

==Service==
''Orontes'' began her maiden voyage on 24 October 1902, taking mail and passengers from [London](/source/Port_of_London) via the [Suez Canal](/source/Suez_Canal) and [Melbourne](/source/Port_of_Melbourne) to [Sydney](/source/Port_Jackson). This was her regular route.

By 1913 ''Orontes'' was equipped for [wireless telegraphy](/source/wireless_telegraphy), operating on the 300 and 600 metre wavelengths. Her [call sign](/source/Maritime_call_sign) was MOZ.{{sfn|The Marconi Press Agency Ltd|1913|page=258}}
In 1914, between the 11th and the 21st of July, two Polish passengers, Mr. B. Malinowski, anthropologist, and Mr. St. I. Witkiewicz, artist, travel in RMS Orontes from Colombo, Ceylon, to Fremantle, Australia. Mr. Witkiewicz takes part in a scientific expedition to New Guinea. Mr. Witkiewicz soon abandoned the expedition and returned to Europe, to sign up for military service during the First World War.
After the First World War began, ''Orontes'' remained in service on her regular route until October 1916, when the [Admiralty](/source/British_Admiralty) requisitioned her. She was converted into the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) troop ship HMAT ''Orontes''. HMAT stands for "His Majesty's Australian Transport". She made two more voyages from Britain to Australia, before spending some time on the Africa run.{{clarify|reason=What "Africa run"? What does this mean?|date=December 2020}}<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5578914880 |title=1902-1925: RMS ORONTES, an occasional troopship of the Great War |first=Dennis |last=Brook |publisher=Flickr |access-date=2017-08-29 |language=en-us}}</ref> In 1917, the Admiralty released her to her owners, as her refrigerated hold made her more useful for taking dairy products and meat from Australia to Britain.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |url=https://open.abc.net.au/explore/59409 |title=ABC OPEN: RMS Orontes Souvenir Spoon - England to Australia Passenger Line {{!}}{{!}} From Project: Object Stories |website=open.abc.net.au |language=en-AU |access-date=2017-08-29 |archive-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603223106/https://open.abc.net.au/explore/59409 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1919 ''Orontes'' resumed her Australia service with calls at [Gibraltar](/source/Gibraltar), [Toulon](/source/Toulon), [Port Said](/source/Port_Said), [Colombo](/source/Port_of_Colombo), [Fremantle](/source/Fremantle_Harbour), [Adelaide](/source/Adelaide), Melbourne, Sydney and an extension to [Brisbane](/source/Port_of_Brisbane).<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Orontes_(ship,_1902)|title=Category:Orontes (ship, 1902) |work=[Wikimedia Commons](/source/Wikimedia_Commons) |language=en |access-date=2017-08-29}}</ref>

In 1921 ''Orontes'' was laid up in the Thames. In 1922 British World Trade Expeditions Ltd bought her with the intent of converting her to an exhibition vessel. She was to be renamed ''British Trade'', but it is not clear whether her change of name was ever registered.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/orient.shtml |title=Orient Steam Navigation Company / Orient-Royal Mail Line / Orient Line |last1=Swiggum |first1=Susan |first2=Kohli |last2=Marjorie |work=TheShipsList |date=3 February 2005 |access-date=2017-08-29}}</ref> Orient Line repossessed the ship.<ref name=SBS/>

==Fate==
In 1925 ''Orontes'' was sold for scrap<ref>{{csr|register=MSI|id=1115707|shipname=Orontes |accessdate=26 November 2018}}</ref> to [Thos. W. Ward](/source/Thos._W._Ward). She arrived at [Inverkeithing](/source/Inverkeithing) on 22 October that year to be broken up.<ref name=SBS/>

The upper part of ''Orontes'' [smoking room](/source/smoking_room) was salvaged and installed in the Woodside Hotel, Aberdour. It includes a [stained glass](/source/stained_glass) ceiling and expertly [turned](/source/Woodturning) ornamental woodwork. This remnant of the ship still survives, and the hotel is now a [Category B listed building](/source/Listed_building).<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB3560|desc=Aberdour, High Street, the Woodside Hotel|cat=B|accessdate=21 December 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Dowling |first=R |orig-year=1903 |year=1909 |edition=2nd |title=All About Ships & Shipping |place=London |publisher=Alexander Moring Ltd }}
* {{cite book |author=The Marconi Press Agency Ltd |author-link=Marconi Company |year=1913 |title=The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony |place=London |publisher=The St Katherine Press}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Orontes (ship, 1902)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Orontes, RMS}}
Category:1902 ships
Category:Maritime history of Australia
Category:Ocean liners of the United Kingdom
Category:Ships built in Govan
Category:Ships of the Orient Line
Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom
Category:Troop ships of the United Kingdom
Category:World War I passenger ships of the United Kingdom

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [RMS Orontes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Orontes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Orontes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.