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Allied Warships

HMS Corfu (F 86)

Armed Merchant Cruiser

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeArmed Merchant Cruiser
Class 
PennantF 86 
Built byA. Stephen & Sons Ltd. (Glasgow, Scotland) 
Ordered 
Laid down 
Launched20 May, 1931 
Commissioned25 Nov, 1939 
End service17 Feb, 1944 
Loss position
 
Historylaid down as Chefoo, completed as Corfu.
On 14 September 1939 the passenger ship Corfu of the P. & O. Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to an armed merchant cruiser. Conversion was completed on 25 November 1939.

Displacement: 14170 BRT
Armament: 9x 152mm, 4x 102mm (2x2), 2x 40mm, 19x 20mm Oerlikon and a catapult with seaplane
Speed: 17 knots

Career:
December 39 - June 40: Northern Patrol
June 40: Western Approaches Command
July 40 - September 41: Freetown Escort Force
October 41 - February 42: East Indies Station
March 42 - August 42: Eastern Fleet (Indian Ocean)
September 42 - April 43: South Atlantic Station
May 43 - February 44: West Africa Command

On 17 February 1944 returned and used as troopship by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). On 31 July 1947 returned to owner. 

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