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Side-Wheeled Paddle Steamers
Emperor of India (ex - Princess
Royal)
Built in 1906 by J I
Thornycroft at Southampton
Engines : Compound Diagonal, 30 and 57 x 60 in by builders
Dimensions : 195.6 ft (later 217.2 ft) x 25.1 ft
428 Gross Registered Tons (as built)
Built for the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South
of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co
Undertook trial on May 28, 1906 and despite a poor speed attained,
went into service in the early part of the 1906 summer season
Vessel found to be less than satisfactory and returned to her
builders pending negotiations regarding the costs of alteration
Lengthened by 21 ft 8 in to improve speed and buoyancy
Bought by Cosens & Co in 1908 for service out of Weymouth as
Emperor of India.
Operated successfully in 1908 but further alterations after that
season (including plating to bow) affected her performance
Served as trooper and minesweeper in the Mediterranean in World War I
as HMS Mahratta
Returned to service for the 1920 season, stationed at
Bournemouth.
Operated on the Sussex coast under charter to the Cinque Ports Steam
Navigation Co in 1922
Spent World War II based on the Thames as a minesweeper then
anti-aircraft vessel.
Returned to service in 1948 after a refit, including oil-fired
boiler, larger funnel and wheelhouse
Despite siting even lower in the water and achieving ever poorer
speed, she remained in service until after the 1956 season.
Left Weymouth under tow on January 24th, 1957 for scrapping at Bruges
in Belgium.
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Southampton,
Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet
Company
Cosens & Co
Cinque Ports Steam
Navigation Co
British Paddle Steamer
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