HMS Ariguani
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ariguani |
| Operator | Elders & Fyffes Ltd. |
| Port of registry |  London |
| Laid down | September 1925 |
| Launched | 20 October 1925 |
| Completed | February 1926 |
| In service | 1926 |
| Out of service | 1956 |
| Fate | Scrapped 1956 |
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Ariguani |
| Acquired | September 1940 |
| Commissioned | March 1941 |
| Fate | Returned to previous owners |
| General characteristics as built | |
| Type | Cargo ship |
| Tonnage | 5,746 GRT |
| Length | 129.6 m (425 ft 2 in) |
| Beam | 16.49 m (54 ft 1 in) |
| Draught | 9.24 m (30 ft 4 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 × 3 cyl. steam engines, 2 screws, 622 hp (464 kW) |
| Speed | 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
HMS Ariguani, formerly SS Ariguani requisitioned and commissioned as an Ocean Boarding vessel and subsequently a fighter catapult ship (FCS) during World War II forthe Royal Navy.[1]
Design
Ariguani was built by A. Stephen & Sons Ltd. at Lighthouse, Glasgow, Scotland. The keel was laid in September 1925, and she was subsequently completed in February 1926. Originally meant to be a banana passenger boat designed for service between the Americas and the United Kingdom. She had an original gross register tonnage of 5,746 tons and measured 129.6 metres (425 ft 2 in) in length with a beam of 16.49 metres (54 ft 1 in). She had a draught of 9.24 metres (30 ft 4 in). Propulsion came from two triple-cylinder steam engines, driving two screws for 622 horsepower (464 kW). Her top speed was roughly 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph). [2]
Requisition
Between February 1926 and September 1940, the ship operated as a civilian transport for Elder & Fyffes Ltd., based in London.[3] Her primary cargo were bananas between the United Kingdom and the Caribbean.
The ship was requisition in September 1940 and commissioned into service in March 1941.[4] She was converted to a fighter catapult ship (FCS). On 26 October 1941, at 03:54 while escorting Convoy HG 75, she was struck by a torpedo fired by the German submarine U-83 at a location roughly 600 miles (970 km) southwest of Portugal.[5] The crew immediately abandoned ship but returned to her at dawn once they realized she was not going to flood and sink. She was towed to Gibraltar, arriving on 2 November She was repaired and returned to civilian service under her previous owners,[3] She was sold for scrap in November 1956 and broken up at Briton Ferry, Wales.
References
- ^ "THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "Ariguani". Scottish Built Ships. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ a b Catalogue description Bristol: SS Ariguani (Messrs Elders and Fyffes Ltd) travelling from Jamaica to Bristol... 1936-07-05.
- ^ "Brits Fighter Catapult Ship HMS Ariguani (F105) - TracesOfWar.nl". www.tracesofwar.nl. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "Allied Warships of WWII - Ocean boarding vessel HMS Ariguani - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 2025-07-14.