Builders: William Denny & Brothers Ltd Dumbarton 1926
Propulsion type: Twin screw turbines
Owners: Turbine Steamers Ltd/ David MacBrayne Ltd
Service dates: 1926 - 1974
Tonnage: Net 320 Gross 796
Comments:
A particular favourite of mine, I was lucky enough to sail on King George V out of Oban on the Staffa-Iona service and from Oban to Fort William, late in her career in August 1972. For a flier giving details of the trip please click here. She is shown here in 1962 landing passengers by tender at Iona on one such trip. King George V was the first excursion ship powered by geared, high pressure turbines although these were not entirely successful and when re boilered in 1935 her engines were adapted to run at normal pressure. When she passed into David MacBrayne's fleet in 1935 she was to be renamed and to receive a main mast. Although her name change never materialised it was 1952 before her main mast was actually fitted and this gave her a more balanced profile. In 1958 she received radar and in 1959 inflatable life rafts were fitted in place of two of her lifeboats. She was extensively modernised in the winter refits of 1960 and 1961. She was eventually sold for static use but was sadly destroyed by fire whilst in Cardiff in 1981.
This splendid picture is displayed courtesy of David A H Yates