Cunard launched a second trio of intermediate liners in the 1920's, these were the Aurania, Alaunia and Ascania. As part of their post-war building programme Cunard built three 14,000 ton liners which were oil fired and driven by double reduction geared turbines. The Ascania and Alaunia were specifically built for the Canadian trade. The Ascania was the first of the three to be launched, on 20 December 1923. The fitting out of the ship was delayed and it was not until May 1925 that it carried out trials on the way from Newcastle to Southampton. It made its maiden voyage, from Southampton to Quebec and Montreal, on 22 May.
In July 1927 it was decided that the passenger accommodation should be more diverse and, as a result, the ship was refitted so that it could cater for three classes of passenger, cabin, tourist and third class. In October 1934 it was returning from Montreal in fierce storms when it received an SOS message from the British cargo steamer Millpool, 700 miles from the Labrador Coast. The message was that three of the ship's crew had been injured and that the mainmast had fallen, stoving in the cargo hatches. As a result it was taking on water and the engine room was flooded. The Ascania headed for the position at full speed, through the night. It arrived the following morning along with the Beaverhill, a Canadian Pacific vessel, and began searching for wreckage and survivors. After 12 hours the search was called off as no trace was found.
The following months were equally eventful for the Ascania. In November 1934 it collided with the Beaverbrae, another Canadian Pacific vessel, at Quebec. Both ships, however, were only damaged slightly and after temporary repairs the Ascania was able to sail the next day. On the ship's next voyage it went to the assistance of the Usworth, which was sinking in the mid-Atlantic. It managed to rescue nine members of the Usworth's crew. In 1 July 1938 the Ascania had left Quebec and was travelling down the St. Lawrence River with a cargo of bullion when it struck the submerged Alcide Rocks, near Bic Island. Damage to the port side caused four of the holds to be flooded, and damaged one of the propellers. The ship was also firmly stuck on the rocks. It was refloated on 6 July and taken back to Quebec and then drydocked for repairs. The ship was able to leave Canada by 26 August.
At the outbreak of World War II the Ascania was commissioned as an armed merchant cruiser, on 16 October 1939. Initially it joined the 3rd Battle Squadron at Halifax, and served in this role until late 1941. In October 1941 it left the Clyde for the Middle East. The Ascania was later detached from the convoy and dispatched to Colombo. From here it travelled on to Auckland, New Zealand. It was stationed here for some months, patrolling the Pacific. In August 1942 it returned to Southampton and underwent conversion into a infantry landing ship. These were used to carry the bulk of the invasion force to the beachhead. In this role the Ascania was involved in the invasion of Sicily, Salerno and the Anzio landings. By late 1944 necessity meant that it was used as a troop transport, a role which it continued to serve until 1947. One voyage involved the repatriation of the Governor of Gibraltar and over 100 evacuees from the colony, who had spent most of the war in Northern Ireland.
In September 1947 it returned to Cunard and made its first post-war voyage, from Liverpool to Halifax, on 20 December. In 1949 the passenger accommodation was restructured to house 200 1st class and 500 cabin class passengers. After this it returned to the Liverpool to Montreal route, as there were large numbers of people emigrating to Canada at this time. In 1955 it transferred to Southampton as the Saxonia and Ivernia now served the route from Liverpool. By October 1956 it was announced that the Ascania was to be withdrawn from service. The Suez Crisis gave it a slight reprieve. It was required to make two trooping voyages to Malta. After this it was sold to the British Iron & Steel Corporation and sent to Newport for demolition, arriving there on 1 January 1957.
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Updated: February 19, 2002
