The hospital ship 'Karoa', 1945

Oil on board by Captain V R Smith, RAMC, 1945 (c).

The passenger cargo ship 'Karoa' was built by Swan, Hunter and Wigham RIchardson Limited on Tyneside and was launched in December 1914. The ship was first requisitioned from the British India Steam Navigation Company Limited by the Admiralty from March 1915 until 1919.

In 1940 the 'Karoa' once again entered military service as a store ship. She was converted into a hospital ship in March 1944. She was returned to her owners in 1946 and was broken up in Bombay in May 1950.