Description

HMS Himalaya was ordered by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company as SS Himalaya. She was purchased by the Royal Navy in 1854 and served with them until 1920. She was sunk in 1940.

Himalaya had been planned as a paddle steamer but that design was becoming outdated and she was altered to screw propulsion while she was still on the stocks, and she was fitted instead with a single two-bladed propeller of 18 feet diameter. She was also fitted with sails on three masts for use when the wind was favourable. She was laid down at the yards of C. J. Mare & Co., Leamouth, London in 1852 and launched on 24 May 1853. She could carry 200 first class passengers and required a crew of 213.

The SS Himalaya was a 3,438 gross register ton iron steam screw passenger ship. When launched she was the largest ship in the P & O fleet and was not exceeded in size until the SS Australia of 1870.

"The Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company's Screw Steam Ship 'Himalaya', (Adam Kellock, Commander.) The largest steam ship in the world, 3550 tons -- 750 horse power -- 46 1/2 ft. breadth 35 1/2 ft. depth -- length 374 feet

The Himalaya was built by C. J. Mare Esq. of Blackwall and the engines were made by Messrs. Penn & Sons Greenwich. the Himalaya is fitted with A. Lamb's Esqre. patent boilers and the bottom coated with Peacock & Buchans' composition."

"Built 1851" -- Clark MS note