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A stern view of the Laconia dressed in flags
A later view of the steamship Laconia at sea
The Laconia was the third of a trio of ocean liners built for the Cunard Line. Her sister ship were the Scythia and Samaria. She was launched in April 1921 and her maiden voyage in May 1922 was from Southampton to New York. She was then placed on the Liverpool-Boston-New York route. In 1922 the Laconia undertook the first-ever world cruise. On 24 September 1934 the Laconia suffered serious damage in a collision with an American freighter, the Pan Royal, off New York. Following the outbreak of the Second World War and on her return to Liverpool from New York the Laconia was requisitioned by the Government and converted in Portsmouth for naval war service. In September 1941 she was converted to serve as a troop ship.
- Service: 1922-1942
- Built: Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne
- Launched: 9 April 1921
- Gross Tonnage: 19,860 tons
- Dimensions: 601.3ft x 73.7ft
- Construction: Steel hull
- Propulsion: Twin-screw
- Engines: Double reduction, geared steam turbines producing 16 knots
- Maiden voyage: 25th May 1922
- Demise: Torpedoed and sunk September 12th 1942
