View source for Union-Castle Line

{{Short description|Former British shipping line}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox company
|name = Union-Castle Mail SS Co. Ltd
|logo = Union-Castle Line house flag.svg
|logo_size =
|logo_alt =
|logo_caption = [[House flag]]
|logo_padding =
|image = Union-Castle liners in the East India Docks.jpg
|image_size = 280px
|image_alt =
|image_caption = Union-Castle liners in [[East India Docks]], London in 1902
|trade_name = Union-Castle Line
|former_name = 
|type = 
|traded_as = 
|ISIN =
|industry = Shipping
|fate = 
|predecessors = {{ubl|Union Line|Castle Mail Packet Co.}}
|successor = British and Commonwealth Shipping
|founded = {{start date|1900|03|08|df=y}} in [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|founder = <!-- or: | founders = -->
|defunct = {{end date|1990}}
|hq_location = 
|hq_location_city = 
|hq_location_country = United Kingdom
|coordinates = 
|num_locations = 
|num_locations_year = <!-- Year of num_locations data (when known) -->
|area_served = [[London]] and [[Southampton]] to [[Cape Town]]
|key_people = *Donald Currie
*Sir Francis Vernon Thompson
|products = 
|brands = 
|production = 
|production_year = <!-- Year of production data (when known) -->
|services = Passenger, cargo and mail transport
|revenue = 
|revenue_year = <!-- Year of revenue data (when known) -->
|operating_income = 
|income_year = <!-- Year of operating_income data (when known) -->
|net_income = <!-- or: | profit = -->
|net_income_year = <!-- or: | profit_year = --><!-- Year of net_income/profit data (when known) -->
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|assets = 
|assets_year = <!-- Year of assets data (when known) -->
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|equity_year = <!-- Year of equity data (when known) -->
|owner = <!-- or: | owners = -->
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|parent = 
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|module = <!-- Used to embed other templates -->
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|intl = <!-- Set positively ("true"/"yes"/etc) if company is international, otherwise omit -->
}}

[[File:Union-Castle House - geograph.org.uk - 1722354.jpg|thumb|Union-Castle House, Southampton]]
The '''Union-Castle Line''' was a British [[shipping line]] that operated a fleet of [[passenger liner]]s and [[cargo ship]]s between Europe and Africa from 1900 to 1977. It was formed from the merger of the '''Union Line''' and '''Castle Shipping Line'''.

It merged with [[Bullard King]] and [[Clan Line]] in 1956 to form [[British & Commonwealth Shipping]], and then with [[South African Marine Corporation]] (commonly referred to as [[Safmarine]]) in 1973 to create [[International Liner Services]], but maintained its separate identity throughout. Its shipping operations ceased in 1977.

==Predecessor lines==
[[File:A starboard quarter view of the liner Gascon under way (4793356104).jpg|thumb|''Gascon'' was built in 1897]]
[[File:Union-Castle Line Intermediate Steamer Galeka.jpg|thumb|{{SS|Galeka||2}} was built in 1899 and sunk by a [[Naval mine|mine]] in 1916]]
[[File:HS Glenart Castle torpedoed and sunk 26.02.1918.JPG|thumb|{{HMHS|Glenart Castle||2}} as a First World War [[hospital ship]]. She was built in 1900 as ''Galician'']]
The Union Line was founded in 1853 as the '''Southampton Steam Shipping Company''' to transport coal from [[South Wales]] to [[Southampton]]. It was renamed the Union Steam Collier Company and then the Union Steamship Company. In 1857, renamed the Union Line, it won a contract to carry mail to South Africa, mainly the [[Cape Colony]]. The inaugural sailing of ''Dane'' left Southampton on 15 September.<ref name=Damant>{{harvnb|Damant|1977|p=}}{{page needed|date=January 2018}}</ref>

Meanwhile, [[Donald Currie]] had built up the '''Castle Packet Co.''' which traded to [[Calcutta]] round the [[Cape of Good Hope]]. This trade was substantially curtailed by the opening of the [[Suez Canal]] in 1869, and the Castle Line started to run to South Africa instead, later becoming the '''Castle Mail Packet Company'''.

In 1872 the Cape Colony gained [[responsible government]] and its first Prime Minister, [[John Molteno]], ordered a re-negotiation of the country's mail services. In 1876, keen to avoid either of the two main companies gaining a monopoly on the country's shipping, he awarded the South African mail contract jointly to both the Castle Mail Packet Company and the Union Line. The contract included a condition that the two companies would not amalgamate, as well as other clauses to promote competition, such as alternating services and speed premiums. This competition led to their shipping services running at unprecedented speed and efficiency. The contract was eventually to expire however, and the period of intense competition was later to give way to co-operation, including transporting troops and military equipment during the [[Boer War]]. Finally, on 8 March 1900, the Union Line and Castle Shipping Line merged, creating the '''Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company, Ltd''', with Castle Shipping Line taking over the fleet.{{sfn|Murray|1953|p=74}}<ref>
{{cite web |url= http://ancestry24.com/currie-sir-donald/ |title=Sir Donald Currie |date=9 November 2021 |publisher=[[Ancestry24]]}}</ref>{{sfn|Molteno|1900|p=120}}

==Union-Castle Line==
[[File:HMHS Dover Castle.jpg|thumb|{{HMHS|Dover Castle||2}} which was built in 1900, was a hospital ship in the First World War and was sunk by torpedo in 1917]]
[[File:RMS Armadale Castle.png|thumb|{{SS|Armadale Castle||2}} was built in 1903 and was an [[armed merchant cruiser]] in the First World War]]
[[File:EB1911 Ship, Union-Castle Liner, Kenilworth Castle.jpg|thumb|''Kenilworth Castle'' was built in 1904, was a passenger ship liner<ref>[[Encyclopædia Britannica]], ed.1911, vol. 24, pg. 889, Plate VIII.</ref>]]
[[File:StateLibQld 1 149283 Edinburgh Castle (ship).jpg|thumb|RMS ''Edinburgh Castle'' was built in 1910, was an armed merchant cruiser in the First World War and an [[barracks ship|accommodation ship]] in the Second World War]]
[[File:SS Gloucester Castle.jpg|thumb|{{HMHS|Gloucester Castle||2}} was built in 1911 and was a [[hospital ship]] in the First World War. Afterwards she returned to civilian service. She was sunk by torpedo in 1942]]
[[File:RMS Llandovery Castle.jpg|thumb|{{HMHS|Llandovery Castle||2}} was built in 1914, was a hospital ship in the First World War and was sunk by torpedo in 1918]]
[[File:Leasowe Castle Troopship.jpg|alt=|thumb|Passenger steam liner {{SS|Leasowe Castle||2}} was built in 1915 and was a troopship in the First World War. She was sunk by torpedo in 1918]]
[[File:StateLibQld 1 127151 Carnarvon Castle (ship).jpg|thumb|{{RMS|Carnarvon Castle}} was built in 1926, was an armed merchant cruiser in the Second World War and fought the [[German auxiliary cruiser Thor|German auxiliary cruiser ''Thor'']] in 1940]]
[[File:StateLibQld 1 133529 Athlone Castle (ship).jpg|thumb|''Athlone Castle'' was built in 1936 and was a [[troopship]] in the Second World War]]
Union-Castle named most of their ships with the suffix "Castle" in their names; the names of several inherited from the Union Line were changed to this scheme (for example, ''Galician'' became {{HMHS|Glenart Castle||2}}) but others (such as {{SS|Galeka||2}}) retained their original name. They were well known for the lavender-hulled liners with red funnels topped in black, running on a rigid timetable between [[Southampton]] and [[Cape Town]]. Every Thursday at 4pm a Union-Castle [[Royal Mail Ship]] would leave Southampton bound for Cape Town. At the same time, a Union-Castle Royal Mail Ship would leave Cape Town bound for Southampton. In 1922 the line introduced its Round Africa service, a nine-week voyage calling at twenty ports en route. Alternate sailings travelled out via the [[Suez Canal]] and out via West Africa.<ref name=Damant/>

The combined line was sold to the [[Royal Mail Line]] in 1911, but continued to operate as Union-Castle. Many of the line's vessels were requisitioned for service as [[troop ship]]s or [[hospital ship]]s in the First World War, and eight were sunk by mines or German [[U-boat]]s. The Royal Mail Line ran into financial difficulties in the 1930s, culminating in the prosecution of its director [[Owen Philipps, 1st Baron Kylsant|Lord Kylsant]], and Union-Castle Line became an independent company again with [[Sir Francis Vernon Thomson, 1st Baronet|Vernon Thomson]] as Managing Director. Many vessels were again requisitioned in the Second World War. Three – {{MS|Dunnottar Castle||2}}, ''Carnarvon Castle'', ''[[HMS Dunvegan Castle|Dunvegan Castle]]'' became [[armed merchant cruiser]]s. {{HMS|Pretoria Castle|F61|2}} (1939) was also first requisitioned as an armed merchant cruiser, but later served as an [[escort carrier]].<ref>{{harvnb|Gardiner|1980}}{{page needed |date=January 2018}}</ref>

After the war the line made good use of its three ships converted to troop transports to facilitate carrying the vast number of emigrants seeking new lives in East and South Africa. When they ran out of berths the line set up its own internal travel agency to book passages on other lines and even air services. The mail service to South Africa, curtailed during hostilities, recommenced with the sailing of ''Roxburgh Castle'' from Southampton on 2 January 1947.<ref name=Damant/>

==British & Commonwealth, and International Liner Services==
[[File:StateLibQld 1 147971 Edinburgh Castle III (ship).jpg|thumb|RMS ''Edinburgh Castle'', built in 1947]]
[[File:London Tilbury Union Castle's 'Bloemfontein Castle' geograph-3080502-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|{{MV|Bloemfontein Castle||2}}, built in 1950]]
The company took over the [[King Line]] in 1949, and merged with [[Bullard King]] and [[Clan Line]] in 1956 to form [[British & Commonwealth Shipping]]. It merged with [[South African Marine Corporation]] in 1973 to create International Liner Services, but competition with air travel adversely affected its shipping activities, and cargo shipping rapidly became [[Containerization|containerised]]. The final South African mail service arrived in Southampton on 24 October 1977, and International Liner Services withdrew from shipping in 1982. [[British & Commonwealth]] continued in other fields, and acquired [[Atlantic Computers]] in 1989, but accounting problems soon became apparent and British & Commonwealth was liquidated in 1990.

In the 1950s and 60s the line operated a fleet of fifteen ships, eight on the principal weekly mail run from Southampton to Cape Town. Each ship could carry an average of two hundred First Class passengers and four hundred and fifty in Tourist Class. Six of the remaining ships operated the monthly Round Africa service, sailing both clockwise and anti-clockwise round the continent. The remaining ship operated a service carrying up to 750 Tourist Class passengers to [[Beira, Mozambique|Beira]] and back via the West Coast route every three months.<ref name=Damant />

In December 1999 the Union-Castle name was revived for a [[millennium cruise]]; the [[P&O (company)|P&O]] ship {{MS|Victoria||2}} was chartered for a 60-day cruise around Africa, and had its funnel repainted for the occasion.

The last few surviving Union-Castle Line ships were scrapped in the early 21st century, the former ''[[SS Amerikanis|Kenya Castle]]'' in 2001, the former {{RMS|Transvaal Castle||2}} in 2003, the former ''Dunnottar Castle'' in 2004, and finally {{RMS|Windsor Castle|1959|2}} in 2005.

==Ships==
[[File:StateLibQld 1 129329 Clan Ramsay (ship).jpg|thumb|The [[cargo ship]] MV ''Winchester Castle'', built in 1964 as [[Clan Line]]'s ''Clan Ramsay'']]
The initial Union fleet consisted of the colliers ''Union'', ''Briton'', ''Saxon'', ''Norman'' and ''Dane''. In 1860 this was augmented by the much larger ''Cambrian''.<ref name=Damant/>

At the time of the merger in 1900, the Union fleet included:
:''Arab'' (1879-1900), ''Briton'' (1897-1926), ''Falcon'' (1896-1942), ''Gaika'' (1896-1926), {{SS|Galeka||2}} (1899-1916), ''Galician'' (1900-1918), {{HMHS|Gascon||2}} (1897-1928), ''Gaul'' (1893-1906), ''German'' (2) (1898-1930), ''Goorkka'' (1897-1926), ''Goth'' (1893-1913), ''Greek'' (1893-1906), ''Guelph'' (1894-1913), ''Mexican'' (1883-1900), ''Moor'' (1881-1901), ''Norman'' (2) (1894-1926), ''Sabine'' (1895-1921), {{RMS|Saxon||2}} (1900-1935), ''Scot'' (1891-1905), ''Spartan'' (1881-1900), ''Susquehanna'' (1896-1926), and ''Trojan'' (1880-1900), with ''Celt'' on order (renamed {{RMS|Walmer Castle||2}} before it came into service)
and the Castle Line fleet included:
:''[[SS Birma|Arundel Castle]]'' (3) (1894–1905), ''Avondale Castle'' (1897–1912), ''[[HMHS Braemar Castle|Braemar Castle]]'' (1) (1898–1924), ''Carisbrook Castle'' (1898–1922), ''Doune Castle'' (1890–1904), ''Dunolly Castle'' (1897–1905), {{RMS|Dunottar Castle||2}} (1890–1913), ''Dunvegan Castle'' (1896–1923), ''Garth Castle'' (1880–1901), ''Harlech Castle'' (1894–1904), ''Hawarden Castle'' (1883–1904), {{RMS|Kildonan Castle||2}} (1899–1931), ''Kinfauns Castle'' (2) (1899–1927), ''Lismore Castle'' (1891–1904), {{RMS|Norham Castle|}} (1883–1903), {{SS|Pembroke Castle||2}} (2) (1883–1906), ''Raglan Castle'' (1897–1905), ''Roslin Castle'' (2) (1883–1904), ''Tantallon Castle'' (2) (1894–1901), ''Tintagel Castle'' (1) (1896–1912){{refn|It was on the Tintagel Castle in 1900 that [[Ernest Shackleton]] met Cedric, the son of [[Llewellyn W. Longstaff|Lieutenant-Colonel Llewellyn Longstaff]], the principal financial backer of [[Robert Falcon Scott|Scott’s]] [[Discovery Expedition]], that meeting led to Shackleton obtaining a place on [[Discovery_Expedition|The Discovery Expedition of 1901–1904]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Huntford
 | first = Roland
 | author-link = Roland Huntford
 | year = 1985
 | title = Shackleton
 | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
 | location = London
| page =25-30
 | isbn = 0-340-25007-0
 | url-access = registration
 | url = https://archive.org/details/shackleton0000hunt_t8c3
 }}</ref>}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" width="150px" |Ship
! scope="col" width="25px"  |Built
! scope="col" width="25px"  |Tonnage
! scope="col" width="600px" |Notes and references
|-
|{{RMS|Alnwick Castle||2}}||align="center"|1901||align="right"|5,893||Passenger steamer<br>
Built by [[William Beardmore and Company]], [[Glasgow]]<br>
Torpedoed by [[SM U-81|U-81]] on 21 March 1917 
|-
|{{SS|Armadale Castle||2}}||align="center"|1903||align="right"|12,973||1936 scrapped
|-
|{{SS|Aros Castle||2}}||align="center"|1901||align="right"|4,460||Steamer<br>
Built by [[Barclay Curle|Barclay, Curle & Co., Ltd.]], Glasgow<br>
Torpedoed by [[SM U-90|U-90]] on 21 Nov 1917
|-
|''[[SS Birma|Arundel Castle]]''||align="center"|1894||align="right"|4,588||Passenger ship built by [[Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]], launched 1895, sold to the Danish [[East Asiatic Company]] in 1905 and renamed ''Birma''
|-
|{{RMS|Arundel Castle||2}}||align="center"|1921||align="right"|19,023||Passenger ship built by [[Harland and Wolff]], launched 11 September 1919, completed 8 April 1921, maiden voyage 22 April 1921, scrapped 1959
|-
|[[RMMV Athlone Castle|''Athlone Castle'']]||align="center"|1936||align="right"|25,564||Passenger ship built by Harland and Wolff, launched 28 November 1935, completed 13 May 1936, maiden voyage 22 May 1936, scrapped 1965
|-
|''[[MV Balmoral Castle (1910)|Balmoral Castle]]''||align="center"|1910||align="right"|13,361||1939 scrapped
|-
|''Balmoral Castle''||align="center"|1965||align="right"|7,952||ex-''Clan Robertson''<br>
1976 renamed ''Balmoral Castle''<br>
1979 renamed ''Balmoral Universal''<br>
1982 sold to Greece, renamed ''Psara Reefer''.
|-
|''Bampton Castle''||align="center"|1920||align="right"|6,698||1932 sold to Greece, renamed ''Atlantis''
|-
|''Banbury Castle''||align="center"|1918||align="right"|6,430||ex-''Glenstrae''<br>
1920 purchased from Glen Line, renamed ''Banbury Castle''<br>
1931 sold to Greece, renamed ''Rokos''
|-
|''Berwick Castle''||align="center"|1902||align="right"|5,883||1919 burnt out at [[Mombasa]], sold to Italy
|-
|{{MV|Bloemfontein Castle||2}}||align="center"|1950||align="right"|18,400||1959 sold to Greece, renamed ''Patris''
|-
|{{HMHS|Braemar Castle||2}}||align="center"|1898||align="right"|6,318||Hospital ship<br>
Built by [[Barclay Curle|Barclay, Curle & Co., Ltd.]], Glasgow<br>
Mined and damaged by [[SM U-73|U-73]] in the Aegean Sea in 1916
|-
|''[[SS Habib Marikar|Braemar Castle]]''||align="center"|1943||align="right"|7,067||ex-''Empire Duchess''<br>
1949 purchased from [[Ministry of War Transport|MoWT]], renamed ''Braemar Castle''<br>
1950 transferred to King Line, renamed ''King James''<br>
1958 sold to Hong Kong, renamed ''Tyne Breeze''
|-
|''Braemar Castle''||align="center"|1952||align="right"|17,029||1966 scrapped
|-
|''Bratton Castle''||align="center"|1920||align="right"|6,696||1931 sold to Greece, renamed ''Proteus''
|-
|{{RMS|Capetown Castle||2}}||align="center"|1938||align="right"|27,000||1967 scrapped
|-
|''[[List of shipwrecks in February 1918#14 February|Carlisle Castle]]''||align="center"|1913||align="right"|4,325||Steamer<br>
Built by Northumberland SB. Co., Ltd., Newcastle upon Tyne<br>
ex-''Holtye''<br>
1915 purchased from F.S. Holland & Co., London, renamed ''Carlisle Castle''<br>
Torpedoed by [[SM UB-57|UB-57]] near Royal Sovereign Light Vessel on 14 Feb 1918
|-
|''Carlow Castle''||align="center"|1917||align="right"|5,833||1930 sold to Mitchell, Cotts & Co., renamed ''Cape St. Columba''
|-
|[[MV Carnarvon Castle|''Carnarvon Castle'']]||align="center"|1926||align="right"|20,122||Passenger ship built by Harland and Wolff, launched 14 January 1926, completed 26 June 1926, maiden voyage 16 July 1926, scrapped 1963
|-
|''Cawdor Castle''||align="center"|1902||align="right"|6,235||1926 went ashore South West Africa and declared a total loss
|-
|''Chepstow Castle''||align="center"|1913||align="right"|7,494||ex-''Anglo-Brazilian''<br>
1915 purchased from Nitrate Producers Ltd., renamed ''Chepstow Castle''<br>
1933 scrapped
|-
|''Cluny Castle''||align="center"|1903||align="right"|5,147||1924 transferred to Bullard King, renamed ''Umkuzi''
|-
|''Comrie Castle''||align="center"|1903||align="right"|5,173||Passenger steamer<br>
Built by Barclay, Curle & Co., Ltd., Glasgow<br>
Torpedoed and damaged by [[SM UC-71|UC-71]] {{convert|5|nmi|km}} S of St.Catherine's Point on 14 Mar 1918<br>
1924 transferred to Bullard King, renamed ''Umvoti''
|-
|''Corfe Castle''||align="center"|1901||align="right"|4,592||1927 sold to W. Schuchmann, Hamburg, renamed ''Ostee''
|-
|''Crawford Castle''||align="center"|1910||align="right"|4,264||ex-''Hova''<br>
1917 purchased from F.S. Holland, London, renamed ''Crawford Castle''<br>
1930 sold to W. Kunstmann, [[Stettin]], renamed ''Victoria W. Kunstmann''
|-
|{{SS|Dover Castle|1904|2}}||align="center"|1904||align="right"|8,271||Hospital ship<br>
Built by Barclay, Curle & Co., Ltd., Glasgow<br>
Torpedoed and sunk by [[SM UC-67|UC-67]] {{convert|50|nmi|km}} N of Bona, Algeria on 26 May 1917
|-
|''Dover Castle''||align="center"|1964||align="right"|7,950||ex-''Clan Ranald''<br>
1976 renamed ''Dover Castle''<br>
1979 renamed ''Dover Universal''<br>
1981 sold to Greece, renamed ''Golden Sea''
|-
|''[[SS Drakensberg Castle|Drakensberg Castle]]''||align="center"|1945||align="right"|9,905||ex-''Empire Allenby''<br>
1946 purchased from [[Ministry of War Transport|MoWT]], renamed ''Drakensberg Castle''<br>
1959 scrapped
|-
|''[[List of shipwrecks in December 1941#12 December|Dromore Castle]]''||align="center"|1919||align="right"|5,242||Cargo ship<br>
Built by Harland & Wolff at Greenock<br>
Launched as ''War Poplar'', completed as ''Dromore Castle''<br>
She hit a [[naval mine|mine]] and sank whilst in a convoy {{convert|20|nmi|km}} SE of the River Humber, without any loss of life, on 12 Dec 1941
|-
|''[[SS Olympia|Dunbar Castle]]''||align="center"|1883||align="right"|2,837||Steamship<br>
Laid down as ''Doune Castle'' and upon purchase named ''Dunbar Castle''<br>
1895 Sold to Fairfield Ship Building and Engineering Co. and renamed ''Olympia''<br>
10 December 1910 – ran aground on [[Bligh Reef]] off Alaska's Prince William Sound and sank without loss of life
|- 
|''[[List of shipwrecks in January 1940#9 January|Dunbar Castle]]''||align="center"|1930||align="right"|10,002||Passenger ship built by Harland and Wolff, completed 20 May 1930, struck a [[naval mine|mine]] off [[North Foreland]], Kent and sank on 9 January 1940
|-
|''[[List of shipwrecks in April 1943#2 April|Dundrum Castle]]''||align="center"|1919||align="right"|5,259||Cargo ship built by Harland and Wolff, completed 31 December 1919, caught fire and sank in Red Sea 2 April 1943
|-
|''Dunluce Castle''||align="center"|1904||align="right"|8,114||Passenger ship built by Harland and Wolff, completed 15 September 1904, sold for scrapping in 1939 but purchased by the Admiralty for use as accommodation ship
|-
|{{RMS|Dunottar Castle||2}}||align="center"|1890||align="right"|5,625||Passenger ship<br>
Built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co, Goven, Scotland
Dec 1899 requisitioned as a troop transport for the [[Second Boer War]]<br>
1913 sold to the [[Royal Mail Steam Packet Company]] as ''Caribbean''
|-
|{{MS|Dunnottar Castle||2}}||align="center"|1936||align="right"|15,002||Passenger ship built by Harland and Wolff, launched 25 January 1936, completed 27 June 1936, maiden voyage 10 July 1936, rebuilt and renamed ''Victoria'' 1958, renamed ''The Victoria'' 1976 and ''Princesa Victoria'' 1993, scrapped 2004 
|-
|''[[HMS Dunvegan Castle|Dunvegan Castle]]''||align="center"|1936||align="right"|15,007||Passenger ship built by Harland and Wolff, launched 26 March 1936, completed 27 August 1936, requisitioned by Admiralty in 1940 as an armed merchant cruiser and renamed HMS ''Dunvegan Castle'', torpedoed and sunk off Ireland by {{GS|U-46|1938|2}} on 27 August 1940
|-
|''Durban Castle''||align="center"|1938||align="right"|17,382||1962 scrapped. In 1947 it was the crime scene of the ''Porthole Murder Case''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/1973456.the-porthole-murder/|title=The porthole murder|website=Daily Echo|date=10 January 2008 }}</ref>
|-
|{{RMS|Durham Castle||2}}||align="center"|1904||align="right"|8,217||Passenger/cargo<br>
Built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering, Govan<br>
1939 requisitioned by the Admiralty as an accommodation ship<br>
Struck a [[naval mine|mine]] off [[Cromarty]] on 20 Jan 1940 and sank
|-
|''[[Edinburgh Castle (1910 ship)|Edinburgh Castle]]''||align="center"|1910||align="right"|13,326||Passenger ship built by Harland and Wolff, launched 27 January 1910, completed 28 April 1910, maiden voyage May 1910. <br>Fitted with 6-inch guns and operated as armed merchant cruiser during First World War. Requisitioned in Second World War and moored in [[Freetown]] as accommodation ship. Judged not worth returning to UK and sunk as a target by gunfire November 1945.
|-
|[[Edinburgh Castle (1947 ship)|''Edinburgh Castle'']]||align="center"|1947||align="right"|28,700||1976 scrapped
|-
|''Edinburgh Universal''||align="center"|1979||align="right"|9,996||ex-''Polar Honduras'' (Hamburg-Sud)<br>1981 leased from Barclays Mercantile Finance Co renamed ''Edinburgh Universal''<br>
1984 transferred to Hong Kong renamed ''Caspian Universal''
|-
|''Eider''||align="center"|1900||align="right"|1,236||1926 purchased from Royal Mail SP Co., for the Southampton – Bremen – Hamburg feeder service<br>
1936 sold to J. Billmeir, renamed ''Stanhill''
|-
|''[[List of shipwrecks in September 1918#12 September|Galway Castle]]''||align="center"|1911||align="right"|7,988||Passenger ship built by Harland & Wolff, torpedoed by [[SM U-82|U-82]] {{convert|160|nmi|km}} SW of [[Fastnet Rock]], Ireland on 12 September 1918. Taken under tow but sank on 15 September.
|-
|''Garth Castle''||align="center"|1910||align="right"|7,612||Launched 13 January 1910.<ref name=MENA>{{cite journal |year=1910 |title=Launches and Trial Trips |journal=International Marine Engineering & Naval Architect |volume=32 |issue=February |pages=284 |publisher=Marine Engineering, Inc., New York—London |url=https://archive.org/stream/marineengineer32londuoft#page/284/mode/1up/search/Esturia |access-date=2 February 2018}}</ref> 1939 scrapped
|-
|{{HMHS|Glenart Castle||2}}||align="center"|1900||align="right"|6,807||Formerly Union Line ''Galician''<br>
Hospital ship<br>
Built by Harland & Wolff, Ltd., Belfast<br>
1 Mar 1917 – Mined and damaged by [[SM UC-65|UC-65]]<br>
26 Feb 1918 – Torpedoed and sunk by [[SM UC-56|UC-56]] {{convert|10|nmi|km}} W of [[Lundy]]
|-
|''Glengorm Castle''||align="center"|1898||align="right"|6,763||Formerly Union Line ''German''
|-
|{{SS|Gloucester Castle|1911|2}}||align="center"|1911||align="right"|7,999||Hospital ship<br>
Built by Fairfield SB. & Eng. Co., Ltd., Glasgow
31 Mar 1917 – Damaged by [[SM UB-32|UB-32]] near the [[Isle of Wight]].
15 Jul 1942 – Sunk by [[German auxiliary cruiser Michel|German raider ''Michel'']] off [[South West Africa]]. Captain H.H. Rose and 92 passengers and crew were killed. Two lifeboats containing 61 people were picked up by the raider and taken to Japan as prisoners
|-
|''[[Empire ship#Fast cargo liners|Good Hope Castle]]''||align="center"|1945||align="right"|9,905||ex-''Empire Life''<br>
1946 purchased from [[Ministry of War Transport|MoWT]], renamed ''Good Hope Castle''<br>
1959 scrapped
|-
|''Good Hope Castle''||align="center"|1965||align="right"|10,500||1978 sold to Italy, renamed ''Franca C''
|-
|''Gordon Castle''||align="center"|1901||align="right"|4,408||1924 scrapped
|-
|''Grantully Castle''||align="center"|1909||align="right"|7,612||Launched 14 October 1909.<ref name=MENA/> 1939 scrapped
|-
|''[[List of shipwrecks in 1933#1 June|Guildford Castle]]''||align="center"|1911||align="right"|7,995||1 June 1933 beached after collision in Elbe with Blue Funnel Line's ''Stentor''. Total loss
|-
|''Hansa''||align="center"|1904||align="right"|880||1907 transferred from Liverpool-Hamburg Line<br>
1937 sold to J. Billmeir, renamed ''Stanray''
|-
|''Helius''||align="center"|1888||align="right"|4,579||ex-''Dresden'', (North German Lloyd)<br>
1903 purchased by Houston Line, renamed ''Helius''<br>
1904 purchased by Union-Castle<br>
1906 sold to Turkey, renamed ''Tirimujghian''
|-
|''Incomati''||align="center"|1920||align="right"|340||1924 purchased from Portuguese Government, East Africa feeder service<br>
1928 sold to Portugal
|-
|''Iolaire''||align="center"|1902||align="right"|999||Sir [[Donald Currie]]'s yacht, used as officer cadet training ship<br>
1914–1918 HMS ''Iolaire'' anti-submarine patrol ship<br>
1939 became HMS ''Persephone''<br>
1948 scrapped
|-
|''Kenilworth Castle''||align="center"|1904||align="right"|12,975||Passenger ship built by Harland and Wolff, launched 15 December 1903, completed 19 May 1904, scrapped 1936
|-
|''[[List of Empire ships (U–Z)#Empire Wilson|Kenilworth Castle]]''||align="center"|1944||align="right"|9,916||ex-''Empire Wilson''<br>
1946 purchased from [[Ministry of War Transport|MoWT]], renamed ''Kenilworth Castle''<br>
1968 scrapped
|-
|''[[Kenya Castle]]''||align="center"|1951||align="right"|17,040||1967 sold to Greece, renamed ''Amerikanis''
|-
|''Kinnaird Castle''||align="center"|1956||align="right"|7,718||ex-''Clan Ross''<br>
ex-''South African Scientist'', renamed ''Kinnaird Castle''<br>
1962 reverted to [[Clan Line]]<br>
1969 transferred to King Line<br>
1975 sold to Panama, renamed ''Nazeer''
|-
|''Kinpurnie Castle''||align="center"|1954||align="right"|8,121||ex-''Clan Stewart'', ex-''South African Sculptor''<br>
1961 transferred from [[Safmarine]] renamed ''Kinpurnie Castle''<br>
1967 sold to Panama, renamed ''Hellenic Med''
|-
|''Kinpurnie Castle''||align="center"|1966||align="right"|7,950||ex-''Clan Ross''<br>
1976 transferred from Houston Line, renamed ''Kinpurnie Castle''<br>
1979 renamed ''Kinpurnie Universal''<br>
1982 sold to Greece, renamed ''Syros Reefer''
|-
|{{SS|Leasowe Castle||2}}||align="center"|1917||align="right"|8,106||Passenger steamer<br>
Built by Cammell, Laird & Co., Ltd., Birkenhead<br>
20 Apr 1917 – Torpedoed and damaged by [[SM U-35 (Germany)|U-35]] {{convert|90|nmi|km}} WxN of Gibraltar<br>
27 May 1918 – Torpedoed and sunk by [[SM UB-51|UB-51]] {{convert|104|nmi|km}} W of Alexandria
|-
|''[[List of shipwrecks in November 1942#30 November|Llandaff Castle]]''||align="center"|1926||align="right"|10,786||Passenger liner/troop transport<br>
Built by Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast<br>
She took part in [[Operation Ironclad]]<br>
Torpedoed and sunk by {{GS|U-177||2}} on 30 Nov 1942 off South Africa
|-
|{{HMHS|Llandovery Castle||2}}||align="center"|1914||align="right"|11,423||Hospital ship<br>
Built by Barclay, Curle & Co., Ltd., Glasgow<br>
27 Jun 1918 – Torpedoed and sunk by {{SMU|U-86}} {{convert|116|nmi|km}} W of [[Fastnet Rock]], Ireland
|-
|''Llandovery Castle''||align="center"|1925||align="right"|10,640||1953 scrapped
|-
|{{MV|Llangibby Castle||2}}||align="center"|1929||align="right"|11,951||Passenger ship built by Harland and Wolff (Govan), launched 4 July 1929, completed 21 November 1929, maiden voyage 5 December 1929, damaged during an air raid while docked in Liverpool on the night of on 21–22 December 1940, torpedoed and damaged by the {{GS|U-402||2}} 16 January 1942. Converted to [[Landing Ship, Infantry]] and used in invasion of Normandy. Scrapped 1954.
|-
|''Llanstephan Castle''||align="center"|1914||align="right"|11,348||operated as troop transport. Converted to Landing Ship, Infantry. Scrapped 1952.
|-
|''Lochgair''||align="center"|1888||align="right"|111||1901 acquired as tender at [[Port Elizabeth]]<br>
1905 sold to J.G. Stewart, Glasgow, renamed ''Loch Gair''
|-
|''[[List of shipwrecks in 1908#12 March|Newark Castle]]''||align="center"|1902||align="right"|6,224||Passenger/cargo steamer<br>
12 Mar 1908 ran ashore {{convert|4|nmi|km}} from the coast, in Richard's Bay near the Umhlatuzi River, South Africa
|-
|{{RMS|Pendennis Castle||2}}||align="center"|1958||align="right"|28,582||1976 sold to Philippines (Panama flag), renamed ''Ocean Queen''<br>
April 1980 scrapped
|-
|''Polglass Castle''||align="center"|1903||align="right"|4,631||ex-''Reichenfels'', (Hansa Line)<br>
1914 captured by Britain<br>
1916 managed by Union-Castle renamed ''Polglass Castle''<br>
1921 sold to Hansa Line, renamed ''Reichenfels''
|-
|{{HMS|Pretoria Castle|F61|2}}<br>''Warwick Castle''||align="center"|1939||align="right"|17,383|| Requisitioned in October 1939, fitted with 6-inch guns and operated as [[armed merchant cruiser]] by RN. 1942 sold to Admiralty and rebuilt as an [[escort carrier]]<br>
1946 re-purchased by Union-Castle, renamed ''Warwick Castle''<br>
1962 scrapped
|-
|''[[Pretoria Castle (1947)|Pretoria Castle]]''||align="center"|1948||align="right"|28,705||1966 transferred to South African Marine Corp., renamed ''S.A.Oranje''<br>
1975 scrapped.
|-
|''Reina Del Mar''||align="center"|1956||align="right"|20,263||Purchased from ex-Pacific Steam Nav. Co,<br>
1964–1973 chartered by Union-Castle for cruising<br>
1973 purchased by Union-Castle<br>
1975 scrapped
|-
|''Rhodesia Castle''||align="center"|1951||align="right"|17,041||1967 scrapped
|-
|''[[List of shipwrecks in August 1942#4 August|Richmond Castle]]''||align="center"|1938||align="right"|7,798||Cargo ship<br>
Built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast<br>
Torpedoed and sunk by {{GS|U-176||2}} in mid-Atlantic
|-
|''Richmond Castle''||align="center"|1944||align="right"|7,971||1971 scrapped
|-
|''Riebeeck Castle''||align="center"|1946||align="right"|8,322||1971 scrapped
|-
|''Ripley Castle''||align="center"|1917||align="right"|7,521||ex-''War Soldier''<br>
1919 purchased from shipping controller, renamed ''Ripley Castle''<br>
1931 scrapped
|-
|''Rochester Castle''||align="center"|1937||align="right"|7,795||1970 sold to Cyprus, renamed ''Glenda'' and scrapped
|-
|''Roslin Castle''||align="center"|1935||align="right"|7,016||Refrigerated cargo ship built by Harland and Wolff, completed 4 May 1935, scrapped 1967
|-
|''Rosyth Castle''||align="center"|1918||align="right"|4,328||ex-''War Earl''<br>
1919 purchased from shipping controller, renamed ''Rosyth Castle''<br>
1920 transferred to Bullard King & Co., renamed ''Umlazi''
|-
|''Rotherwick Castle''||align="center"|1959||align="right"|9,650||1975 sold to Liberia, renamed ''Sea Fortune''
|-
|''[[List of shipwrecks in January 1940#5 January|Rothesay Castle]]''||align="center"|1935||align="right"|7,016||Refrigerated cargo ship built by Harland and Wolff, completed 11 May 1935, went ashore on Scottish Island of [[Islay]], total loss 5 January 1940
|-
|''Rothesay Castle''||align="center"|1960||align="right"|9,650||1975 sold to Uruguay, renamed ''Laura''
|-
|''[[List of shipwrecks in February 1942#14 February|Rowallan Castle]]''||align="center"|1939||align="right"|7,798||1942 bombed by German aircraft and sunk in Mediterranean
|-
|''Rowallan Castle''||align="center"|1943||align="right"|7,950||1971 scrapped
|-
|''[[List of shipwrecks in February 1943#22 February|Roxburgh Castle]]''||align="center"|1937||align="right"|7,801||Cargo ship<br>
Built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast<br>
Torpedoed and sunk by {{GS|U-107|1940|2}} in mid-Atlantic on 22 Feb 1943
|-
|''Roxburgh Castle''||align="center"|1944||align="right"|8,003||1971 scrapped
|-
|''Rustenberg Castle''||align="center"|1946||align="right"|8,322||1971 scrapped
|-
|''[[List of shipwrecks in 1937#26 June|Sandgate Castle]]''||align="center"|1922||align="right"|7,607||1937 caught fire and sank NE of Bermuda
|-
|''Sandown Castle''||align="center"|1921||align="right"|7,607||1950 scrapped
|-
|''Southampton Castle''||align="center"|1965||align="right"|10,538||1978 sold to Italy, renamed ''Paola C''
|-
|{{MV|Stirling Castle||2}}||align="center"|1936||align="right"|25,554||Passenger ship built by Harland and Wolff, launched 15 August 1935, completed 29 January 1936, maiden voyage 7 February 1936, scrapped 1966
|-
|''Stirling Universal''||align="center"|1979||align="right"|9,065||ex-''Hilco Speedster'' (Larsen. Oslo)<br>
1981 leased from Lombard Facilities Ltd, London renamed ''Stirling Universal''<br>
1984 transferred to Hong Kong renamed ''Speedster Universal''
|-
|''Tantallon Castle''||align="center"|1953||align="right"|7,448||1971 sold to Cyprus, renamed ''Aris II''
|-
|''Tintagel Castle''||align="center"|1954||align="right"|7,447||1971 sold to Cyprus, renamed ''Armar''
|-
|{{RMS|Transvaal Castle||2}}||align="center"|1961||align="right"|32,697||Ocean liner<br>
Built by [[John Brown & Company]], Clydebank, Scotland
Sold to [[Safmarine]] in 1966 and renamed ''SA Vaal''<br>
Scrapped in 2003
|-
|{{RMS|Walmer Castle||2}}||align="center"|1902||align="right"|12,546||Passenger ship built by Harland and Wolff, launched 6 July 1901, completed 20 February 1902, scrapped 1932
|-
|{{ship|MV|Walmer Castle|1936|2}}||align="center"|1936||align="right"|906||1941 Southampton – Bremen – Hamburg feeder service<br>
21 Sep 1941 bombed and sunk in the Atlantic while convoy rescue ship
|-
|''[[List of shipwrecks in November 1942#14 November|Warwick Castle]]''||align="center"|1930||align="right"|20,445||Passenger ship/troop transport built by Harland & Wolff, launched 29 April 1930, completed 16 January 1931, maiden voyage 30 January 1931, torpedoed and sunk by {{GS|U-413||2}} in mid-Atlantic on 14 November 1942
|-
|''Winchester Castle''||align="center"|1930||align="right"|20,109||Passenger ship built by Harland and Wolff, launched 19 November 1929, completed 11 October 1930, maiden voyage 24 October 1930, scrapped 1960
|-
|''Winchester Castle''||align="center"|1964||align="right"|7,950||ex-''Clan Ramsey''<br>
1977 renamed ''Winchester Castle''<br>
1979 renamed ''Winchester Universal''<br>
1980 sold to Greece, renamed ''Lady Madonna''
|-
|{{RMS|Windsor Castle|1922|2}}||align="center"|1921||align="right"|18,967||Ocean liner<br>
Built by [[John Brown & Company]], Clydebank, Scotland<br>
Torpedoed by enemy aircraft and sunk on 23 Mar 1943 off [[Algiers]]
|-
|{{RMS|Windsor Castle|1959|2}}||align="center"|1960||align="right"|37,640||1977 sold to [[Yiannis Latsis]], Piraeus, renamed ''Margarita L'' (Panama flag).
Scrapped at Alang, India, from August 2005
|-
|''York Castle''||align="center"|1901||align="right"|5,517||1924 sold to Italy, renamed ''San Terenzo''
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources and further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book |last=Damant |first=Henry |year=1977 |title=Every Thursday at Four O'Clock |publisher=Weaving International Friendship Foundation}}
*{{cite book |last=Gardiner |first=Robert |year=1980 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946 |publisher=[[Conway Maritime Press]]}}
*{{cite book |last1=Harris |first1=CJ |last2=Ingpen |first2=Brian D |year=1994 |title=Mailships of the Union-Castle Line |place=Vlaeberg |publisher=Fernwood Press |isbn=1874950059}}
*{{cite book |last=Molteno |first=PA |year=1900 |title=The life and times of Sir John Charles Molteno, KCMG, First Premier of Cape Colony, Comprising a History of Representative Institutions and Responsible Government at the Cape |location=London |publisher=[[Smith, Elder & Co.]] |volume=II |isbn=1-146-67157-1 |page=120}}
*{{cite book |last=Murray |first=Marischal |year=1953 |title=Union-Castle Chronicle 1853–1953 |url=https://archive.org/details/unioncastlechron0000murr |url-access=registration |place=London |publisher=[[Longman|Longmans, Green and Co]]}}
*{{cite book |last1=Roussel |first1=Mike |last2=Warwick |first2=Sam |year=2015 |title=The Union-Castle Line: Sailing Like Clockwork |place=Stroud |publisher=[[The History Press]] |isbn=978-0750962919}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
* {{cite web |url= http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/ucastle.shtml |last1=Swiggum |first1=Sue |last2=Kohli |first2=Marjorie |title=Union-Castle Mail S.S. Company |work=The Ships List}}
* {{cite web |url= http://www.bandcstaffregister.com |title=The British & Commonwealth Shipping Company Limited, The Companies, The Ships & The People }}
* [https://www.ggarchives.com/OceanTravel/Passengers/Union-Castle/index.html Collection of Passenger Lists of the Union-Castle Line] GG Archives
* [https://www.ggarchives.com/OceanTravel/SteamshipLines/Union-CastleLine.html Union-Castle Line History and Ephemera] GG Archives

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1853 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1990 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct shipping companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Maritime history of South Africa]]
[[Category:Transport companies disestablished in 1990]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 1853]]