HMHS Plassy

HMHS Plassy (His Majesty's Hospital ship) was a steamship originally built for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), which spent most of its career in government service, particularly as a troop transport for the Second Boer War and as a hospital ship in World War I, including service at the Battle of Jutland.^[3]

The Plassy underway
History
United Kingdom
Name	Plassy
Operator	The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
Builder	Caird & Company, Greenock
Yard number	296
Launched	23 November 1900[1]
Maiden voyage	29 January 1901
Fate	Scrapped 4 September 1924 at Genoa
General characteristics
Tonnage	7,404 GRT
Length	450 feet (140 m)
Propulsion	2 x T3 cyl (28.5, 46, 76 x 48in), 1,055 nhp, 2 × screw[2]

Building

The ship was built by Caird & Company as a twin-screw steamer, capable of mail and passenger service, but also to comply with government regulations for troop ships. The specifications included a top speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph), and accommodation for 114 first class and 57 second class passengers.^[4]

Career

In 1911, the ship (then a troop transport) was fitted with wireless telegraphy.^[5]

At the Battle of Jutland, Plassy served as a hospital ship,^[6] and took on board 192 wounded from the battlecruisers HMS Lion and HMS Princess Royal,^[7] including a number with severe burns.^[8]

In June 1917, King George V visited the ship at Scapa Flow.^{[9][10][11][12]}