RMS Corfu was a Royal Mail Ship and ocean liner operated by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, launched in 1931 as part of the 'Far East Sisters' alongside her sister ship, RMS Carthage. Built by Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd in Glasgow, Scotland, Corfu was designed to serve the company's India and Far East Mail Service, providing a vital link between Britain and the Far East for three decades. The vessel's specifications are not detailed in the provided content, but as a passenger and mail carrier of her era, she would have been built to accommodate both cargo and passengers for long voyages. In September 1939, with the outbreak of World War II, Corfu was requisitioned by the British Admiralty and converted into an armed merchant cruiser, armed with eight 6-inch guns. She served in this military capacity until February 1944, after which she was repurposed as a troop transport for the remainder of the war. A notable incident occurred on 10 July 1940 when Corfu collided with HMS Hermes in the Atlantic, suffering damage that led to her abandonment. She was later reboarded, taken in tow by HMS Milford and the Dutch tug Donau, and reached Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 13 July. Repairs to her bow were carried out after she was beached on 19 August, and she re-entered service in early 1941. After the war, Corfu played a significant role in repatriation efforts, notably arriving at Southampton on 7 October 1945 with the first 1,500 British prisoners of war returning from Japanese camps in the Far East. She was returned to her owners in 1947 and continued passenger service, including operating from Tilbury to Sydney as P&O Corfu during the 1950s. The ship was eventually scrapped in Japan in 1961, marking the end of her three-decade service. Her career reflects the dual military and commercial roles typical of ocean liners of her time, and her wartime service underscores her importance in maritime history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.