HMY Alexandra was a British royal steamship constructed in 1908 by A. & J. Inglis shipbuilders in Glasgow, Scotland. The vessel's yard number was 280, and she was launched on 30 May 1907, with Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, serving as her sponsor. Completed in April 1908, Alexandra measured approximately 90 meters in length between perpendiculars, with a beam of 12.2 meters and a draught of 13 feet (4 meters). She had a gross register tonnage of 2,113 tons and a net register tonnage of 1,135 tons. Powered by three Parsons turbines generating 4,035 indicated horsepower, she could reach speeds of 18 knots (33 km/h). Her design featured a clipper bow, two funnels, and three masts, emphasizing her elegant and functional appearance as a royal yacht. Initially intended to complement the larger Victoria and Albert, Alexandra was primarily used as a royal yacht, often carrying King Edward VII and other members of the British royal family for trips across Europe, including the Mediterranean and Germany. She was crewed by the Royal Navy and served as a platform for royal holidays and official visits. During World War I, Alexandra was repurposed as a hospital ship, reflecting her versatility and importance. After her decommissioning from royal service in June 1922, Alexandra was sold in 1925 to Norwegian interests, specifically Nordenfjeldske Dampskibsselskab, for £25,000. Renamed Prins Olav, she transitioned into Norwegian commercial service, initially as a luxury cruise ship, notably on routes to the North Cape. Following modifications in late 1925, she could accommodate 100 passengers, with her original royal quarters preserved. In 1937, she was extensively rebuilt for the Hurtigruten coastal passenger and cargo service, becoming the flagship of the fleet with a tonnage of 2,147 gross register tons, and a passenger capacity of 450. Her new engine was a 3,500 ihp four-cylinder compound steam engine, the largest built in Norway at the time. The rebuild also introduced a cruiser stern, a single funnel, and an additional promenade deck. Prins Olav played a significant role during the Norwegian Campaign in World War II, serving as a troop transport after the German invasion of Norway in April 1940. She was involved in evacuations and troop movements before being camouflaged and attempting to escape to the United Kingdom. On 9 June 1940, while sailing with the Hurtigruten steamer Ariadne, she was attacked and sunk by German bombers near Tromsø, with the loss of one crew member and four wounded. Her sinking marked a notable event during Norway's wartime naval history, emphasizing her transition from a royal yacht to a vessel of strategic military importance.

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