The liner 'Carmania' fitted as an armed merchant cruiser RMG PW2108, William Lionel Wyllie, 1914

The liner 'carmania' fitted as an armed merchant cruiser this is a reasonable drawing of the cunard passenger liner 'carmania' (1905) fitted out as an armed merchant cruiser in the period 1914-16. Having been built at clydebank by john brown & co. , and completed in november 1905, she was hired as an armed merchant cruiser at the start of the first world war and rapidly converted at liverpool (7-14 august 1914) by being fitted with eight 4. 7-inch guns. Following damage received in her battle with the german auxiliary cruiser 'cap trafalgar' on 14 september 1914, she underwent repairs at gibraltar and was re-armed with 6-inch guns. She was decommissioned and returned to commercial service in july 1916. She appears to be shown with 6-inch guns here, which suggests a date for this high-quality drawing - which appears to show her alongside a quay in a naval setting from the attendant vessels. Date: 1914. Dimensions: Sheet: 451 x 313 mm; Mount: 631 mm x 479 mm. Collection: Fine art.