HMS Artifex was a repair ship of the Royal Navy from late in the Second World War and into the Cold War. Launched as the Cunard liner RMS Aurania she was requisitioned on the outbreak of war to serve as an armed merchant cruiser.

HMS ARTIFEX sailed from Trincomalee for Fremantle on January 25th 1945, in company with he Destroyer Depot Ship TYNE and Repair Ship RESOURCE, the destroyer LEWES, and 7 ships of the 22nd Minesweeping Flotilla provided close escort, while the cruiser HMS. LONDON provided ocean escort. The commercial tanker BATTLE-ROCK sailed in company.

HMS ARTIFEX was laid up at Rosyth within HM Dockyard and placed on the Disposal List. She was to BISCO for demolition by an Italian shipbreaker on 28th December 1960 and towed from Rosyth to Spezia on 7th January 1961.

On 24 March 1942 she was sold to the Admiralty because of the damage sustaned in the attack by U-123, laid up for some time, but finally converted into a repair ship finished in 1944 and commissioned as HMS Artifex. In January 1961 she was scrapped at La Spezia, Italy.

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HMS Artifex was a repair ship of the Royal Navy from late in the Second World War and into the Cold War. Launched as the Cunard liner RMS Aurania she was requisitioned on the outbreak of war to serve as an armed merchant cruiser.

Requisitioned for use as Armed Merchant Cruiser and given standard outfit of 8-6in guns and 2-12pdr AA. In 1942 she was purchased outright for conversion to a repair ship and renamed Artifex. Sold for scrapping 1960. Three near sisters, Alaunia, Ausonia, and Wayland (ex- Antonia) had a similar service history as AMCs and then repair ships.

Requisitioned as and Armed Merchant Cruiser in August 1939 and renamed Artifex in November 1942 on being purchased outright by the Admiralty. Then converted between December 1942 until July 1944 as a Heavy Repair Ship.

Photographs BASE REPAIR SHIP HMS ARTIFEX. 18 MAY 1944, PLYMOUTH. HMS ARTIFEX, EX-CUNARD LINER, NOW FITTED AS A BASE REPAIR …

HMS Artifex was a repair ship of the Royal Navy from late in the Second World War and into the Cold War. Launched as the Cunard liner RMS Aurania she was requisitioned on the outbreak of war to serve as an armed merchant cruiser. Damaged by a U-boat while sailing with an Atlantic convoy, she was...