TSS Duke of York (1935)
| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Port of registry: |
Lancaster, United Kingdom 
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| Builder: | Harland and Wolff, Belfast |
| Yard number: | 951 |
| Completed: | 4 June 1936 |
| Out of service: | 1975 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 128318 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Turbine steam ship |
| Tonnage: | 3,743 GT |
| Length: | 339.2 ft (103.4 m) |
| Beam: | 55.2 ft (16.8 m) |
| Draught: | 17.9 ft (5.5 m) |
| Installed power: | 502 NHP |
| Propulsion: | Twin screw |
| Speed: | 12 Knots |
The Duke of York was a steamer passenger ship initially operated by the London Midland and Scottish Railway which saw service from 1935 to 1964. She was renamed HMS Duke of Wellington for the duration of World War II.
Built at Harland and Wolff, Belfast and completed in 1935, she was designed to operate as a passenger ferry on the Heysham to Belfast, alongside the existing 1928 ships on that route, RMS Duke of Lancaster, the RMS Duke of Rothesay and the RMS Duke of Argyll,
She introduced a new principle into the cross-channel trade, the tourist class, which had been in use on the Atlantic lines since 1928.
The Duke of York had one of the earliest automatic fire extinguishers, by Grinnell. Small glass tubes contained a liquid which expanded on a given temperature being reached, and burst the containers, opening water valves above.
The Duke of York was requisitioned in 1942 for war service. She was renamed as HMS Duke of Wellington as there was a battleship with the name "Duke of York". She was converted to a "Landing Ship, Infantry (Hand-Hoisting)" the latter part referred to her hand operated davits; abbreviated to LSI(H)
The conversions allowed her to carry 250 troops and ten Landing Craft Assault to carry the troops to shore. She also received a 12-pounder gun and eight 20 mm anti-aircraft cannon.
She took part in Operation Jubilee, the raid on Dieppe on 19 August 1942, carrying The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.
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