PS Duchess of Norfolk

History
Name:	PS Duchess of Norfolk (1911-16) HMS Duchess of Norfolk (1916-20) PS Duchess of Norfolk (1920-37) PS Embassy (1937-39) HMS Ambassador (1939-45) PS Embassy (1945-67)
Owner:	London, Brighton and South Coast Railway / London and South Western Railway (joint owners, 1911-16) Royal Navy (1916-20) London, Brighton and South Coast Railway / London and South Western Railway (joint owners, 1920-22) Southern Railway (1923-37) Cosens & Co (1937-39) Royal Navy (1939-45) Cosens & Co (1945-67)
Port of registry:	Portsmouth (1911-16) Royal Navy (1916-20) Portsmouth (1920-37) Weymouth (1937-39) Royal Navy (1939-45) Weymouth (1945-67)
Route:	Portsmouth - Ryde (1911 - 14, 1918-37) Bournemouth - Swanage / Portsmouth / Isle of Wight (1937-39, 1946-47, 1949-66) Weymouth - Swanage / Portsmouth / Isle of Wight (1948)
Builder:	D & W Henderson & Co, Glasgow
Yard number:	475
Launched:	25 July 1911
Completed:	August 1911
Out of service:	22 September 1966
Identification:	United Kingdom Official Number 131994 IMO Number 510305 ( -1967) Code Letters MBQN
Fate:	Scrapped, June 1967
General characteristics
Tonnage:	381 GRT
Length:	190 ft (57.91 m)
Beam:	26 ft 1 in (7.95 m)
Depth:	8 ft 7 in (2.62 m)

Duchess of Norfolk was a 381 GRT paddle steamer which was built in 1911 for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway and London and South Western Railway, who operated a joint service to the Isle of Wight. She was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for use as minesweeper HMS Duchess of Norfolk during the First World War, returning to her owners after the war ended. She passed to the Southern Railway on 1 January 1923.

In 1937, she was sold to Cosens & Co Ltd and renamed Embassy. During the Second World War, she was again requisitioned for use as a minesweeper, this time being named HMS Ambassador. Postwar she was returned to her owners, and regained her former name Embassy. She served until 1966. She was scrapped in 1967.

The ship was built by D & W Henderson Ltd, Glasgow. She was yard number 475 and was launched on 25 July 1911 with completion in August 1911. The ship was 190 feet (57.91 m) long, with a beam of 26 feet 1 inch (7.95 m) and a depth of 8 feet 7 inches (2.62 m). She was powered by a compound steam engine, which had cylinders of 27 inches (69 cm) and 51 inches (130 cm) bore by 54 inches (140 cm) stroke. This could propel her at a speed of 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h).

Duchess of Norfolk was built for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway and the London and South Western Railway. She was used on their Portsmouth - Ryde route. Her port of registry was Portsmouth. In May 1916, Duchess of Norfolk was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for use as a minesweeper in the Mediterranean. She was returned to her owners in July 1920 and refitted before resuming service. She passed to the Southern Railway at Grouping.

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