Built as a steel passenger- cargo vessel under yard No 492 by Wm Beardmore & Co. Ltd Dalmuir Naval Constr. Wk. at Dalmuir, Scotland for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, Liverpool at Liverpool.
02 April 1908 launched as he ORCOMA.
Tonnage 11.546 gross, 7,181 net, dim. 161.54 x 18.96 x 8.87m., length bpp. 155.96m.
Powered by two 4-cyl quadruple steam engines manufactured by shipbuilder, 12,000 ihp, twin shafts, speed 14.5 knots.
Accommodation for 246 first, 202 second, 106 intermediate and 456 third class, crew 247.
03 August 1908 completed.
27 August 1908 sailed for her maiden voyage from Liverpool for the West Coast of South America via Straits of Magellan, at that time was she the largest and fastest ship on the South America Pacific coast.
15 June 1915 hired by the British Government as an Armed Merchant Cruiser and armed with 6 – 6 inch and 2 – 6 pdr. AA guns. She joined the 10th Cruiser Squadron on the Northern Patrol.
11 October 1919 decommissioned and returned to owners.
07 November 1919 commenced trading in the liner service between Liverpool and the West Coast of South America via the Panama Canal, she made the first trip via New York.
1923 She was refitted from coal to oil firing, modernized, her well deck was plated in.
After the REINO DEL PACIFICO took over the service she was sold in June 1933 to Hughes, Bolckow & Co. Ltd. at Blyth for scrapping where she arrived on 28 June 1933.
Liberia 2015 $30 sg?, scott?
Source: http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz http://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?ref=2076 Armed Merchant Cruisers 1878-1945 by Osborne, Spong & Grover. South Atlantic away by N.R.P. Bonsor.