Built as a passenger-cargo vessel under yard No 405 by A. Stephens & Sons, Linthouse, Glasgow, Scotland for the Allen Lines SS Co. Ltd., Glasgow.
22 December 1904 launched as the VIRGINIAN.
Tonnage 10.754 gross, 6.827 net, dim. 158.6 x 18.41 x 11.58m.
Powered by three Parsons turbines manufactured by ship builder, 15.000 shp., three shafts, speed 18 knots.
Passenger accommodation for 346 1st, 286 2nd, 1.000 rd.
31 March 1905 delivered to owners.
She and her sister the VICTORIAN were the first triple screw North Atlantic liners.
06 April 1905 sailed from Liverpool on her maiden voyage to St John, New Brunswick, Canada, later Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal.
August 1914 requisitioned by the British Admiralty for trooping, bringing Canadian troops to Europe.
13 November 1914 taken over for conversion into an armed merchant cruiser, fitted out at Liverpool.
Armament 8 – 4.7 inch guns, later replaced by 6 – 6inch and 2 – 6pdr guns.
After conversion joined the 10th Cruiser Squadron for the Northern Patrol.
17 April 1915 she ran ashore on the Clyde opposite Govan Ferry, the next day was she towed off.
21 August 1917 while escorting a convoy from Lough Swilly she was torpedoed by a U-102 in a position of 55 29N 08.30W. She opened fire on the submarine with 2 – 6 inch guns, the submarine escaped and the VIRGINIAN by good damage control survived.
01 July 1917 the Allan fleet under which the VIRGINIAN was acquired by Canadian Pacific, but she never sailed under the flag of CP.
31 January 1920 released from navy duty and handed over to Canadian Pacific.
14 February 1920 sold to Rederi Ab Sverige-Nordamerika (Swedish America Line), Göteborg.
21 February 1920 delivered to new owners, and renamed DROTTNINGHOLM.
May 1920 made her first voyage for her new owners.
From 1922 till 1923 refitted with De Laval reduction geared turbines, 10.500 hp, speed 17 knots.
Accommodation for 1.400 passengers.
Used in the service between Gothenburg and New York.
Between 1940 and 1946 used by the International Red Cross for the exchange and transport of wounded prisoners of war.
October 1946 sold to the South Atlantic Lines Inc., Panama she stayed in the service from Gothenburg to New York until February 1948, under the name DROTTNINGHOLM.
February 1948 delivered and renamed BRASIL, managed by Home Lines.
08 April 1948 sailed for her first voyage from Genoa to South America.
01 May 1950 sailed for her first voyage from Genoa via Naples to Halifax and New York.
August 1951 sold to Mediterranean Lines Inc., Panama and renamed HOMELAND, managed by the Home Lines.
1955 Sold to S.I.D.A.R.M.A. in Trieste for breaking up, she arrived at Trieste on 29 March 1955.
Sierra Leone 2004 Le2000 sg?, scott 2765.
Source: http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/virginian_1905.htm Register of Merchant Ships completed in 1905.
Merchant Fleets in profile volume 3 by Duncan Haws. Canadian Pacfic by George Musk. South Atlantic Seaway by Bonsor. Armed Merchant Cruisers 1878-1945 by Osborne, Spong and Grover.