MS Brahe explained

USS PCE-830 was a U.S.-built Patrol Craft Escort (PCE) vessel launched on 13 June 1943 by the Pullman-Standard Car Company of Chicago, Illinois. It was transferred to the Royal Navy and given the name HMS Kilchrenan in August 1943. As of 2020 it operates as the cruise ship MS Sunnhordland in Norway.[1]

Service history

World War II, 1943–1946

Kilchrenan spent the Second World War based at Gibraltar patrolling west Africa and taking part in convoys. Returned to U.S. Navy custody in December 1946, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1947.[2]

In commercial service, 1947–present

She was purchased by Norwegian Hardanger Sunnhordlandske Dampskipsselskap (HSD) in 1947, rebuilt as a passenger ship and given the name Sunnhordland. She ran for several years in western Norway.

The ship was sold to Finland in 1974 as Kristina Brahe and until 2010 operated as a passenger ship by Kristina Cruises of Kotka, Finland, making short cruises in the Baltic Sea and Lake Saimaa.[3] The Kristina Brahe was sold to Saimaan Matkaverkko Ltd in August 2010. Her name was shortened to simply Brahe.[4] In 2015 she was sold again, and brought back to western Norway where she operates as a cruise ship. Her name was changed back to Sundhordland.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Home.
  2. Web site: Patrol Craft Escort Chaser : HMS Kilchernan (BEC 4) ex-PCE-830 . www.navsource.org . 2009-11-13 .
  3. Web site: Kristina Cruises – M/S Kristina Brahe / Introduction and history . www.kristinacruises.com . 2009-11-13 .
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20100427065833/http://www.saimaatravel.fi/kotimaa.php Saimaan Page