This Albania, Cunard's second steamer of that name, was laid down in
1914 at Scott's Shipbuilding and Engineering, Greenock, but wasn't
launched until April 1920 due to World War I. Although she was intended
to serve Canada like all of Cunard's "A" liners, her maiden voyage on 18
January took her from Liverpool to New York.
Albania was transferred to Cunard's Canadian service in April 1922,
sailing to Montréal in the summer and Boston/New York in the winter.
During the summer of 1925, she was placed on the London-New York route
and was then laid up.
Albania was sold to Navigazione Libera Triestina in 1930, renamed
California, and placed on a Trieste-Seattle route. She also served as a
hospital ship during the Italo-Abyssinian war.
With the reorganization of the Italian merchant marine in 1935,
California was transferred to Lloyd Triestino ownership. She was sunk
during a British attack on Syracuse on 11 August 1941 and was eventually
refloated and broken up.
Sources: Bonsor's North Atlantic Seaway; Haws' Merchant Fleets.
