Ausonia was the third of Cunard's six post-World War I "A Liners" for
the Canadian service. Like Ascania, she was built by Armstrong,
Whitworth & Co. of Newcastle, the only shipyard to build more than one
of the "A Liners".
Launched in 1921, Ausonia made her maiden voyage, Liverpool-Montreal,
on 31 August 1922 and in 1923 was moved to the London-Canada route.
Refitted for the new cabin/tourist/third configuration in 1927, Ausonia
was requisitioned as an armed merchant cruiser in September 1939.
Purchased by the Navy in 1942, she was then converted into a heavy
repair ship, but retained her Cunard name. She was decommissioned in
1964, and was scrapped in Spain the next year.
Sources: Haws' Merchant Fleets; Bonsor's North Atlantic Seaway.
