"H T Argentina"

I am writing up my Grandad's military service (career soldier from 1918-1954).
His war record has been pieced together but I am struggling to add any information to this
OC Troops HT Argentina 16 months (46/47)
I have two photos of him on deck "Mar 1947 off Impala" and "Tobruk " and a picture of the Argentina.

Mr Google is not helpful, thrown by the mention of Argentina. All that comes up is it being used to transport war brides to USA ?? Would they have needed an OC Troops ? Obviously Tobruk is not enroute to New York Nor can Google cope with Impala (possibly a mis write by Granddad.)

can any of you please help me /point me in a direction to search ? Many thanks!

 

Welcome back Annie.

The ship's prefix should be "HMT" which could stand for "His Majesty's Troopship", "His Majesty's Transport" or "Hired Military Transport". From: HMT Empire Windrush - Wikipedia

OC Troops I expect would be the military officer aboard the ship, in command of the military.

Would the ship, a cruise shop etc have been seized from the Axis powers and renamed? Is this a clue? Although pre-WW2 and there are some photos of this a German ship: https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/threads/picture-of-steamship-argentina-hamburg-sÜd.305340/

Not German, Italian cruise ship built after 1936:

From: Tirrenia (company) - Wikipedia

Post-war picture of the ship (two funnels): https://www.bridgemanimages.com/en/...america-route-1947-poster/print/asset/1089167

Or she was a US owned ship, requisitioned as a wartime transport and there is a picture (one funnel): SS Argentina (1929) - Wikipedia

That will do for now.

 

Hi,
Actually the title HT is the most correct of all of the designations for troop transports. It stands for Hired Transport and that is exactly what they were.
There were a few ships named ARGENTINA one was the US transport but she was not trooping in 1947 when you say you have captions/photos of her off Tobruk.

I think the likely contender is the Italian ship ARGENTINA which was recaptured from the Germans in 1943 and put into service trooping for the British.
I know she was between Italy and Algiers during all of 1946 and she was returned to owners sometime in 1947 but I am not sure exactly when.

Are you able to post the photo of the ship and also that transcript typo about Impala.

Regards
Hugh

 

Follow up information from Hugh’s post above.

Source:

1946 Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Shipping Movement Cards

Records below only go up to 1946. Also you can see when the ship was captured from the Germans (highlighted in a red box)

 

I believe this is the same ship in Lloyds of London Ship Registry 1947
Lloyd’s Register of Shipping 1947 Steamers : Lloyd's Register Foundation, Heritage & Education Centre : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive



Lloyds of London Ship Registry 1949
Lloyd’s Register of Shipping 1949 A-L : Lloyd's Register Foundation, Heritage & Education Centre : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

 

GIngerbadcat has not logged in since 16/5/2026, so PM sent to return. Nice work.

 

142E03F5-41DF-4E17-B62A-89192ED8C76B by Gingerbadcat posted May 24, 2026 at 6:01 PM

142E03F5-41DF-4E17-B62A-89192ED8C76B by Gingerbadcat posted May 24, 2026 at 6:01 PM

Sorry not added a photo before and my comment was eaten. Thank you all you wonderful helpful and knowledgeable people . Italy makes sense of the remark on the back of the photo now. " The Argentina entering Valetta Grand Harbour Malta Feb 1947. Note Italian flag flying aft and tugs pushing us into position."

 

My Granddad Albert (Dick ) Edwards, R Leicestershire Regt. "On the Poop deck HT Argentina March 47 Cyreaica (??) coast and Tobruk in the distance. "

 

" Self and 2nd (?) Officer on bridge of Argentina off Impoli /Impala ? March 47 " Google suggests Empoli

 

Thank you for PM, I posted and then assumed the site would let me know if there was a reply and have been so busy since. I am so impressed at people's knowledge and helpfulness. Thank you for helping me put another piece of the jigsaw in !!

 

It is Cyrenaica, the eastern part of Libya. See: Cyrenaica - Wikipedia Note:

Plus: British Military Administration (Libya) - Wikipedia

The British Army, RAF and USAF remained in various bases in Libya till - for the UK March 1970 and the USA in June 1970. It was quite a large commitment for the British Army - which is another story.

Empoli as Google suggested is an Italian town inland from the sea. I suggest it is Tripoli, the major coastal city in the historic western province of Libya, Tripolitania (also under UK admin). See: Tripoli, Libya - Wikipedia

 

davidbfpo , you're a genius ! Tripoli it is ! I have transcribed court cases in secretary hand from the 1630s ... and I cant decipher my Grandad's handwriting . Thank you Will have a look at your links.

 

The imposing building in the left of your photographs is HMS St Angelo. This was a RN shore staion / accounting base for the Mediterranean. Fort St Angelo was a bastion fort in Birgu, Malta, located at the centre of the Grand Harbour. The base was named HMS St Angelo on 1 July 1933.