Albatros 1/1250 ALK103 HMS Cavina an Ocean Boarding Vessel from 1940-41
HMS Cavina is a 1/1250 scale, waterline, metal model of a British Ocean Boarding vessel from 1940-41. The model is by Albatros SM, catalogue number Alk103.
Originally, Cavina was an Elder & Fyffes Banana Boat. In 1940, she was taken over as an Ocean Boarding Vessel to supplement the fleet of Armed Merchant Cruisers whose primary work was to intercept Axis Merchant Raiders and to enforce the British blockade. The OBVs were generally slower than the ex-passenger liner AMS but faster than tramp steamers and were optimised tointercept slower vessels which had become available following the fall of France, Norway, Denmark, Morocco etc.
As the war progressed and the need for refrigerated cargo ships increased, these ships were handed back to the owners but they retained their extra guns to suppliment the convoy escorts to defend convoys that they were attached to or to act as Convoy Rescue Ships where their higher speed meant that they could return to the convoy quickly after resuing seamen from lifeboats or te water. The all grey navy paint was retained until about 1946 when Cavina and others went back into Civilian Colours.