MV Fairsea (Motor Vessel Fairsea) Troopship carrying Seaforth "F Company" of the 1st Canadian Highland Battalion to Germany, circa 1951. The Message on back to Mrs. Ready from Phil T. A. Ready. History of the Ship: Originally named Rio de la Plata, the immigrant ship Fairsea was built for the American shipping company Moore-McCormick Line for their passenger and cargo service between New York and the east coast of South America. However, she never served on this intended route, for upon her launch in 1941 (amidst World War II), she was converted into an escort aircraft carrier and commissioned into the Royal Navy as the HMS Charger. Soon after, she returned to American hands and served for four years in the Pacific as USS Charger. After a brief post war period as a troop carrier, the Fairsea was rebuilt for migrant service in 1949, providing very basic accommodation for 1,800 passengers with the intention of transporting displaced people and refugees from Europe to Australia. She laid in wait for a short time while a contract was obtained from the International Refugee Organisation (IRO), before beginning her life as an immigrant ship. Dimensions: 492 x 69 ft (150 x 21.1 m) Registered Tonnage: 11,833 tons gross (13,432 tons after 1958) Service Speed: 16 knots Propulsion: Doxford geared diesels / single screw Shipping Line: Sitmar Line