Scale: not calculated. An attractive shipbuilder’s model presented to the National Maritime Museum along with three other models of tankers – ‘Shirvan’ (SLR1475), ‘Caspia’ (SLR1488), and ‘Varand’ (SLR1483).

We can see that the ‘Kars’ was in many respects a modern-looking vessel with swept back central superstructure, low funnel, and clean lines. It has been realistically painted, and is displayed still in its original 1930s-style showcase with builder’s information plaque.

‘Kars’ was built by the Blythswood Shipbuilding Company, Scotstoun, for the Western Oil Shipping Company, London. She was 8888 gross registered tons and 495.5 feet in length. On the 22 February 1942 she was off Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, en route from Trinidad to Belfast, laden with 12,700 tons of aviation spirit and fuel oil. She had been in convoy HX-175 but had lost sight of them and had turned back. Without warning she was torpedoed by ‘U-96’ and immediately caught fire. The Master, forty-five crew members and four gunners were killed. Three days later the ship broke into two parts. The forepart sank while the after-part was towed to Halifax, where it was beached on the 27 February and declared a total loss. ‘Kars’s’ two surviving crewmembers were picked up and taken to Canada.