A 4,200 ton British cruiser which on 2nd October 1942 was detailed to escort the 83,673 ton RMS Queen Mary carrying 10,000 American servicemen into the Clyde. As the two ships zig-zagged into position, and with the Queen Mary steaming at 28 knots, their converging course was misjudged and the Queen Mary struck the Curacoa’s stern pushing her broadside on.

As a result the, Queen Mary sliced through the Curacoa amidships and cut her in half. The captain of the Queen Mary, under orders never to stop his ship for any reason was forced to sail on. 102 men were rescued from the Curacoa, 338 were lost. A number of graves of men of the Curacoa can be found at Lower Breakish in Skye, Arisaig and Morar.

Temporary repairs were made to the Queen Mary’s bow and she then recrossed the Atlantic for full repairs in Boston.