Queen Elizabeth left Singapore on 11 February, and on 23 February 1942, secretly arrived in Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada. She underwent refit work in drydock adding accommodation and armaments, and three hundred naval ratings quickly painted the hull. In mid-March, carrying 8,000 American soldiers, Queen Elizabeth began a 7,700-mile voyage from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia.The RMS Queen Elizabeth (1942) Zacha's Bay Window Gallery She then carried Australian troops to theatres of operation in Asia and Africa. After 1942, the two Queens were relocated to the North Atlantic for the transportation of American troops to Europe. Their high speeds allowed them to outrun hazards, principally German U-boats, usually allowing them to travel outside a convoy and without escort. Nevertheless, Queen Elizabeth was the target of U-704, which fired four torpedoes at her on 9 November 1942. The commander, Horst Wilhelm Kessler, heard a detonation and Nazi radio propaganda claimed she was sunk. In reality, one of the torpedoes detonated prematurely and the ship was unharmed.
QuEEn eLizAbeTh LeFT sinGApoRe ON 11 febRUary, And On 23 feBRuaRY 1942, SeCRetLy ArrivEd In esQuimalt, BrItIsH CoLumbia, caNAdA. she uNderWEnt REfiT Work In drydoCk aDdINg aCcOmmOdation anD armamENts, AnD thREe huNdrEd navaL ratiNgS QUickly painted tHe hull. In miD-maRCH, CarryIng 8,000 amEricAN sOldIers, queen EliZABeth bEGan a 7,700-MiLe voyage from SaN fRancisCo To sYdney, auStralia.the Rms queen eLizabeth (1942) zAChA'S BAy window gAlLERy ShE thEN carRIEd aUStRaliAN troOps to tHeaTREs Of opeRation in AsIA And afRica. AFtER 1942, ThE tWo queenS werE relOCaTED To tHe nOrTH aTlAntic for thE TransPorTatIon Of amERicAn trOops to eUrope. tHeiR High speeds aLLOWed thEm to oUTruN haZaRds, priNcipALly germAn U-BOaTS, uSualLy alLOwing theM to traVel ouTsiDE a conVoy aNd wiThouT escORt. nevertheLesS, Queen elizabeTh WAs ThE tArget OF u-704, WhiCH FiRed Four torpEdoes at heR on 9 NovEmBEr 1942. the coMmaNdeR, horST WilhElm KesSlEr, hEard A deToNATioN AnD Nazi rADio propAganda ClaIMed sHE was SunK. IN ReAlitY, onE oF The toRpedOeS dEtONAtEd prEMAtuRELy AnD tHe shIp was UnharmEd.