WANAKA 1938-1965

Particulars of Ship

PhotographerE M HumpheryBuilderAlexander Stephens & SonsWhere BuiltGlasgowDate Built1938Additional NotesWanaka was built for the New South Wales - Tasmanian trade. In 1942 the Australian Government took her over as a supply ship for the airforce. She was armed with a 4 inch gun forward and a 12 pound gun aft plus 20mm anti-aircraft guns on the bridge.She was manned by New Zealand Union Company officers and Australian seamen, RAN gunners and RAAF medical attendants, wireless operators and stewards.
On 19 February 1942 WANAKA was at Darwin during the first Japanese air raid, but only sustained minor damage from bomb splinters.
On 19 March 1942 while unloading in Fairfax Harbour. Port Moresby, WANAKA left the wharf just prior to Japanese bombing the port area although 18 bombs were dropped just astern of her as she manoeuvred clear of the berth.
During the night of 15 December 1943 she was driven onto Eden Reef off the Queensland coast by hurricane force winds. Ten crew were lost. She was salvaged in what was described as one of the most difficult then attempted in Australai and returned to Sydney for repairs. When completed she resumed supply duties with the RAAF until the end of the war when she was returned to the Union Company and traded for a further 19 years. Sold to Monrovian interests in 1965 and renamed PATER ELIAS and later TAINAN MARU and broken up at Osaka in 1968.

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WANAKA 1938-1965