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HMAT A16 Port Melbourne

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Revision as of 03:14, 2 November 2018 by Linton (talk | contribs) (England to Sydney 19 January 29 February 1916)
HMAT A16 Port Melbourne
HMAT A16 Port Melbourne.jpg
History
Name

HMAT A16 Port Melbourne

Builder/Built 1914 Workman Clark, Belfast
Type SS Troopship (twin screw)
Displacement 9,136 tons
Speed 13 knots


Remarks

Also known for part of the war as Star of Victoria. Owned by the Commonwealth and Dominion Line. Requisitioned by the Commonwealth in 1914, she spent August / September being converted to carry 1,000 troops.

Under both names, she made eight transport voyages from Australia commencing with the first convoy when she carried the 1st Light Horse Brigade.

The renaming occured in 1916 when its ownership was taken back by the Commonwealth and Dominion Line Ltd of London. Vessel remained under lease with the Commonwealth until 2 Oct 1917 after which she came under the control of the British Admiralty.

In 1919 she was converted for normal commercial trade. Following lengthy periods laid up in the 1930s, during WW2 she was used as a carrier of chilled meat, and survived to eventually be broken up in 1948.

Soldiers carried

England to Sydney 19 January 29 February 1916

Fremantle to Davenport 30 October - 28 December 1916

Albany to Liverpool 23 July - 16 September 1917

England to Albany 11 January - 26 February 1918

Albany to Southampton via Port Suez, Alexandria, Faenza (Italy) 8 May - 20 August 1918