USAT Both
From Our Contribution
AWM 303017 | |
History | |
---|---|
Name | uSAT Both |
Owner | Kaninke Pakah Maats |
Completed | 1931 |
General characteristics | |
Tonnage | 2,608 tons |
Depth | 17.1 ft (5.21m) |
Speed | 10 knots |
Capacity | 750 troops |
Remarks
Coal fired. This was one of the Dutch East Indies fleet of ships that made good their escape from the Japanese and was then managed by the US Army for the duration of the war, providing troop transport and cargo carriage between Australian and New Guinea ports. The KPM steamer Both helped transport the Australian troops of “Gull Force” to Ambon in December 1941, and later took part in the Operation Lilliput supply convoys to New Guinea in 1943.
The ship was fitted with a 20 pounder gun and 4 machine guns.