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. In early 1942 twenty-one small KPM vessels including SS Both, loaded with refugees and limping into Australian ports, were obtained by charter for U.S. Army use and became known as the "KPM vessels" in the South West Pacific Area fleet, 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.