HMAT A19 Afric
From Our Contribution
 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMAT A19 Afric |
| Owner | White Star Line |
| Builder | Harland & Wolff, Belfast |
| Launched | 16 Nov 1898 |
| Completed | 1899 |
| In service | 8 Feb 1899 |
| Out of service | 12 Feb 1917 |
| Fate | Sunk by Uboat UC-66 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | passenger / cargo ship (twin screw) |
| Tonnage | 11,948 tons |
| Length | 550 ft (167.6m) |
| Beam | 63.3 ft (19.3m) |
| Propulsion | twin screw |
| Speed | 13.5 knots (25.0 kph) |
| Capacity | 320 third class passengers on three decks |
Contents
Remarks
Built for Ismay Imrie & Co (White Star Line) for the UK to Australia service. Afric made her maiden voyage on 8 February 1899, between Liverpool and New York; this was considered a test run, and when she returned she underwent further work to prepare her for her intended career on the Australia service. She entered service between Liverpool and Sydney via Cape Town on 9 September 1899. During the Boer War from 1900 to 1902, Afric was used to transport troops and horses to South Africa
Following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Afric was requisitioned by the Australian government in October 1914 for use as a troopship. She was a part of the first convoy from Albany to Alexandria. During April 1915 she was converted to carry 549 troops and 500 horses. made six complete voyages from Australia.
Torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel on 12 Feb 1917. Twenty two lives lost, with 145 surviving.
Soldiers carried
Melbourne to Port Suez, Egypt 22 May 1915 - 23 June 1915
- 16th Company AASC
- Hilton Ward Ennis MID
- Arthur Thomas Lester
Melbourne to Port Suez 31 December 1915 - 9 February 1915
Melbourne to Egypt 5 January - ?? February 1916
Other Journeys
- 18 October 1914 from Sydney, New South Wales
- 22 May 1915 from Melbourne, Victoria; 26 May from Adelaide
- 5 June 1916 from Melbourne, Victoria
- 3 November 1916 from Sydney, New South Wales; 7 November 1916 from Adelaide