HMAT A31 Ajana
From Our Contribution
 HMAT A31 Ajana courtesy Australian Light Horse Studies Centre - Tripod | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMAT A31 Ajana |
| Owner | Australind Steam Shipping Co. Ltd. - Trinder, Anderson & Co.., London |
| Builder | Russell & Co, Port Glasgow |
| Yard number | 631 |
| Launched | 22 Feb 1912 |
| Completed | 1912 |
| Out of service | 1932 |
| Fate | scrapped |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | passenger / refrigerated cargo |
| Tonnage | 7,759 tons |
| Length | 454 ft (138.4m) |
| Beam | 56.25 ft (17.1m) |
| Depth | 36 ft (10.97m) |
| Propulsion | twin screw |
| Speed | 13 knots |
Contents
Remarks
Built for Australind Steam Ship Co Ltd, London. Leased to the Commonwealth until 12 May 1917 when her management was taken over by the British Admiralty. Underwent conversion to a troopship at Cockatoo Island Drydock on the 9th and 10th December 1914 to transport 427 troops and 304 horses.
The Ajana made five journeys from Australia carrying troops to the battle fields of Egypt and Europe. On 14 Apr 1917 she was attacked by a U-Boat in the English Channel but was able to escape, and was chased for a second time by a U-Boat of the NW coast of Ireland on 29 Jul 1917, and again successfully evaded her predator.
On 25 Nov 1919 she was sold to the New Zealand Shipping Company and renamed Otarama. Sold again on 29 Feb 1928, this time to a company based in Italy, she was renamed Amaranto before being broken up at Genoa in November 1932.
Soldiers carried
Fremantle to Alexandria 30 December 1914 - ? 1915
Left Sydney 19 December 1914
Fremantle to Port Suez 22 December 1915 - ? January 1916
Left Melbourne 13 Dec 1915
Fremantle to Plymouth 15 July - 1 September 1916
Left Sydney 5 July
England to Fremantle 15 Feb - 6 Apr 1918
Boarded 15th, sailed 17th.
Other Journeys
- 31 May 1915 from Sydney, New South Wales; 4 June 1915 from Melbourne.