HMAT A39 Port Macquarie

HMAT A39 Port Macquarie

Courtesy Tyne Built Ships and John Ingram
History
Name	HMAT A39 Port Macquarie
Owner	Anglo-Australasian Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London
Builder	R & W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd, Hebburn
Yard number	456
Launched	30 May 1912
In service	2 Sep 1912
Out of service	13 Oct 1940
Fate	torpedoed and sunk by U Boat U37
General characteristics
Type	Refrigerated Cargo Ship
Tonnage	7,236 tons
Length	426 ft
Beam	54.1 ft
Depth	37.3 ft
Propulsion	single screw
Speed	13 knots

Remarks

Built for the Anglo-Australasian Steam Navigation Co Ltd (Milburn Line), by 1914 she was owned by the Commonwealth and Dominion Line (Port Line), and was leased by the Commonwealth until 13 Jan 1917 during which time she made five journeys with troops to either Egypt or England. Management of the ship was taken over by the British Admiralty from 13 Jan 1917.

In 1927 ownership changed to William Thomas Shipping Co Ltd who renamed her Cambrian Marchioness. Ownership changed again in 1928 to CW Kellock & Co Ltd, London, and then in 1929 the Clan Line took ownership, renaming her Clan Grant. In 1935 she was sold to the British and South American Steam Navigation, Co, Ltd. Sold for the last time in 1939 to the Stanhope Steamships Co Ltd of London who renamed her Stangrant. On 13 Oct 1940, while a part of convoy HX-77 from Hampton Roads to Belfast, she was torpedoed and sunk by U-Boat U37, 120 miles (220km) north west of St Kilda. Eight lives were lost.

Soldiers carried

Fremantle to Plymouth 13 October - 12 December 1916

• William Wright Casterton MM
• Walter Eugene Cockram
• Charles Fancote
• Sidney Hart
• Benjamin Arthur McEvoy
• Albert Tom Milton
• John Edmond Rhodes
• † Ernest William Serls
• Mervyn Alexander Stalker
• Mount (Mont) Alexander Taylor
• Frederick Robert Weedon

Other Voyages

• 21 December 1914 from Sydney
• 4 June 1915 from Melbourne
• 16 November 1915 from Melbourne
• 26 April 1916 from Sydney