HMAT A43 Barunga
From Our Contribution
 | |
 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMAT A43 Barunga |
| Owner | Deutsche-Australische Linie, Hamburg |
| Builder | Flensburger Schiffsbau Ges., Flensburg |
| Yard number | 332 |
| Completed | 1913 |
| In service | 1913 |
| Out of service | 15 Jul 1918 |
| Fate | sunk by U boat U-108 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | armed merchant ship |
| Tonnage | 7,484 tons |
| Length | 146.9m |
| Beam | 19.1m |
| Propulsion | single screw |
| Speed | 11 knots (20.37 kph) |
Remarks
In 1914 the SS Sumatra was seized in Sydney from its German owners (the Deutsche-Australische Line), and manned by Australian Officers and crew. She completed three trips carrying troops from Australia, and one in October 1917 carrying cargo only.
Torpedoed and sunk off Bishop Rock in the North Atlantic on 15 Jul 1918 with 7289 Pte Thomas Alfred Osborne aboard. He survived to continue home on the SS Carpentaria. Barunga was on its way to Australia with 800 sick and wounded on board and was torpedoed at 4.30 pm on 15 July 1918. Destroyers which had been some miles away were quickly on the scene to pick up survivors and returned them to Plymouth. All hands were saved before Barunga subsequently sank