MV Anshun
From Our Contribution
 MV Anshun with port side only above water. 7 Sep 1942 | |
 Sister ship HMS Hanyang with MV Anshun at rear. Awm 303365 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | MV Anshun |
| Owner | China Navigation Company |
| Builder | Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Greenock, Scotland |
| Yard number | 552 |
| Launched | 27 Oct 1930 |
| Completed | 1939 |
| In service | 1939 |
| Out of service | 1962 |
| Fate | scrapped 1966 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Passenger/cargo |
| Tonnage | 3,188 tons |
| Length | 338 ft 4 in (103.1m) |
| Beam | 50 ft 2 in (15.3m) |
| Depth | 21 ft 7 in (6.6m) |
| Propulsion | single screw |
Remarks
Built to provide a passenger service between Chinese ports. On 8 Dec 1941, at the start of the Pacific War, she was damaged by a bomb in Manila Bay. Afterwards, to Australia and commandeered there by the Ministry of War Transport to the U.S. Army and used to transport troops and supplies between Australia and New Guinea.
During September 1942 MV Anshun departed Townsville as part of convoy Q2 for Milne Bay. On September 5, 1942 the convoy waited in the China Strait because Japanese warships were expected to attack Milne Bay overnight. On 6 Sep 1942 she was escorted into Milne Bay while the rest of the convoy waited to the south. While unloading at Gili Gili dock in Milne Bay, she was illuminated by lights on shore. Targeted by Japanese cruisers bombarding the area, and was hit by gunfire. Damaged, the ship listed to the starboard side and sank in shallow water with the port side above the surface.
MV Anshun at Milne Bay
During September 1944, salvage divers successfully refloated the ship and towed her 1,750 miles to Sydney for repairs at Cockatoo Island Dockyard. Acquired by James Patrick & Company Pty Limited she was renamed MS Culcairn and postwar operated as a cargo vessel off the east coast of Australia between 1946 and 1962.