Transports

Troop Transports

Troop transports were requisitioned by the Commonwealth government for the purpose of transporting the AIF overseas but in addition to carrying troops, horses and military stores they also carried wool, metals, meat, flour and other foodstuffs, mainly for Britain and France. The fleet consisted mainly of British steamers and a few captured enemy ships.

A 1. HMAT Hymettus
4,606.tons. 11.5 knots. British India SN Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 15 May 1917

A 2. HMAT Geelong
7,851.tons. 12 knots. P&O SN Co London
Collided with SS Bonvilston in the Mediterranean and sunk 1 January 1916

A 3. HMAT Orvietto
12,130.tons. 15 knots. Orient SN Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 29 December 1914

A 4. HMAT Pera
7,635.tons. 11 knots. P&O SN Co London
Commonwealth control ended 6 January 1917. Torpedoed and sunk in Mediterranean 19 October 1917

A 5. HMAT Omrah
8,130.tons. 15 knots. Orient SN Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 10 February 1915. Torpedoed and sunk in Mediterranean 12 May 1918

A 6. HMAT Clan Maccorquodale
5121.tons. 15 knots. Cayser, Irvin and Co. Glasgow
Commonwealth control ended 14 April 1915. Torpedoed and sunk in Mediterranean 17 November 1917

A 7. HMAT Medic
12,032.tons. 13 knots. Oceanic SN Co Ltd Liverpool
Commonwealth control ended 26 October 1917

A 8. HMAT Argyllshire
10,392.tons. 14 knots. The Scottish Shire Line Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 24 January 1918

A 9. HMAT Shropshire
8,130.tons. 15 knots. Federal SN Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 5 August 1917

A 10. HMAT Karroo
6,127.tons. 12 knots. Ellerman & Bucknall SS Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 3 January 1917.

A 11. HMAT Ascanius
10,048.tons. 13 knots. Ocean SS Co Ltd Liverpool
Commonwealth control ended 30 July 1917

A 12. HMAT Saldanha
4,594.tons. 11 knots.Ellerman & Bucknall SS Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 14 June 1917. Torpedoed and sunk in Mediterranean 18 March 1918

A 13. HMAT Katuna
4,641.tons. 11 knots.Ellerman & Bucknall SS Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 10 February 1917.

A 14. HMAT Euripides
15,050.tons. 15 knots.G Thompson & Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 2 June 1917.

A 15. HMAT Star of England (later renamed Port Sydney)
9,136.tons. 13.5 knots.Commonwealth & Dominion Line Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 22 September 1917.

A 16. HMAT Star of Victoria (later renamed Port Melbourne)
9,152.tons. 13.5 knots.Commonwealth & Dominion Line Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 2 October 1917.

A 17. HMAT Port Lincoln
7,243.tons. 12 knots.Commonwealth & Dominion Line Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 26 September 1917.

A 18. HMAT Wiltshire
10,390 tons. 13.5 knots.Commonwealth & Dominion Line Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 2 October 1917.

A 19. HMAT Afric
11,999 tons. 13 knots.Federal SN Co Ltd London
Torpedoed and sunk in the English Chanel 12 February 1917

A 20. HMAT Hororata
9,400 tons. 14 knots. New Zealand Shipping Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 11 September 1917.

A 21. HMAT Marere
6443 tons. 12.5 knots. Commonwealth & Dominion Line Ltd London
Sunk by submarine gunfire in the Mediterranean 18 January 1916.

A 22. HMAT Rangatira
8948 tons. 14 knots. Shaw, Savill and Albion Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 15 February 1915. Stranded off Cape of Good Hope 31 March 1916.

A 23. HMAT Suffolk
7573 tons. 12 knots. Potter, Trinder and Gwyn London
Commonwealth control ended 14 June 1917.

A 24. HMAT Benalla
11,118 tons. 14 knots. P & O SN Co London
Commonwealth control ended 6 August 1917.

A 25. HMAT Anglo-Egyptian
7,379 tons. 14 knots. Nitrate Producers SS Co London
Commonwealth control ended 16 April 1917.

A 26. HMAT Armadale
6,153 tons. 11 knots. Australind SS Co London
Commonwealth control ended 7 June1917. Torpedoed and sunk by submarine off coast of Ireland 27 June 1917.

A 27. HMAT Southern
4,769 tons. 10.5 knots. Central Shipping Co London
Commonwealth control ended 3 February 1915

A 28. HMAT Miltiades
7,814 tons. 13 knots.G Thompson & Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 15 September1917.

A 29. HMAT Suevic
12,531 tons. 13 knots.Oceanic SN Co Ltd Liverpool
Commonwealth control ended 9 September1917.

A 30. HMAT Borda
11,136 tons. 14 knots.P & O SN Co London
Commonwealth control ended 10 September1917.

A 31. HMAT Ajana
7,759 tons. 13 knots.Australind SS Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 12 May 1917.

A 32. HMAT Themistocles
11,231 tons. 15 knots.G Thompson & Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 20 October1917.

A 33. HMAT Ayrshire
7,763 tons. 13 knots.The Scottish Shire Line Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 9 January 1918

A 34. HMAT Persic
12,042 tons. 13 knots.Oceanic SN Co Ltd Liverpool
Commonwealth control ended 8 November1917.

A 35. HMAT Berrima
11,137 tons. 14 knots. P & O SN Co London
Commonwealth control ended 10 October1917.

A 36. HMAT Boonah (ex-enemy Melbourne)
5,926 tons. 10.5 knots.
Manned by Australia officers and crew. Transferred to Commonwealth Government Line 28 March 1918

A 37. HMAT Barambah (ex-enemy Hobart)
5,923 tons. 10.5 knots.
Manned by Australia officers and crew. Transferred to Commonwealth Government Line 23 May1918

A 38. HMAT Ulysses
14,499 tons. 14 knots. China Mutual SN Co London
Commonwealth control ended 15 August1917.

A 39. HMAT Port MacQuarie
7,236 tons. 12.5 knots. Commonwealth & Dominion Line Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 13 January 1917.

A 40. HMAT Ceramic
18,481 tons. 15 knots. Oceanic SN Co Ltd Liverpool
Commonwealth control ended 9 July 1917.

A 41. HMAT Bakara (ex-enemy Constaff)
5,930 tons. 10.5 knots.
Manned by Australia officers and crew. Transferred to Commonwealth Government Line 1 May1918

A 42. HMAT Boorara (ex-enemy Pfalz)
5,923 tons. 10.5 knots.
Manned by Australia officers and crew. Transferred to Commonwealth Government Line 24 June 1919.

A 43. HMAT Barunga (ex-enemy Sumatra)
7,484 tons. 11 knots.
Manned by Australia officers and crew. Torpedoed and sunk by a submarine in the North Atlantic 15 July 1918

A 44. HMAT Vestalia
5,528 tons. 15 knots. Gow, Harrison & Co, Glasgow
Commonwealth control ended 10 March 1917.

A 45. HMAT Bulla (ex-enemy Hessen)
5,099 tons. 10.5 knots.
Manned by Australia officers and crew. Transferred to Commonwealth Government Line 15 April 1918

A 46. HMAT Clan McGillivray
5,023 tons. 14 knots. Cayser, Irvin and Co. Glasgow
Commonwealth control ended 16 August 1917

A 47. HMAT Mashobra
8,174 tons. 12.5 knots. British India SN Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 21 December 1916. Torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean 15 April 1917

A 48. HMAT Seang Bee
5,849 tons. 13 knots. Lim Chin Tsong, Rangoon
Commonwealth control ended 12 May 1917

A 49. HMAT Seang Choon
5,807 tons. 12 knots. Lim Chin Tsong, Rangoon
Torpedoed and sunk off coast of Ireland 10 July 1917

A 50. HMAT Itonus
5,340 tons. 12 knots. British India SN Co Ltd London
Torpedoed and sunk in Mediterranean 20 December 1916

A 51. HMAT Chilka
3,952 tons. 14 knots. British India SN Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 4 August 1915

A 52. HMAT Surada
5,324 tons. 10 knots. British India SN Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 4 January 1917. Torpedoed and sunk by a submarine in Mediterranean 2 November 1918

A 53. HMAT Itria
5,318 tons. 10 knots. British India SN Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 17 June 1917

A 54. HMAT Runic
12,490 tons. 13 knots. Oceanic SN Co Ltd Liverpool
Commonwealth control ended 27 November 1917.

A 55. HMAT Kyarra
6,953 tons. 14 knots. AUSN Co Ltd London
Manned by Australia officers and crew. Commonwealth control ended 4 January 1918. Torpedoed and sunk by a submarine in the English Channel 26 May 1918

A 56. HMAT Palermo
7,597 tons. 14 knots. P & O SN Co London
Commonwealth control ended 10 January 1917.

A 57. HMAT Malakuta
7,430 tons. 12 knots. T & J Brocklebank Ltd, Liverpool
Commonwealth control ended 24 January 1917.

A 58. HMAT Kabinga
4,657 tons. 12 knots. Ellerman & Bucknall SS Co Ltd London
Captured by Emden in Bay of Bengal 12 September 1914 and released. Commonwealth control ended 19 June1917.

A 59. HMAT Botanist
7,688 tons. 13 knots. Charente SS Co Ltd, Liverpool
Commonwealth control ended 6 December 1916.

A 60. HMAT Aeneas
10,049 tons. 14 knots. Ocean SS Co Ltd, Liverpool
Commonwealth control ended 22 June 1917.

A 61. HMAT Kanowna
6,942 tons. 14 knots. AUSN Co Ltd London.
Manned by Australia officers and crew. Commonwealth control ended 18 March 1919.

A 62. HMAT Wandilla
7,785 tons. 16 knots. Adelaide SS Co Ltd Adelaide.
Manned by Australian officers and (during part of her service) Australian crews. Commonwealth control ended 24 January 1917.

A 63. HMAT Karoola
7,391 tons. 15 knots. McIlwraith, McEacharn's Line Pty Ltd, Melbourne.
Manned by Australian officers and crews. Commonwealth control ended June 1919

A 64. HMAT Demosthenes
11,223 tons. 15 knots. G Thompson & Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 16 March1917.

A 65. HMAT Clan Macewen
5,140 tons. 15 knots. Cayser, Irvin and Co. Glasgow
Commonwealth control ended 14 April1917.

A 66. HMAT Uganda
5,431 tons. 10 knots. British India SN Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 4 December 1916. Torpedoed and sunk by a submarine in Mediterranean 27 May 1918

A 67. HMAT Orsova
12,036 tons. 18 knots. Orient SN Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 28 February 1917.

A 68. HMAT Anchisses
10,046 tons. 10 knots. Ocean SS Co Ltd, Liverpool
Commonwealth control ended 12 October 1917.

A 69. HMAT Warilda
7,713 tons. 16 knots. Adelaide SS Co Ltd Adelaide.
Manned by Australian officers and (during part of her service) Australian crews. Torpedoed and sunk by a submarine in the English Channel 3 August1918

A 70. HMAT Ballarat
11,120 tons. 14 knots. P & O SN Co London
Torpedoed by a submarine in the English Channel 25 April 1917 and sank the next day.

A 71. HMAT Nestor
14,501 tons. 14 knots. Ocean SS Co Ltd, Liverpool
Commonwealth control ended 26 June1917.

A 72. HMAT Beltana
11,120 tons. 14 knots. P & O SN Co London
Commonwealth control ended 14 September 1917.

A 73. HMAT Commonwealth
6,616 tons. 14 knots. P & O SN Co London
Commonwealth control ended 23 June 1917

A 74. HMAT Marathon
7,827 tons. 16 knots. G Thompson & Co Ltd London
Commonwealth control ended 28 July1917.

Royal Mail Steamers

These ships carried mail between Australia and the United Kingdom. Occasionally, they carried small numbers of passengers as well, including, on occasion, troops. The following Royal Mail Steamers carried troops of the First AIF:

RMS Kashgar

RMS Karmala

RMS Malwa

RMS Moldavia

RMS Mongolia

RMS Mooltan

RMS Morea

RMS Orontes

RMS Osterley

RMS Persia

Steam Ships

Sometimes chartered steam ships were employed as troop transports. These ones carried troops of the First AIF:

SS Balmoral Castle

SS Canberra

SS Carpentaria

SS City of Karachi

SS Dorset

SS Essex

SS Field Marshal

SS Gaika

SS Graechus

SS Hawkes Bay

SS Kaiser-i-Hind

SS Indarra

SS Katoomba

SS Mahana

SS Makarini
10,624 tons, 13 knots. G.D.Tyser & Co, London
Accommodation for 750-steerage class passengers. Built by Workman, Clark & Co, Belfast, she was launched on 3rd Feb.1912. In 1914 Tyser's was taken over by the Commonwealth & Dominion Line (Port Line) and she was renamed SS Port Nicholson. Mined and sunk 15 miles West of Dunkirk 15 January1917. [Great Passenger Ships of the World by Arnold Kludas, vol.1, ISBN 0-85059-174-0, which contains a photo of the ship] [Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.21, Port Line]

SS Malta

SS Ormonde

SS Pakeha

SS Port Darwin

SS Port Lydelton

SS Port Napier

SS Port Nicholson
See SS Makarini

SS Rushine

SS Wyreema

SS Zealandic

Index Armoured Cars Artillery Aviation Base Depots Dental Engineers Infantry Machine Gun Mounted Medical Ordnance Pioneers Salvage Service Veterinary

Page created by Ross Mallett
ross@metva.com.au
Last update 09 October 2003