Shipping Casualities

In and Near Australian Waters

This map and the details outlined below it show casualties from enemy action as accurately as can be determined. Confusion and censorship of wartime and the dimming of memory over the years have had their impact. More detail on any of the casualties mentioned below would be welcomed.

Area

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

Australian

 11 1 7     2 4 15 9

 

 13 12 8     3 5    

 

     10     14 6    

Allied

   A13 A14 A1 A10 A3 A4   A18

 

   A17 A15 A2 A27 A9 A5    

 

   A20 A29   A30 A12 A7    

 

   A21         A8    

 

   A22              

 

   A23              

 

   A24              

 

   A25              

 

   A26              

Note: This information is collated from numerous sources whom we acknowledge, and sets out casualties from enemy action and the areas of their loss. More detail on the 'uncertains' below would be welcomed. Only sinkings are numbered, chronologically, and linked to areas.

Australian ships

Torpedoed, sunk

Torpedoed, survived

Lost by fire
7 Iron Chieftain 03/06/42 Allara 23/07/42 Terka /03/45
8 Iron Crown 04/06/42 Murada 24/07/42 Nambucca  / /45
10 Iron Knight 08/02/43 Malaita 29/08/42 (Off Port Moresby)  
11 Kowarra 24/04/43 Ormiston 12/05/43  
12 Wollongbar 29/04/43 Caradale 12/05/43  
13 Centaur 14/05/43    
14 Tulagi 27/3/44 (Indian Ocean)    

Bombed, sunk

Bombed, survived

 
4 Neptuna 19/02/42 Manunda 19/02/42  
5 Zealandia 19/02/42 Barossa 19/02/42  
6 Koolama 29/02/42 Period  /  /43  
9 Macdhui 18/06/42 (Port Moresby) Westralia  /  /44  
15 Macumba 06/08/43    

Mined, sunk

Mined, survived

 
1 Nimbin 05/12/40    

Shelled, sunk

Shelled, survived

 
2 Rabaul 14/05/41 (Sth Atlantic) Age 03/06/42  
3 Mareeba 26/06/41 (Bay of Bengal) Barwon 4/06/42  
  Katoomba  0/8/42  
  Coolana 27/07/42  

Note 1: Fishing vessels also lost

Millimumul 287 gt mined 26/03/41 off NSW 7 crew lost, 5 saved
Dureenbee 223gt shelled 03/08/42 off NSW 3 killed
Patricia Cam (as HMAS) 301gt bombed 21/01/43 off NT 9 killed, 13 saved

Note 2: Burns Philp Subsidiaries' vessels lost

Mamutu 300 gt shelled 07/08/42 23 crew, 119 passengers killed by gunfire
Lakatoi 341 gt   ?/  /43     23 on board ,no survivors, no trace
Matafele 335 gt shelled ? /07/44 17 crew,20 R.A.N.,no survivors, no trace

Note 3: 'Uncertains'

Islander      
River Burdekin      

Allied ships

Torpedoed, sunk

Torpedoed, survived

Lost by fire
A3 Eidsvold (Nor) 20/1/4 Mobilube (US) 18/1/43  
A9 Modjokerto (Du) 01/03/42 Peter H Burnett (US) 22/1/43  
A10 Parigi (Du) 1/3/42    
A11 Siantar (Du) 2/3/42    
A12 Le Maire (Du) 04/03/42    
A13 Guatemala (Pan) 12/6/42    
A14 George S.Livanos (Gr) 20/07/42    
A15 Coast Farmer (US) 21/07/42    
A16 William Dawes (US) 22/7/42    
A17 Cagou (Fr) 27/07/42    
A19 Kalingo (NZ) 18/01/43    
A20 Giang Ann (Du) 30/1/43    
A21 Starr King (US) 10/02/43    
A22 Recina (Yug) 11/04/43    
A23 Limerick (UK) 26/04/43    
A24 Lydia M. Childs (US) 27/04/43    
A25 Fingal (Nor) 05/05/43    
A26 Portmar (US) 16/06/43    
A27 Ferncastle (Nor)  /  /43    
A28 Hoegh Silverdawn (Nor)  /  /43    
A29 Robert J. Walker (US) 24/12/44    
A30 Peter Silvester (US) 06/02/45    

Bombed, sunk

Bombed, survived

 
A4 British Motorist (UK) 19/2/42    
A5 Don Isidro (US) 19/2/42    
A6 Florence Du (US) 19/2/42    
A7 Mauna Loa (US) 19/2/42    
A8 Meigs (US) 19/2/42    
A18 Anshun (Br) 6/9/42 (Milne Bay)    

Mined, sunk

Mined, survived

 
A1 Cambridge (UK) 7/11/40    
A2 City of Rayville (US) 8/11/40    

Shelled, sunk

Shelled, survived

 
  Wellen (USSR) 16/5/42  
  Orestes (UK) 9/6/42  

Note: 'Uncertains'

 

 
John Adams 05/05/42 Edward Chambers (Qld Coast) Jacob 08/03/43
Athena (Cape York) Henry J.Costin ( ? ) Cremer 05/09/43
Hertford (S.A.Coast) Van Heemskerk 14/04/43 Bantam 08/03/43