Duntroon (Melbourne Steam)

Requisitioned for the first time in October 1939 for intended (though not proceeded with) conversion to an Armed Merchant Cruiser, Duntroon was eventually taken over in February 1942, commencing duty as a troopship operating to the Far East and the South West Pacific areas. She was fortunate in suffering no damage from the enemy although was involved in collisions in November 1940 and November 1943.

Concluding her wartime activity by transporting released prisoners-of-war back to Australia in late 1945, Duntroon was returned to owners in April 1946, but was again taken on charter, by the Royal Australian Navy in July. Following a voyage returning internees and evacuees to Hong Kong, she then periodically served on the Australia-Japan run supporting the Australian Component of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force until late in 1948. Post-war refit and return to owners were completed by August 1950.

Coolana (Melbourne Steam)

Coolana was shelled by a Japanese submarine on 7 August 1942, off Cape Howe, New South Wales, but escaped.

Katoomba (McIlwraith McEacharn)

No stranger to war, Katoomba had served internationally as a troopship and a returnee prisoner-of-war carrier from May 1918 to September 1919. March 1941 saw her again requisitioned as a troopship and with occasional short commercial breaks she carried troops and supplied to Northern Australia, Papua New Guinea and Asian areas, also assisting in civilian evacuation of threatened Pacific islands. Katoomba was fortunate that her speed enabled her to escape undamaged from an encounter with a Japanese submarine’s gunfire off Adelaide in August 1942.

Kanimbla (McIlwraith McEacharn)

New in 1936, Kanimbla came under requisition in August 1939, for conversion to the Armed Merchant Cruiser role. She then served in Asian, Middle Eastern, Northern Australian and South West Pacific waters until April 1943, then underwent re-conversion to become a Landing Ship, Infantry. Now carrying twenty-six landing barges, Kanimbla took part in landing training at various Australian east coast locations before trooping to Papua New Guinea.

1944 saw her involved in landings under fire, including Hollandia, Morotai and Lingayen Gulf, and in 1945 at Brunei and Balikpapan. From August 1945 to March 1949 she remained under government control, returning released prisoners-of-war and serving troops to Australia, supporting the Australian Component of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan, taking a new Navy crew to the United Kingdom for HMAS “Sydney” and bringing migrants to Australia. Fortunately unscathed, and after refit, Kanimbla was returned to her owners in 1950.

Narani (Illawarra Steam)

Served as minesweeper HMAS Narani 1941 to 1945.