News Of The Small-Ships

It Happened In September:

—ln this month of 1941 the war in the Pacific was still only a hit and-run war of German raiders— and one never knew where they would strike next.

Such a strike occurred at about 5 pm of September 10, 1941, when an operator on ship-watch at Rarotonga was jerked wide awake ay a powerful QQQ morse signal, yhich was immediately but incom pletely jammed by a more powerful itation. In a moment naval stations hroughout the Pacific knew that :he 4,793-ton Norwegian freighter Ulvaplana was being pursued. But t was much later before anything ilse was known. Silvaplana was written off, at a point midway be ween New Zealand and Tahiti, so ar as Allied naval authorities were oncerned—though she was not link, but captured intact by the ',860-ton raider Atlantis (formerly ioldenfels of the Hansa Line).

Atlantis had entered the Pacific rom south of Australia in August fter 18 successful months in the itlantic and Indian Oceans where he had sunk or captured 20 vessels f 137,000 tons. Silvaplana was her jrst—and only—Pacific victim.

The Norwegian ship had turned way at full speed when the ispicious vessel was sighted, but

Atlantis was faster. Some ships had fought it out to the inevitable end with their stern gun. Silva plana’s skipper, when warning shots were fired and signals made from the raider, decided that discretion was the better part of valour. A prize crew was put aboard and a radio signal sent by the German operator cancelling the QQQ signal in an attempt to deceive the Allied naval authorities, though they were not deceived, as this had happened with other ships. Silvaplana was immediateliy despatched for Ger many with her valuable cargo, and arrived safely at Bordeaux via Cape Horn. But the account was to be squared.

Atlantis, with her motors now in poor condition, rendezvoused with the raiders Komet and Munsterland at a point with the code-name Balbo south of the Kermadecs, where stores and fuel were trans ferred for the voyage to Germany.

Then occurred a little-known in cident of the war. Captain Bernhard Rogge, in command of Atlantis, de cided to give his men some recrea tion after their long spell at sea, and on October 9, 1941, he put in tc the inhabited atoll of Vanavana, Tuamotu Group of French Oceania.

There the men went ashore, swam and enjoyed themselves for a day and, according to the German

records, were hospitably treated by the local natives.

Atlantis then tarried in the shelter of Henderson Island, sending out her seaplane daily in the hope of getting a ship near Pitcairn, but when none appeared a course was laid for the Atlantic via the Horn The end came while Atlantis was making engine repairs in the

Atlantic, with parts supplied by a German submarine which lay along side. The British cruiser HMS Devonshire happened along. The submarine crash-dived, leaving her commander and some crew aboard Atlantis. Atlantis immediately sent out a radio signal indicating that she was about to be attacked by a German cruiser—in an attempt

to confuse the commander of HMS Devonshire. An hour or so went by, the cruiser standing far off and sending a sea-plane to circle Atlantis, which was disguised as a British ship.

Finally word came from the Admiralty that Atlantis could not

possibly be the vessel pretende Fire was opened, Atlantis was sun and HMS Devonshire made off all speed, having detected sui marines in the neighbourhoc Seven Germans were killed in tl sinking. Survivors were picked r by three U-boats, transferred to

Upper: The smart 18½ ft. fibre-glass launch which Waringah Marine Service of Sydney despatched to the Catholic Mission at Alexis hafen, NG, late in August.

Lower: "Lakeleo" (ex "Norman Flare"), de livered to the New Hebrides in September for Mr. Oscar Newman by Captain Max Stanton.

erman submarine supply ship, hich was in turn sunk by HMS orsetshire some days later.

On the express orders of Hitler, ght submarines, four German and >ur Italian, were despatched and eked up the survivors again after ley had been 10 days in boats— id so Captain Rogge and his re aming men arrived at St. Nazaire id were publicly feted in Berlin i January 1, 1942, Rogge receiving om Hitler the Oak Leaves to the night’s Cross of the Iron Cross.

Tongan Flagship.—An Order

is just been placed with Niestern ros. & Co., of Delfzijl, Holland, by e Tonga Copra Board for a hand le new vessel of 500 tons dead light for the inter-island copra id passenger service. To be named yniu —same name as the present )oden 120 GT ketch owned by the >ard, the new craft will measure 53 ft x 159.1 ft x 27.2 ft x .2 ft, on a loaded draft of 9.8 ft. le will be powered by a 6-cylinder O-hp diesel direct coupled to the aft, with a normal 375 rpm, which 11 give the vessel a service speed 101 knots. General cargo capacity 700 tons cubic, with a copra pacity of about 400 tons. Crew’s commodation is forward, there e two hatches ’mid-ships, each rved by twin derricks, with the o masts located at break of poop

and focsle. Galley, freezer, storerooms, officers’ accommodation, and a spare two-berth cabin are located on the mam and poop decks aft.

Also on the poop deck is a special suite for the Tongan Royal Family and four two-berth passenger cabins. ’Midships, between the hatches, are toilet, washroom, etc., for crew, and bosun’s lockers. Above this block will be carried two 24-ft diesel surf-boats. Plans show a most attractive profile, with raked bow, cruiser stern, and streamlined low funnel. Equipment includes radar and radio direction-finder.

Aomu should be completed in July-August, 1957, will probably be delivered by a Dutch firm via Panama, and should arrive at Nukualofa m December, 1957.

Back To The Islands Berg

& Co. Ltd., of Sydney owners the 288 GT MV Kurimarau i ormerlv well known in the Fiii-Solomons area confirmed late in August ti-mt the vessel is now teing Ballina, NSW. and will be heading f° r the Islands about October, though exact plans are not yet finalised. The vessel will be regist ered at Hongkong. She has a dead weight cargo capacity of 250 tons, &n d is well suited to the carriage of deck passengers,

Under Repair:—The 205-Ton

Noumea trader Havannah, reported temporarily aground in Havannah Passage, New Caledonia, in June was in Auckland on survey during August. She left there early in 1954

Upper: Buzz and June Champion's 37 ft. itch "Little Bear" of San Francisco, now uising Polynesian waters.

Lower: The end of the 65-ton Papeete hooner "Tumuhau" after four years sitting [?] the beach. A mobile crane is here tearing [?] the bow section.

Photos by Oscar G. Nordman.

is the Colorado del Mar but was re aamed when purchased from Cap ;ain E. Savoie by Johnson & Co. and fcsociates of Noumea early this rear.

ON PATROL:—US Navy patrol raft No. 1141, out of Pearl Harbour, mder command of Lieutenant Alan Lvello, USN, called at Pago Pago nd Apia recently in the course f a training cruise. Under Captain [vello were three officers, eight Bgular navy men, and 43 reservists, deluding 5 Samoans. S 1 i gh 11 y mailer than the World War I flush fecked destroyers, this vessel is 170 5. overall, and carries two 3-inch uns. This was the longest cruise lade by Honolulu reservists since le war.

Bp Fleet Additions:—Burns

hilp & Co. announced in August lat they have ordered a 3,700-ton lighter for the Australia-Islands ■ade from a Norwegian yard. It is Sieved to be the first vessel ever be built there for an Australian »ner. To be completed by late 156. the vessel will be named \ontoro in succession to the pre- Far II popular passenger vessel of le same name. At the same time i Auckland report indicated that urns Philp (SS) Co. Ltd. of Suva ight be purchasing the 3-year-old utch-built 257 GT steel coaster tphyr II from New Zealand owners.

P’s Sydney office said however lat the report was premature

though the ship may have been under consideration.

FOR MUSEUM?:— Kaiulani, only steel 3-masted square-rigger ever built in the United States, may be purchased and preserved by the San Francisco Maritime Museum. Built some 50 years ago, she was first engaged on the Hawaii-Mainland sugar and general cargo trade, then the 1,571-ton vessel was sold to Alaska Packers and renamed Star of Finland. By 1934, when that company’s fleet had been disbanded

she remained the sole survivor. Sold again she was renamed Kaiulani, and after a period of idleness sailed

"Cheng He's"

Return

"Cheng Ho" on a Papeete slipway pre paring to re-enter the French Oceania inter island trade, as reported last month.

Photo by Oscar G.

Nordman.

from San Francisco in August, 1951, with a cargo of lumber for Durban via the Horn.

The Pacific War broke out dur ing that passage. At Durban she loaded explosives for Sydney, was diverted to Hobart due to the Syd ney midget submarine scare, and was there taken over by the US Army as an Island supply vessel in July, 1942. Her masts were cut down and she became a straight-out motor vessel. She performed good service refuelling transports in New Guinea waters, and following the war to the Philippines was there eventually demobilised and sold. She is now serving in Manila as a lumber storage barge.

ON THE BEACH; —According to travellers from the New Hebrides it appears most unlikely that the well known local vessel Albert Bonneaud wall sail again. It will be re membered that the 240-tonner was driven ashore in July, 1954, in a heavy blow. Hauled off, she was taken to Santo and beached pend ing rudder repairs and has lain there ever since.

UNSCATHED: —Jagged reefs are more common than sandbars in Islands waters, but Suzanne, a 52 GT Papeete auxiliary vessel, wisely chose the former when she grounded at Tubuai Island in July. She was undamaged and soon refloated.

UNLUCKY STAR; —Vila Star, of

Santo, received another punishing in July-August on a voyage from Dunedin to Sydney in ballast. She and her crew were looking some what weather-worn when they eventually made port after striking very heavy weather 250 miles from Sydney. The 465-ton ship was still in port late August.

Outward Bound; Lakele

still showing her old name t Norman Flare, cleared Sydney f( Luganville, Santo, via Lord Hov Island on August 23. The vessel, 1 which full details were given lai month, was commanded by Capta.

Max Stanton for the delivery voyag Also aboard was Mr. Fred Davis,

former Second Mate in Vila Star and well-known in New Guinea waters, who planned to remain in New Hebrides waters for some time.

Four others completed Lakeleo’s srew. The sale of this vessel was arranged by Sydney’s well known jroker, Captain Kennedy.

For Suva Register:—Mr.

[jewis Graham, head of Kiwi Ship )ing Co., of Auckland, reported in lydney in August that his com 3any had purchased the 659 GT paster Babinda from the AUSN Co. ind that she would be registered n Suva. His company recently old the 248 GT Nikau to the Northern Shipping Co., of Auckland.

Vikau, originally to trade in the islands, was registered in Vila, but tas been under charter to the pur hasers and did not leave the New Eealand coastal trade. Kiwi’s new urchase was build in England in 936 and measures 175.2 x. 30.1 x 0.8 ft. She is a three-masted, Sngle-screw diesel vessel, with a ruiser stem.

[Fleet Additions: Austral

sian Petroleum Co., searching for [1 in New Guinea, is steadily add ig to its fleet of small ships which [ already the largest such fleet perating anywhere in the South acific Islands. In recent months tiree 40-ft workboats have gone orth frpm Sydney. These were edi, built by Bjame Halvorsen td., Tagari, built by Lars Hal )rsen Sons Pty. Ltd., and latest, de jatched in August, was Tarim, flit by C. F. Haddock & Co. The impany chartered the 536-ton Aus alian coaster Melinga for six onths in August, to help with the g exploration programme now in ind. At the same time it was an mnced that the first of three 110x 26-ft barges being built at ’allsend-on-Tyne, England, had len despatched for New Guinea ider tow. Named Gimada, this irge has a capacity of 120 tons ladweight and is equipped with ree-ton derricks. The other two Tges, Gebosa, and Guribi, will be spatched under tow shortly.

The company’s 900 GT flagship, \puan Explorer (ex Hanne Sven), is expected south for survey.

Again Tramping:—The 300-

n Vasii, purchased at Auckland by irns Philp (SS) Co. Ltd. recently, is off on a voyage from Suva to & Gilberts in August, after a mber of inter-island trips.

PUNA FREEZER:—Now with the go Pago tuna fleet is the frsezer ip Saipan Maru. Formerly a US -vy LST, built at Jeffersonville, liana, in 1945, she has been fitted 'h a new bow and the necessary ezer and ice-making equipment, ere is a fully equipped machine )p so that, as mother ship, all fineering repairs can be carried ' on the fishing fleet. Saipan iru has a crew of 130 under Cap ri Amako Takeichi.

Further fishing vessels arriving from Japan under charter have peen bringing in initial loads of up to 80 tons of tuna and other fish The bait vessel Hoko Maru No. II was a recent arrival with a cargo of the specially imported herring bait from Japan. ■rtttt.t to I acit- wawmiroTi

menctag production

launches, despatched the first from its production line to the Catholic Mission, Alexishafen, in August.

Powered with an 8-hp Stuarti 1S smart looking 18!. ft x ft launch made 9 knots on harbour tnals, before being loaded aboard the Fukien Launcn owners in the tropics are becoming increas-

mgly convinced that the extra capital invested in a fibre-glass hull is well worth while VACANCIES—The Tonga Gov ernment was advertising locally for a Mate for its 108 GT despatch vessel Hifofua in July, and in August the Fiji Government was ’ 9 '

Personalities: Captain

Arnold Mellor, well remembered in New Guinea waters as master of the Army vessel Tarra until he retired several years ago, is now master of the Queensland Department of Native Affiairs patrol craft Melbidir based at Thursday Island. He was

recently gazetted a Justice of the Peace and a pearling inspector.

Captain A. C. Meldrum, also well mown in New Guinea vessels, is at present master of the 2,333-ton Lustralian coaster Delungra, and his Second Officer is Mr. Willie Schutz, ormerly of the Gilberts.

Captain R. D. Matheson, lately tiaster of Vasu, was to take corn nan d of Kiwi Shipping Co.’s icquisition, Babinda, mentioned Isewhere, in September. [ NEAR SQUEAK:— Vega, luxury chooner, inaugurating the Hono alu-Papeete passenger service in uly, nearly came to grief when she truck the To’ota rock in Papeete »ass on July 22 when bound out on f side-trip to Moorea. The steel- Ulled craft was apparently un amaged, and she later cleared for laiatea, Bora Bora, and Honolulu.

[Marine Disasters: —T W O

aarine disasters occurred in the Blands late in August, the most being the apparent loss with [1 hands of the 65-ft trawler-type pssel Elsie B, of Port Moresby.

Commanded by Captain James larlton, and with a crew believed i consist of eight natives, Elsie B ppears to have been overwhelmed i a severe tide-rip caused by a )mbination of factors, including eavy weather, in the Gulf of apua. The searching Administra-

tion vessels Tami and Heduru re ported very severe weather condi tions in the area, and both suf fered storm damage. They were despatched when Elsie B sent a distress message by radio on August 26, but only trace of the missing vessel was 30 floating oil drums and a few cases of meat.

The other disaster was the loss of the 60-ton Noumea coaster Henriette on Unia Reef, south east coast of New Caledonia, at 1 am on August 28.

With 40 tons of oil products and

five passengers aboard, the vessel, which is owned by a Tonkinese merchant, was bound from Noumea for Kouaou, east-coast nickel centre.

All hands got away through the pounding surf and made a safe landing on the coast, but only after the loss of two boats in the opera tion. The coaster Sorana del Mar was despatched to render aid, and a tug also later went to the scene, but Henriette was beyond salvage, though much of the cargo and equipment may be saved. The vessel

"cap des Paimies" taking shape at the yard of Teata Pautu, Papeete, for Mr. James salmon.

Details of the 80 ft. trading crafi were given last June.

Photo by Oscar G. Nordman.

Is believed to have been insured for about £13,000.

GOODWILL VISIT:— Taisei Maru, 2,430 GT Japanese training ship which picked up the remains of Japanese servicemen in New Guinea ports last year, called at Sydney

on a goodwill visit in August. Press and public mainly ignored the visit.

There were 111 cadets aboard.