SS Zealandia (1910)

Australian cargo and passenger steamship sunk in the bombing of Darwin

For other uses, see Zealandia (disambiguation).

Zealandia off Port Davey, Tasmania in 1933
(Photograph by Henry Allport)

History
Australia
Name| Zealandia
Namesake| New Zealand
Owner| Huddart Parker
Port of registry| Melbourne
Builder| John Brown & Company, Clydebank
Yard number| 392
Launched| 20 November 1909
Completed| May 1910
In service| 1910
Out of service| 1942
Identification|

* Official number 120764
* Code letters TVPW (until 1933)
*   * Call sign VJLK (from 1934)

Nickname(s)| "Z" or "Zed"
Fate|

* Sunk in air raids on Darwin,
* 19 February 1942

General characteristics
Tonnage|

* 6,683 GRT
* tonnage under deck 5,274
* 3,435 NRT

Length| 410.3 feet (125.1 m) p/p
Beam| 54.7 feet (16.7 m)
Draught| 24 feet 2 inches (7.4 m)
Depth| 23.4 feet (7.1 m)
Installed power| 1,157 NHP
Propulsion|

* 2 quadruple expansion engines,
* twin screws

Speed| 15 knots (28 km/h)
Troops| 800 troops and 1,800 tons of supplies (typical, as troopship)
Crew| 144

SS Zealandia, nicknamed "Z" (or "Zed"), was an Australian cargo and passenger steamship. She served as a troopship in both World War I and World War II. Zealandia transported the Australian 8th Division. Her crew were the last Allied personnel to see HMAS Sydney, which was lost with all hands in 1941. Zealandia was sunk in the air raids on Darwin of 19 February 1942.

## Building

[edit]

John Brown & Company of Clydebank, Scotland, built Zealandia for Huddart Parker & Co of Melbourne, launching her on 20 November 1909 and completing her in May 1910. She had 21 corrugated furnaces with a total grate area of 433 square feet (40 m2) heating seven single-ended boilers with a total heating surface of 17,775 square feet (1,651 m2). They supplied steam at 215 lbf/in2 to two four-cylinder quadruple expansion engines, each of which drove one of her twin screws.[1]

## Early civilian service

[edit]

In 1910–13, she was chartered by the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand mainly for use on the trans-Tasman route, but also undertaking voyages to ports as distant as Fremantle and Vancouver. Huddart Parker then used Zealandia on the Melbourne–Fremantle route.

## World War I

[edit]

In May 1918, Zealandia was requisitioned as an Allied troopship. She was among the ships used to transport the American Expeditionary Force from the east coast of the United States to France. After the armistice, she carried troops on the Liverpool–Sydney route. In 1919, she resumed her commercial role with Huddart Parker.

## World War II

[edit]

On 29 June 1940, Zealandia embarked part of the 8th Division, the 2/21st Battalion, later known as Gull Force, at Sydney and took it and other units to Darwin.

Zealandia transported another part of the 8th Division, Lark Force (otherwise known as the 2/22nd Battalion), to Rabaul, leaving Sydney on 19 April 1941. Following that voyage, Zealandia went to Noumea, New Caledonia and transported Free French troops to Sydney.

In mid-1941, Zealandia took the main body of the 8th Division, their stores, and equipment to Singapore, where the main body of the 8th was surrendered to Japanese forces in February 1942.

After several other war-related voyages, in November 1941 Zealandia visited several Australian ports en route to Singapore. Theu left Melbourne on 2 November.[2] A labour dispute involving some crew members caused her and HMAS Sydney to be delayed in leaving Fremantle, whence Sydney escorted Zealandia to Sunda Strait. Zealandia's crew were the last Allied personnel known to have seen Sydney, which was sunk by the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran and lost with all hands when she attempted to stop the Kormoran.

Zealandia also took another 8th Division detachment, Sparrow Force, to Timor, departing Darwin with 957 troops the morning of 10 December 1941 escorted by HMAS Westralia with another 445 troops that reached Koepang on 12 December. On 20 December, the ship departed Darwin with 207 women and 357 children as the first of several ships to evacuate civilians from Darwin to southern Australia.[3]

In Sydney, the ship was fitted with material to protect her oil tanks in the event of an attack. On 23 January, she left Sydney, transporting an anti-tank company and its equipment to Darwin, where it arrived on 6 February.

### Sinking

[edit]

A lifeboat (centre) pulls away from Zealandia (right), as Neptuna explodes in the background

Main article: Bombing of Darwin

In the air raids of 19 February 1942, a number of bombs fell close to Zealandia, then one fell through a hatch and exploded in a hold, causing a serious fire. Japanese planes also attacked Zealandia with cannon and machine-gun fire. Ammunition in one hold started to explode and the ship's fire pumps were disabled by another bomb. The order was given to abandon ship.

Zealandia sank, leaving only her masts clear of the water. Two crew members died from wounds sustained in the attack. 142 crew members survived.

The ship was salvaged in 1960 during the Fujita salvage operation. What remains of Zealandia lies in Darwin Harbour at position 12°29.00′S 130°51.05′E﻿ / ﻿12.48333°S 130.85083°E﻿ / -12.48333; 130.85083 at a depth of 19 metres (62 ft),[4][5] and is a recreational dive site.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Lloyd's Register, Steamships and Motor Ships (PDF). London: Lloyd's Register. 1933. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
2. ^ Matthews, Tony (6 January 2021). Quiet Courage: Forgotten Heroes of World War Two. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-922387-68-4.
3. ^ Gill, G. Hermon (1957). Royal Australian Navy 1939–1942. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 2 – Navy. Vol. 1\. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. pp. 487, 588. Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
4. ^ "World War II Shipwrecks". Northern Territory Government, Australia. Archived from the original on 6 October 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
5. ^ "WWII Wrecks". Darwin Dive Centre. Archived from the original on 21 September 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2009.

### Sources

[edit]

* Laxon, William A (2008). Huddart Parker: A famous Australasian Shipping company, 1876–1961. Caulfield South: Nautical Association of Australia.
* Marcus, Alex (1986). "DEMS? What's DEMS?": the story of the men of the Royal Australian Navy who manned defensively equipped merchant ships during World War II. Brisbane: Boolarong.
* McCarthy, Sophie (1992). World War II shipwrecks and the first Japanese air raid on Darwin, 19 February 1942. Darwin: Northern Territory Museum of Arts & Sciences.
* Smith, Neil C (2006). With the red duster. Gardenvale, Vic.: Mostly Unsung Military History Research and Publications.
* Mountevans, Edward Evans (1951). War service of the Merchant Navy: a record of the participation of the men and ships of Huddart Parker Ltd. Melbourne: Huddart Parker.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zealandia (ship, 1910).

* "Official Log Book". National Archives of Australia.
* "SS Zealandia". merchant-navy-ships.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010.
* Dunn, Peter (30 May 2006). "Sinking of the ship "Zealandia" in Darwin Harbour on 19 February 1942 during a Japanese Air Attack on Darwin". ozatwar.com. Retrieved 21 July 2016.

* v
* t
* e

Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in February 1942

Shipwrecks|

* 2 Feb: U-581, W. L. Steed
* 3 Feb: Talthybius
* 4 Feb: India Arrow
* 5 Feb: HMS Arbutus, China Arrow, Empress of Asia
* 6 Feb: U-82
* 9 Feb: Empire Fusilier, USS Lafayette, Natsushio
* 11 Feb: USS Shark, HMCS Spikenard
* 12 Feb: HMS Maori, Skanderbeg, V-1302 John Mahn
* 13 Feb: HMS Tempest
* 14 Feb: HMS Grasshopper, HMS Li Wo, President Taylor, Vyner Brooke
* 15 Feb: HNLMS Van Ghent
* 16 Feb: Monagas
* 17 Feb: USS Detector, Empire Comet, USS Paramount, HNLMS Van Nes
* 18 Feb: HNLMS K VII, USS Pollux, HNLMS Soerabaja, Surcouf, USS Truxtun
* 19 Feb:  British Consul, British Motorist, Don Isidro, Empire Seal, Kelat, Mauna Loa, HMAS Mavie, USAT Meigs, Miraflores, Neptuna, USS Peary, HNLMS Piet Hein, Portmar, Zealandia
* 21 Feb: Kurtuluş
* 22 Feb: Hanne, Sama
* 23 Feb: HMS P38
* 24 Feb: Empire Celt, Struma (disaster)
* 26 Feb: Cassimir
* 27 Feb: HNLMS De Ruyter, HMS Electra, USS Langley, HMS Jupiter, HNLMS Java, HNLMS Kortenaer, R.P. Resor, Tembien
* 28 Feb: USS Jacob Jones
* Unknown date: I-23

Other incidents|

* 4 Feb: USS Marblehead
* 18 Feb: USS Wilkes
* 19 Feb: Barossa, Shch-421
* 20 Feb: Koolama
* 22 Feb: Enrico Cosenz
* 24 Feb: USS Thresher
* 25 Feb: I-5, I-6
* 28 Feb: USS Greenling, USS S-17

1941 1942 1943
January 1942 March 1942

* v
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Recreational dive sites

Reef diving regions

* Akumal
* Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area
* Aliwal Shoal
* Amed (Bali)
* Anilao
* Apo Island
* Apo Reef
* Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park
* Bay of Pigs
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* Bohol Sea
* Bowie Seamount
* Bunaken
* Bunaken National Park
* Cahuita National Park
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* Edmonds Underwater Park
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* St. Crispin's Reef
* Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area
* Taganga
* Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area
* Tubbataha Reef
* Utila
* Wakatobi Regency
* Weh Island

Reef dive sites

* Azure Window
* Cod Hole
* Daedalus Reef
* Darwin's Arch
* Devil's Throat at Punta Sur
* Elphinstone Reef
* Eyemouth
* Fanadir
* Frederiksted Pier
* French Reef
* Fowey Rocks Light
* Gamul Kebir
* Hilsea Point Rock
* Inland Sea, Gozo
* Kennack Sands
* The Manacles
* Magic Point
* Octopus Hole
* Pope's Eye
* Portsea Hole
* Second Valley
* Sund Rock
* St Abbs
* Stingray City, Grand Cayman
* Wolf Rock

| Artificial reefs|

* Edithburgh jetty
* Gibraltar Artificial Reef
* Merkanti Reef
* Port Hughes jetty
* Port Noarlunga jetty
* Rapid Bay jetty
* Shark River Reef
* South Channel Fort
* Osborne Reef

|

Underwater artworks|

* Cancún Underwater Museum
* Christ of the Abyss
* Circle of Heroes
* Kristu tal-Baħħara
* Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park

Snorkelling sites|

* Fungus Rock

Wreck diving regions

* Bullhead Point Historical and Archeological District
* Calve Island
* Chuuk Lagoon
* Coron Bay
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* Shipwrecks of Isle Royale
* Loch Long
* Maritime Heritage Trail – Battle of Saipan
* Michigan Underwater Preserves
* Pearl and Hermes Atoll
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* Robben Island Marine Protected Area
* Scapa Flow
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* Tulagi
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* Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
* List of shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
* Ve Skerries
* Wardang Island
* Western Rocks, Isles of Scilly
* Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve
* Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary
* List of shipwrecks in the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary
* Wreck Alley, San Diego

Wreck dive sites

* 115 (barge)

| A|

* HMS A1
* HMS A3
* USS Aaron Ward
* Abessinia
* USS Accokeek
* HMAS Adelaide
* Admiral Sampson
* Adolphus Busch
* Aeolian Sky
* USS Aeolus
* Agat World War II Amtrac
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* Aratama Maru
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* USS Atlanta
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|

* Bärenfels
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* USCGC Bibb
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* Dania
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* Eagle
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* Erie L. Hackley
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* HMS Falmouth
* Fifi
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* SS Francisco Morazan
* Francis Hinton
* Frank O'Connor
* F.T. Barney
* Fujikawa Maru
* Fumizuki

* Gallinipper
* SATS General Botha
* USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg
* George A. Marsh
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* HMS Ghurka
* USS Gilliam
* Glenlyon
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* SAS Good Hope
* HMAS Goorangai
* Gothenburg
* Grace A. Channon
* Grecian
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* Gregory Poole
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* MT Haven
* SS Henry Chisholm
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* HMS Hermes
* Herzogin Cecilie
* SS Hesper
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* Home
* HMS Hood
* HMAS Hobart

* Igara
* USS Indra
* SS Ironsides
* SS Isaac M. Scott
* Island City

* HMAS J1
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* HMAS J4
* HMAS J5
* James Eagan Layne
* J.S. Seaverns
* SS John B. Cowle
* John M. Osborn
* SS John Mitchell
* Jura

* SS Kamloops
* Kashi Maru
* PS Keystone State
* King Cruiser
* USS Kittiwake
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* SMS Kronprinz
* Kyarra
* Kyle Spangler

* PS Lady Elgin
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* HMS Laforey
* SS Lakeland
* USS Lamson
* USAT Liberty
* SS Louisiana
* Louis Sheid
* SS L.R. Doty
* USS LST-507
* Lumberman

* HMS M2
* HMCS Mackenzie
* Madeira
* SMS Markgraf
* SS Marquette
* Mayflower (scow)
* Mikhail Lermontov
* Maine
* Maloja
* HMS Maori
* SS Maori
* SS Margaret Olwill
* Marguerite
* SS Mauna Loa
* USAT Meigs
* Mendi
* MV Mercedes I
* USCGC Mesquite
* Metamora
* SS Midland City
* USS Mindanao
* Minnedosa
* SS Miowera
* SS Milwaukee
* USS Mizpah
* Miztec
* USCGC Mohawk
* Mohegan
* RMS Moldavia
* SS Monarch
* SS Monrovia
* HMS Montagu
* SS M.M. Drake
* MV RMS Mulheim
* USS Muliphen
* SS Myron

* Nagato
* Niagara
* Niagara (tug)
* HMCS Nipigon
* SS Norman
* Northerner

* Oceana
* SS Onoko
* USS Oriskany
* Oslofjord
* Ozone

* P29
* P31
* SS Panay
* SS Papoose
* Pedernales
* Persier
* HMAS Perth
* SS Pewabic
* SAS Pietermaritzburg
* USS Pilotfish
* Piłsudski
* SS Pioneer
* USCGC Point Swift
* Pool Fisher
* SS Port Kembla
* HMS Port Napier
* Preußen
* President Coolidge
* HMS Prince of Wales

* Queen Victoria

* R.P. Resor
* Radaas
* USS Rankin
* Rainbow Warrior
* Regina
* HMS Repulse
* RMS Rhone
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* Robert C. Pringle
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* USS Rochester
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* Royal Adelaide
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* Rozi
* Russia

* HMS Safari
* Sagamore
* HMCS Saguenay
* Sakawa
* Salem Express
* Samuel Mather
* Samuel P. Ely
* Sanko Harvest
* USS Saratoga
* HMCS Saskatchewan
* S.C. Baldwin
* USS Schurz
* USS Scuffle
* USS Scrimmage
* HMS Scylla
* Selah Chamberlain
* HMS Sidon
* USCGC Spar
* South Australian
* USS Spiegel Grove
* Sport
* Stanegarth
* Stanwood
* Stella
* Stepas Darius
* HMS St Lawrence
* Superior City
* HMAS Swan
* Sweepstakes

* Tahoe
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* USS Tarpon
* Thesis
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* SAS Transvaal
* Treasure
* HMNZS Tui

* U-40
* U-352
* U-1195
* Um El Faroud

* V 1605 Mosel
* Varvassi
* USS Vermilion
* Vernon
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* HMNZS Waikato
* Walter L M Russ
* HMS Warrior
* Washingtonian
* Waubuno
* HMNZS Wellington
* Wexford
* William C. Moreland
* Wisconsin
* USS Wilkes-Barre

* USS Yancey
* YO-257
* Yongala
* HMCS Yukon

* Zenobia
* Zealandia
* Zingara

Cave dive sites

Cave diving regions of the world

Cave dive sites:

* Blauhöhle
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* Boesmansgat
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* Chinhoyi Caves
* Cocklebiddy, Western Australia
* Devil's Throat at Punta Sur
* Engelbrecht Cave
* Fossil Cave
* Hranice Abyss
* Jordbrugrotta
* Kilsby sinkhole
* Molnár János Cave
* Nereo Cave
* Piccaninnie Ponds
* Pluragrotta
* Pollatoomary
* Ricks Spring
* The Shaft
* Sistema Dos Ojos
* Sistema Huautla
* Sistema Nohoch Nah Chich
* Sistema Ox Bel Ha
* Sistema Sac Actun
* Uamh an Claonaite
* Vortex Spring
* Wakulla Springs
* Wondergat
* Zacatón

Freshwater dive sites

* Blue Hole (New Mexico)
* Blue Lake (Utah)
* Dinorwic quarry
* Dorothea quarry
* Dutch Springs
* Ewens Ponds
* Homestead caldera
* Little Blue Lake
* Logue Brook Dam
* Ponce de Leon Spring
* Rum Jungle
* Silfra
* Vortex Spring
* Wast Water
* Wazee Lake

Training sites

* Blue Abyss
* Capernwray Dive Centre
* Deep Dive Dubai
* Deepspot
* Eccleston Quarry
* Hotel Terme Millepini
* National Diving and Activity Centre
* Nemo 33
* Seacrest Cove 2
* Slickstones Quarry, Cromhall
* Stoney Cove
* Swanage Pier

Related topics

* Black-water diving
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* Scuba diving
* Scuba diving tourism
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* Underwater diving
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* Portal:Underwater diving

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