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SSMauna Loa

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Coordinates:12°29.86′S130°49.16′E/ 12.49767°S 130.81933°E/-12.49767; 130.81933
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SS West Conob shortly after completion in 1919. She was renamed Mauna Loa in 1934.
SSWest Conobshortly after completion in 1919. She was renamedMauna Loain 1934.
History
Name
  • West Conob
  • 1928:Golden Eagle
  • 1934:Mauna Loa
NamesakeMauna Loa
Owner
Operator
Builder
Yard number14[2]
Launched1 December 1918
CompletedMay 1919[2]
IdentificationUS Official number: 218048[1]
FateBombed and sunk 19 February 1942 in theBombing of Darwin[6]
General characteristics
TypeDesign 1013 ship
Tonnage
Length
Beam54 ft 6 in (16.61 m)[1]
Draft24 ft (7.3 m)[7]
Propulsion
Speed10.5 knots (19.4 km/h)[1]

SSMauna Loawas asteam-poweredcargo shipof theMatson Navigation Companythat was sunk in thebombing of Darwinin February 1942. She was christenedSSWest Conobin 1919 and renamedSSGolden Eaglein 1928. At the time of her completion in 1919, the ship was inspected by theUnited States Navyfor possible use asUSSWest Conob(ID-4033)but was neither taken into the Navy norcommissioned.

West Conobwas built in 1919 for theUnited States Shipping Board(USSB), part of theWestseries of ships—steel-hulledcargo ships built on theWest Coast of the United Statesfor theWorld War Iwar effort—and was the 14th ship built atLos Angeles Shipbuilding & Dry Dock CompanyinSan Pedro, California.She initially sailed for thePacific Mail Steamship Companyand had circumnavigated the globe twice by 1921. She began sailing to South America forSwayne & Hoyt Linesin 1925, and then, to Australia and New Zealand. When Swayne & Hoyt's operation was taken over by theOceanic and Oriental Navigation Companya few years later, she sailed under the nameGolden Eagleuntil 1934, when she was transferred to Oceanic and Oriental's parent, the Matson Navigation Company. Matson renamed herMauna Loa,afterthe large shield volcanoon theisland of Hawaii,and put her into service between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland.

Shortly before the United States' entry into World War II,Mauna Loawascharteredby theUnited States Department of Warto carry supplies to thePhilippines.The ship was part of an aborted attempt to reinforceAlliedforces under attack by the Japanese onTimorin mid-February 1942. After the return of her convoy toDarwin, Northern Territory,Mauna Loawas one of eight ships sunk in Darwin Harbour in the first Japanese bombing attack on the Australian mainland on 19 February. The remains of her wreck and her cargo are adive sitein the harbor.

Design and construction[edit]

TheWestships were cargo ships of similar size and design built by several shipyards on the west coast of the United States for the USSB for emergency use during World War I. Some 40Westships were built byLos Angeles Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Companyof Los Angeles,[2]all given names that began with the wordWest.[8]West Conob(Los Angeles Shipbuilding yard number 14)[2]was completed in May 1919.[2]

West Conobwas 5,899gross register tons(GRT), and was 410 feet 1 inch (124.99 m) long (between perpendiculars) and 54 feet 6 inches (16.61 m)abeam.[1]She had a steel hull and adeadweight tonnageof 8,600DWT.[2][6]Sources do not giveWest Conob's other hull characteristics, butWest Grama,asister shipalso built at Los Angeles Shipbuilding had adisplacementof 12,225 t with a meandraftof 24 feet 2 inches (7.37 m), and ahold29 feet 9 inches (9.07 m) deep.[9]

West Conob's power plant consisted of a singletriple-expansionreciprocating steam enginewith cylinders of 28½, 47, and 78 inches (72, 120, and 200 cm) with a 48-inch (120 cm) stroke. She was outfitted with three Fosterwater-tube boilers,each with a heating area of 4,150 square feet (386 m2) and containing 52 4-inch (10 cm) and 827 2-inch (5.1 cm) tubes.[10]Her boilers were heated by mechanicaloil burnersfed by two pumps, each 6 by 4 by 6 inches (15 × 10 × 15 cm) with a capacity of 30 U.S. gallons (110 L) per minute.[11]Fully loaded, the ship could hold 6,359 barrels (1,011.0 m3) offuel oil.West Conob's singlescrew propellerwas 17 feet 1 inch (5.21 m) in diameter with a 15-foot-3-inch (4.65 m) pitch and a developed area of 102 square feet (9.5 m2).[10][Note 1]The ship was designed to travel at 11 knots (20 km/h),[10]and averaged 11.1 knots (20.6 km/h) during her first voyage in June 1919.[12]

Career[edit]

After completion,West Conobwas inspected by the12th Naval Districtof the United States Navy for possible naval service and was assigned the identification number of 4033. Had she beencommissioned,she would have been known as USSWest Conob(ID-4033), but the Navy neither took over the ship nor commissioned her.[6]

Little information on the first years ofWest Conob's career is found in sources. But it is known that she was operated by thePacific Mail Steamship Companyon Pacific routes.[4]The ship departed Los Angeles on her maiden voyage to Hong Kong, making her way to San Francisco.West Conobdeparted from there on 13 June 1919 forHonolulu,where she arrived eight days later. After refueling at Honolulu, she headed to Hong Kong, and from there, retraced her route to return to San Francisco.[13]Details of later voyages are not available, but by mid-April 1921,West Conobhad completed twocircumnavigationswithout needing to stop for repairs. At that time, the USSB allocatedWest Conobfor service toGenoa.[5][Note 2]

In December 1925,West Conobwas allocated toSwayne & Hoyt Linesfor service to the east coast of South America.[5]By mid-1926,West Conobwas sailing for Swayne & Hoyt's American-Australian-Orient Line when theLos Angeles Timesreported her steaming to New Zealand with 350,000 square feet (33,000 m2) ofwallboard.[14][15]

SS Golden Eaglein Vancouver (1932). Photograph by Walter E. Frost

In October 1927, theLos Angeles Timesreported on the impending sale ofWest Conoband 18 other Swayne & Holt ships to a San Francisco financier.[14]The ship later became a part of the fleet of theOceanic and Oriental Navigation Company,a joint venture between Oceanic-Matson, a subsidiary ofMatson Navigation Company,and theAmerican-Hawaiian Steamship Company,established to take over operation of transpacific routes that had been managed for the USSB by Swayne & Holt Lines.[16][Note 3]On 3 April 1928 it was reported that eight ships acquired by Matson were renamed—Dewey,West Carmona,West Cajoot,West Calera,West Conob,West Elcajon,West Nivaria,andWest TogusbecomingGolden State,Golden Fleece,Golden Bear,Golden Harvest,Golden Eagle,Golden Kauri,Golden Coast,andGolden Forrest,respectively.[17]The ship operated under the nameGolden Eaglefor the next six years.[1]Golden Eaglewas sailing for Oceanic and Oriental from Los Angeles to Australia in March 1930, when theLos Angeles Timesreported that she had sailed with 6,700 long tons (6,800 t) of case oil and 200 long tons (200 t) of general merchandise.[3]

In March 1934, Matson began a new "sugar, molasses and pineapple service" from Hawaii to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and eitherPhiladelphiaor New York, employingGolden Eagleand three other cargo ships.[18][Note 4]In May, after returning from New York on her first voyage in the new service,Golden Eagleentered drydock at Los Angeles for general repairs and repainting. She emerged in Matsonliveryand with the new name ofMauna Loa.[19]She sailed on her maiden voyage under her new name to Honolulu with 4,500 long tons (4,600 t) of general cargo in late May.[20]Mauna Loacontinued on the Hawaii–California–Philadelphia/New York service, occasionally making extra voyages from Los Angeles to Honolulu when dictated by cargo bookings. One such extra voyage occurred in February 1936 when she carried almost a full load of building materials for family dwellings in Hawaii.[21]

In August 1936,Mauna Loadiverted to respond to adistress callissued by thewindjammerPacific Queensome 700 nautical miles (1,300 km) southwest of Los Angeles.Pacific Queenhad sailed fromSan Diegoin July with a crew of 32—most of whom wereSea Scouts—and had been missing for two weeks.Mauna Loa's crew provided required supplies for the sailing vessel and her radioed messages prompted theUnited States Coast Guardto recall all of its vessels actively searching forPacific Queen.[22]

On 18 November 1941, theWar DepartmentcharteredMauna Loaand seven other ships to carry supplies to thePhilippines.[6][23]Even though details of the charters were deemed confidential, the names of all eight ships were published in theLos Angeles Timestwo days later.[23][Note 5]

World War II[edit]

Less than three weeks afterMauna Loa's charter, theJapanese Attack on Pearl Harborpropelled the United States into World War II.Mauna Loa,sailing independently from the US, was diverted in the days after the Pearl Harbor attack toSydney, Australia,arriving on December 29. There she was offloaded the 214 vehicles, several barrels of aviation gasoline, subsistence supplies and ammunition she was carrying. She was then relocated toDarwin, Northern Territory,arriving on January 19, 1942. She was considered for use as a blockade runner for an operation to thePhilippines,but was not selected. She was selected later for the Timor reinforcement convoy.[24]

Mauna Loa(middle)is seen in Darwin Harbour in February 1942 withsloopsHMASSwan(left)andHMASWarrego.

Japanese forces advancing south from theMalayan Peninsulahad reachedTimorby mid-February thus breaching theMalay Barrierthat had been a priority defense line.[25]In order to prevent Timor's fall, which would give the Japanese a base within 400 miles (640 km) of Darwin, the Americans and Australians reinforced the AustralianSparrow ForceandRoyal Dutch East Indies Armyforces defending the island.[26]

The American cruiserHoustonand destroyerPeary,and the AustraliansloopsSwanandWarrego,ledMauna Loaand three other civilian ships out of Darwin Harbour at about 03:00 on 15 February heading forKoepangwith relief intended for Timor.[27]Mauna Loa,loaded with 500 men,[28]andUnited States Armytransport shipMeigscarried an Australianinfantry battalionand anantitankunit between them.[26][Note 6]The British refrigerated cargo shipTulagiand the American cargo shipPortmarcarried the148th Field Artillery Regimentof theIdaho National Guardbetween them.[26][29][Note 7]

The ships were spotted by a JapaneseKawanishi H6K "Mavis"four-engined flying boat that tailed the convoy at 10,000 feet (3,000 m).[26]When CaptainAlbert H. RooksofHoustonrequestedair coverfor the convoy,[30]a loneCurtiss P-40responded and engaged the Mavis, with each plane managing to shoot down the other.[31]At around 09:00 the next day, another Mavis began trailing the convoy and at 11:00, 36 land-basedMitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally"twin-engine bombers and tenseaplanesattacked in two waves.[32]Houston,the primary target of the bombers, unleashed all of her available antiaircraft fire with neither bombs norHouston's fire being effective.[32]In the second wave, from the southwest and after the ships had scattered,Houstonshot down seven of forty-four planes and repelled the attacking aircraft.[28][32]Houston's 900 rounds fired in the 45-minute attack resembled a "sheet of flame", according to witnesses.[28][26]The only casualties during the attack were from one near miss onMauna Loa;one crewman and one passenger were killed and 18 men were wounded in the attack.[28]The convoy was ordered back to Darwin when word that Koepang had fallen to the Japanese was received; she arrived back in Darwin on 18 February.[27]

Sinking[edit]

Main article:Bombing of Darwin (February 1942)
Mauna Loaburns before sinking on 19 February 1942 in Darwin Harbour.

On 19 February 1942, the Japanese carrier striking force, consisting of aircraft carriersAkagi,Kaga,Hiryu,andSoryuunder the command of AdmiralChuichi Nagumo,launched 189 planes to attack Darwin.[33]The carrier planes rendezvoused with 54 land-based bombers fromKendariandAmbon.[34]

At the time of the raid theMauna LoaandMeigshad unloaded troops and moved to anchorages with the force's equipment and ammunition aboard withNeptunaandZealandiaunloading ammunition at the docks that were the first target of high altitude bombers. Both ships at the dock were hit withNeptunaexploding. After a second wave of bombers, concentrating on the airport, came waves of dive bombers that for two hours concentrated on ships in the harbor.[32]

During the attack,Mauna Loaquickly sank after she was hit by two bombs that landed in an openhatch.[35]None of her 37-man crew or seven passengers was injured.[33]Along withMauna Loa,two other American ships, destroyerPearyand Army transportMeigs,were sunk. In addition to the many other ships that were damaged, fiveCommonwealthships were sunk, including two Australian passenger ships in use as troopships,NeptunaandZealandia.The total death toll for the attack was around 250; of the total, 157 died on ships.[36]

After the war, a Japanese salvage firm was awarded the contract for salvaging the remains ofMauna Loaand the other wrecks in the harbor, but were prohibited from removing any of the American-owned cargo still remaining.[37]What remains ofMauna Loalies in Darwin Harbour at position12°29.86′S130°49.16′E/ 12.49767°S 130.81933°E/-12.49767; 130.81933at a depth of 60 feet (18 m),[38][37]and is adive site.[39]Military trucks,Bren Gun Carriers,aHarley-Davidson motorcycle,and many rounds of.303-and.50-caliberammunition are among the pieces ofMauna Loa's cargo that still lie strewn about the wreck.[37][39]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^Thedeveloped areaof a propeller is the surface area of all blades combined. See: Eliasson and Larsson, pp. 174–75, 179.
  2. ^TheGenoaservice to whichWest Conobwas allocated was reported as being from unspecified "northern ports".
  3. ^Oceanic-Matson operated the California–Australia–New Zealand routes, while theAmerican-Hawaiian Steamship Companyoperated the routes to China.
  4. ^The other three ships named wereMauna Ala,General M.H. Sherman,andMakiki.
  5. ^The other seven ships wereIowan,Portmar,West Camargo,Steel Voyager,Jane Christenson,F. J. Luckenbach,andMalama.
  6. ^USATMeigs,formerly namedWest Lewark,was—likeMauna Loa—built by theLos Angeles Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company.See:Colton, Tim."Todd Pacific Shipyards, San Pedro CA".Shipbuildinghistory.com.The Colton Company. Archived fromthe originalon 22 September 2008.Retrieved23 September2008.
  7. ^Portmaris sometimes referred to asPort Marin sources describing this convoy and the subsequent attack on Darwin.

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdefghi"West Conob".Miramar Ship Index.R.B.Haworth.Retrieved23 September2008.
  2. ^abcdefColton, Tim."Todd Pacific Shipyards, San Pedro CA".Shipbuildinghistory.com.The Colton Company. Archived fromthe originalon 22 September 2008.Retrieved23 September2008.Colton refers to the ship asWest Cohob.(Todd Pacific Shipyardsbought the Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company in 1945.)
  3. ^abcDrake, Waldo (15 March 1930). "Case-oil rush to Australia underway".Los Angeles Times.p. 6.
  4. ^ab"Tribute to ship built at harbor".Los Angeles Times.17 April 1921. p. I-7.
  5. ^abc"Shipping and Los Angeles Harbor news".Los Angeles Times.15 December 1925. p. 19.
  6. ^abcdNaval Historical Center."West Conob".DANFS.
  7. ^abcdJordan, p. 404.
  8. ^Crowell and Wilson, pp. 358–59.
  9. ^Naval Historical Center."West Grama".DANFS.
  10. ^abcAndros, p. 123.
  11. ^Andros, pp. 123–24.
  12. ^Andros, p. 121.
  13. ^Andros, pp. 121, 123.
  14. ^ab"Large shipping deal in making".Los Angeles Times.18 October 1927. p. 11.
  15. ^"Large foreign shipment made by local firm".Los Angeles Times.13 June 1926. p. E12.
  16. ^"New shipping concern".The New York Times.23 February 1928. p. 43.
  17. ^The Register, 5 April 1928, p. 19
  18. ^Drake, Waldo (19 March 1934). "New service opens today".Los Angeles Times.p. A6.
  19. ^Drake, Waldo (18 May 1934). "Shipping news and activities at Los Angeles Harbor".Los Angeles Times.p. 19.The newspaper mistakenly reports that she would be renamedMauna Ala,a name already in use by another Matson ship. For another article listing the correct new name, seeDrake, Waldo (4 April 1934). "Shipping news and activities at Los Angeles Harbor".Los Angeles Times.p. A12.
  20. ^Cave, Wayne B. (25 May 1934). "Shipping news and activities at Los Angeles Harbor".Los Angeles Times.p. 17.
  21. ^Drake, Waldo (25 February 1936). "Shipping news and activities at Los Angeles Harbor".Los Angeles Times.p. A12.
  22. ^"Aid given missing ship and sea hunt called off".Los Angeles Times.24 August 1936. p. A1.
  23. ^abCave, Wayne B. (20 November 1941). "New group of freighters drafted for war service".Los Angeles Times.p. 33.
  24. ^Source: Williford, pages 177-78, 233, 310-312.
  25. ^Morton, Louis (1962).The War in the Pacific—Strategy and Command: The First Two Years.United States Army In World War II. Washington, D. C.: Center Of Military History, United States Army. p. 159.LCCN61060001.Retrieved22 February2021.
  26. ^abcdeFeuer, p. 6.
  27. ^abTolley, p. 315.
  28. ^abcdCressman, p. 75.
  29. ^"Tulagi".Miramar Ship Index.R.B.Haworth.Retrieved23 September2008.
  30. ^Morison, p. 314.
  31. ^Feuer, p. 7.
  32. ^abcdOffice of Naval Intelligence – United States Navy (1943).The Java Sea Campaign.Combat Narratives. Washington, DC: United States Navy. pp. 36–39.LCCN2009397493.Archived fromthe originalon 2 September 2013.Retrieved26 August2013.
  33. ^abCressman, p. 76
  34. ^Morison, p. 316.
  35. ^Morison, p. 319.
  36. ^Swain, pp. 136–37.
  37. ^abc"WWII Wrecks".Darwin Dive Centre. Archived fromthe originalon 21 September 2008.Retrieved23 September2008.
  38. ^"World War II Shipwrecks".Northern Territory Government, Australia.Retrieved20 February2015.
  39. ^abColeman and Marsh, p. 72.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Williford, Glen (2010).Racing the Sunrise, Reinforcing America's Pacific Outposts, 1941-1942.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN978-1591149569.


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