HMASKara Kara
 Kara Karain the United Kingdom in 1926
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Name | Kara Kara |
| Owner | Sydney Ferries Limited |
| Builder | J. Crichton & Company,Saltney |
| Launched | 1926 |
| Homeport | Sydney |
| Fate | Requisitioned by theRoyal Australian Navyin 1941 |
| History | |
 Australia | |
| Name | HMASKara Kara |
| Commissioned | 14 September 1941 |
| Decommissioned | 8 December 1945 |
| Identification | Y276 |
| Fate | Sunk as target in 1973 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Vehicle ferry |
| Tonnage | 525GRTtons |
| Length | 187 feet (57 m)[1] |
| Beam | 35.6 feet (10.9 m) |
| Draught | 13.1 feet (4.0 m) |
| Propulsion | Triple expansion steam engines |
| Speed | 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) |
| Armament | |
HMASKara Karawas aRoyal Australian Navyboom gate vessel, converted from aSydney Ferries Limitedferry.
History
[edit]Kara Kara,KoondoolooandKalangwere three double ended vehicular ferries ordered bySydney Ferries Limitedfor use onSydney Harbour.Kara Karais thought to be an Australian Aboriginal word for the Moon.[2]The ferry was built byJ. Crichton & Company,Saltneyand launched in 1926. After the opening of theSydney Harbour Bridgein 1932,Kara Karawas converted as a cargo carrier and undertook this role until 1941.[3]
Requisitioned by theRoyal Australian Navy(RAN) on 27 February 1941 and converted into a boom gate vessel and commissioned as HMASKara Karaon 14 September 1941.[4][5]She was purchased outright on 7 November 1941 and sailed toDarwin.On the morning of theJapanese air raid on Darwinon 19 February 1942Kara Karawas tending the western gate of the nearly complete boom.[5]During the air raid she received one hit on an enemy aircraft, however was strafed suffering light damage and the loss of two men killed.[3][4]
She was placed in reserve at Darwin on 8 December 1945. On 6 December 1950 it left to return toSydney,arriving on 22 December 1950.Kara Karawas transferred to the un-maintained reserve at theWaverton Depoton 30 December 1960 and was later used as a depot ship for the reserve fleet atAthol Bight.[3][4]
Fate
[edit]Sold to Marrickville Metals,Marrickvillefor scrap on 15 February 1972,Kara Karawas stripped of useful material and the hulk was handed back to the RAN for use as a target. On 31 January 1973,Kara Karawas sunk forty miles offJervis Bayby RANA-4G Skyhawkfighter-bombers, and gunfire fromHMASYarra,TealandPerth.[3][4]
The engine fromKara Karais on display at theAustralian National Maritime MuseumatDarling Harbour.
Kara Karawas awarded thebattle honourDarwin 1942–43.[6][7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Lloyd's Register 1942–43"(PDF).plimsollshipdata.Retrieved23 September2011.
- ^Andrews, Graeme (1975).The Ferries of Sydney.A.H. & A.W. Reed Pty Ltd. p. 113.ISBN0589071726.
- ^abcdKara KaraFerries of Sydney
- ^abcdHMAS Kara KaraRoyal Australian Navy
- ^abGill, 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. 589–590.LCCN58037940.Retrieved30 October2018.
- ^"Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours".Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 13 June 2011.Retrieved23 December2012.
- ^"Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours"(PDF).Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 14 June 2011.Retrieved23 December2012.