Wollongbar (II)

History | Database | Links | Print

The new wave of Japanese submarine attacks in 1943 continued with devastating effects when I-180 sank the Wollongbar off Crescent Head. Thirty-two lives were lost including Captain Benson, with the five survivors rescued by lifeboat.

The 2,240-ton steel steamer was built in 1922 to replace the North Coast Steam Navigation Company's earlier vessel of that name wrecked at Byron Bay in 1921. The new 87-metre steamer was built at Glasgow, United Kingdom.

The loss of the Wollongbar, coincided with a fresh spate of submarine attacks in early 1943 which claimed: Kalingo 17.1.1943; Iron Knight 8.2.1943; Starr King 9.2.1943; Recina 11.4.1943; Limerick 26.4.1943; Lydia M. Childs 27.4.1943; Fingal 5.5.1943 and Portmar 16.6.1943.

PHOTO: Image: Underwater images after AUSROV footage 2019.
Image: Underwater images after AUSROV footage 2019.

Image: Underwater images after AUSROV footage 2019.

File:

File:Summary sheet of vessels lost in NSW during WWII

Database

Site information

Site ID:

243

Type:

Steamer screw

Construction:

Steel

Primary industry:

Transport

Sub-industry:

Gross tonnage:

2239

Net tonnage:

874

Length (mtrs):

86.89

Beam (mtrs):

12.83

Draft (mtrs):

7.284

Cargo:

Engine:

Triple expansion

Country built:

UNITED KINGDOM

State built:

Port built:

Glasgow

builder:

Lithgows Ltd

Port registered:

Sydney

When built:

1922

Registration number:

25/1922

Official number:

150190

Sources:

SMH 8/5/1943 RANZ 1941 RBS

Comments:

Sunk by torpedo fired from Japanese submarine I-180.

Lost event

When lost:

1943/04/29

Where lost:

Port Macquarie, Crescent Head

Wrecked/Refloated:

Torpedoed

Sinking:

Sunk by enemy action

From port:

To port:

Master:

C Benson

Owner:

North Coast Steam Navigation Company

Crew:

Passengers:

Crew deaths:

Passenger deaths:

Total deaths:

Location

Maximum latitude:

-31.20944167

Minimum latitude:

Maximum longitude:

153.10366667

Minimum longitude:

Datum used:

WGS84

Datum	Latitude	Longitude	Zone	Easting	Northing
AGD66	-31.20944644920590	153.10366667000000	56	509874.99031871200000	6547169.16596836000000
AGD84	-31.20944644920590	153.10366667000000	56	509874.99031871200000	6547169.16596836000000
GDA94	-31.20944169993630	153.10366667000000	56	509874.95498749600000	6547181.65913905000000
WGS84	-31.20944169909960	153.10366667000000	56	509874.95498754000000	6547181.65913374000000

Management

Found:

Yes

Inspected:

Protected:

Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018

Jurisdiction:

Federal

Protection notes:

Signage:

Web address:

Links

There are currently no links associated with this site.