Wollongbar (II) | NSW Environment, Energy and Science
NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

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Wollongbar (II)

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History

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.
PHOTO: 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: 0 Passenger deaths: 0
Total deaths: 32

Location
Maximum latitude: Minimum latitude:
Maximum longitude: Minimum longitude:
Datum used:
  Datum    Latitude    Longitude    Zone    Easting    Northing
AGD66
AGD84
GDA94
WGS84

Management
Found: Yes Inspected: NO
Protected: Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 Jurisdiction: Federal
Protection notes:
Signage: Web address:
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