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KAROA (1915)
Service dates: 1915-1950
Official number: 137791
Shipping lines: BRITISH INDIA STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY LTD.
Ship type:
Passenger/Cargo Ship.
Career
- 12.1914
- Launched
- 03.1915
- Ran trials
- 22.03.1915
- Delivered as Karoa for British India Steam Navigation Company at a cost of £152,800. She was the first ship purpose-built for BI’s Bombay/Africa route. She was however immediately taken up for trooping.
- 09.1915
- Fired on by Turkish batteries while in Suvla Bay, Dardanelles, and unable to leave owing to submarine outside. Slight damage from one hit.
- 1916
- Caught fire shortly after leaving Marseilles for Alexandria. Put back and fire extinguished with help of fire float and flooding of hold. Repaired in the UK.
- 04.1916
- First voyage on Bombay/East Africa service.
- 07.1917
- Under Liner Requisition Scheme.
- 1918
- Repatriated Belgians from Southampton to Antwerp after the Armistice.
- 1919
- Carried mails to Bombay (for P&O?) before having trooping accommodation dismantled and returning to Bombay/East Africa service.
- 04.09.1929
- Diverted to quarantine at Zanzibar after smallpox broke out among Indian passengers.
- 04.07.1931
- Last arrival at Bombay from East Africa. Transferred to Calcutta/Straits service Calcutta/Rangoon/Penang/Singapore.
- 09.1940
- Personnel and military store ship.
- 03.1942
- Assisted at evacuation of Rangoon.
- 26.11.1943
- Was alongside Rohna in convoy when the latter was sunk.
- 03.1944
- Converted to Hospital Ship No. 60 (411 beds, 89 medical staff).
- 10.1946
- Returned to British India Steam Navigation Company. Resumed Calcutta/Singapore service.
- 1947
- Transferred to Calcutta/Madras/Rangoon service
- 03.05.1950
- Sold for breaking up to the Steel Corporation of Bombay.