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The hospital ships of Australia were a number of converted civilian ships used for medical services during the Second World War. They were all staffed primarily by the Army Medical staff.
The ships fell into two groups: Australian ships and Dutch ships transferred to the Australian Government. The Dutch ships retained their original Dutch officers and Javanese sailors, with replacements from an international pool being added as necessary, and they also continued to sail under the Dutch flag.

Contents

Australian conversions

AHS Manunda

AHS Wanganella

AHS Centaur

Dutch conversions

Oranje

AHS Maetsuycker

AHS Tasman

Other ships

References

Australian conversions

AHS Manunda

'''Manunda''' was an Australian registered and crewed ship converted to a hospital ship in 1940. First sailing to Suez in October 1940, ''Manunda'' saw service in both the Middle East and Pacific Campaigns, specifically New Guinea. ''Manunda'' was present at the Japanese bombing of Darwin, where she received repairable damage. In September 1946, ''Manunda'' ended her wartime service, and was returned to her parent company following a refit, resuming passenger movements around the coast of Australia. ^[1]

AHS Wanganella

'''Wanganella''' was an Australian registered and crewed ship converted a to hospital ship in 1941. She was built by Harland and Wolff Limited in Belfast, in 1932. Originally, the 9,576 GRT vessel was to be named ''Achimota'' and operated by thr British and African Steam Navigation Company, but financial difficulties caused the ship to be sold to Huddart Parker. ''Wanganella'' served as a hospital ship from 19 May 1941 until 1946, during which time she covered 251,011 nautical miles and transported 13,385 wounded.

AHS Centaur

'''Centaur''' was British registered and crewed by Australian sailors. She was converted to a hospital ship on 12 March, 1943. She was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-177 on 14 May, 1943, during her second voyage to New Guinea as a hospital ship.

Dutch conversions

Oranje

The '''Oranje''', a Dutch-registered vessel of 20,565 tons owned by Stoomvaart Maatschappy Nederland SMN Line, was completed in 1939. While on her maiden voyage to Jakarta, World War II was declared, and by the time she reached her destination, the Netherlands had been occupied by Nazi Germany. ''Oranje'''s captain was ordered to Sydney, and to present his ship to Australian authorities. At the same time, the Netherlands Government informed the Australian Government that ''Oranje'' was to be converted to a hospital ship, at the Netherlands' cost. Converted at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, ''Oranje'' continued to be crewed by Dutch officers and Javanese (Indonesian) sailors. ''Oranje'' was the largest of the Dutch hospital ships and operated in the Middle East, Indian, and Pacific Campaigns, making 40 voyages over the five years of her service.

AHS Maetsuycker

The ''Maetsuycker'', a Dutch Registered vessel owned by KPM Shipping Co Batavia Dutch East Indies was completed in 1937. She was converted to hospital ship at the cost of the Dutch government to treat transport 250 patients. However she was crewed by Dutch Officer's and Javanese (Indonesian) sailors. She sailed under the title AHS, but she flew the Dutch Flag. She served in New Guinea and the Southwest Pacific area.

AHS Tasman

The ''Tasman'', a Dutch Registered vessel owned by KPM Shipping Co. Batavia Dutch East Indies. The ''Tasman'' escaped capture during the fall of Singapore and was converted to hospital ship at the cost of the United States government and transferred to the control of the Australian Government to transport 250 patients. However she continued crewed by Dutch Officer's and Javanese (Indonesian) sailors. She sailed under the title AHS, but she flew the Dutch Flag. She served in the Southwest Pacific area. The ''Tasman'' was at the Vanguard throughout the Pacific campaign and transported repatriated prisoners of war from the Japanese prison camps at Santo Thomas Philippines.

Other ships

Two other ships of the KPM line, the ''Ophir'' and ''Melchoir-Treub'' were also converted to hospital ship use and operated in the Indian Ocean and Bombay area.

References

1. Three Minutes of Time - the torpedoing of the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur, , A.E., Smith, Tasman Press, 1992,