Fleet Gallery

Some of the vessels that made up the Small Ships Fleet . They carried troops to the landings , & brought back the wounded & the dead ; they also provided the supplies .

“Will Watch” wooden hulled ketch rigged sailing vessel . Built 1895 at Woy Woy ; sank in the Bass Strait 1987 .

“Two Freddies” , wooden hulled single screw fishing vessel. Built 1941 , sunk at Magnetic Island March 1945 . Under tow by “Willyama Two” , wooden hull single screw fishing vessel . Built 1941 , strafed in 1942 , repaired & saw out the war .

OL 1 Ocean Lighter 250 tons displacement twin screw , carried 180 tons , some were cargo others carried water or were medical evacuation ships

25pdr guns being loaded onto a captured Japanese barge for the A.I.F. which was then towed by the U.S. Army Small Ship in the background

“M.V. Lorinna” built Greamouth , Scotland , sailed to Tasmania . Requisitioned 1942 , returned to owners 1945 .

“Kooraka” steel hull single screw , passenger cargo built 1925 unloading petrol with native labour 1943 at Pongani .

“Maiwara” single screw cargo steamer built 1924 Germany , requisitioned 1943 from Burns Philp , after war sold to China .

A Ditch Digger brought ashore by a vessel of the US Army Small Ships , they also transported tanks & artillery .

Small ships trawler off shore loading barbed wire onto a barge which was then being unloaded by native labour . Note the captured Japanese barge alongside .

A Liberty ship & two captured Japanese sampans discharge & load cargo at an unnamed advanced base .