SS Mauna Loa

SS "Mauna Loa" was a steam-powered cargo ship of Matson Navigation Company that was sunk in the Bombing of Darwin in February 1942. She was built as SS "West Conob" in 1919 and had been renamed SS "Golden Eagle" in 1928. At the time of her completion in 1919, the ship was inspected by the United States Navy for possible use as USS "West Conob" (ID-4033) but was neither taken into the Navy nor ever commissioned.

"West Conob" was built in 1919 for the deep. [", "Jane Christenson", "F.J. Luckenbach", and s movements over the next three months are not found in sources, but by mid-February 1942, she had made her way to Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.Cressman, p. 75.]

Japanese forces—advancing down the Malay Barrier, the notional Allied line of defense that ran down the Malayan Peninsula through Singapore and the southernmost islands of the Dutch East Indies—had reached the island of Timor by mid February. In order to prevent the fall of that island to the Japanese, which would give them a base within ] The British refrigerated cargo ship ] s 900 rounds fired in the 45-minute attack resembled a "sheet of flame", according to witnesses. The only casualties during the attack were from one near miss on "Mauna Loa"; 1 crewman and 1 passenger were killed and 18 men were wounded in the attack. The convoy was ordered back to Darwin when word of that Koepang had fallen to the Japanese, and arrived back in Darwin on 18 February.

Sinking

On 19 February 1942, the Japanese carrier striking force, consisting of aircraft carriers "Akagi", "Kaga", "Hiryu", and "Soryu" under the command of Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, launched 189 planes to attack Darwin.Cressman, p. 76] The carrier planes rendezvoused with 54 land-based bombers from Kendari and Ambon. [Morison, p. 316.]

During the attack, "Mauna Loa" quickly sank after she was hit by two bombs that landed in an open hatch. [Morison, p. 319.] None of her 37-man crew or 7 passengers were injured. In addition to "Mauna Loa", two other American ships, destroyer "Peary" and Army transport "Meigs", were sunk. In addition to the many other ships that were damaged, five Commonwealth ships were sunk, including two Australian passenger ships in use as troopships, ] What remains of "Mauna Loa" lies at a depth of convert|60|ft|m in Darwin Harbour and is a dive site.Coleman and Marsh, p. 72.] Military trucks, Bren Gun Carriers, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and many rounds of .303- and .50-caliber ammunition are some of "Mauna Loa"'s cargo that still lie strewn around the wreck. "Mauna Loa"'s hulk is frequented by surgeonfish, barracuda, gropers, and batfish, particularly in the bow section.

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