USAT Meigs

The USAT "Meigs", a United States Army transport vessel (sometimes incorrectly referred to as the USS "Meigs"), was sunk in Darwin Harbour during the first Japanese air raid against the Australia mainland on February 19 1942.

Built San Pedro, California, in 1921 as the "West Lewart", the "Meigs" had a steel hull, measured 12,568 Gross Tons (also cited as 11358 tons), 430.7 feet (140m) long, 54.3 feet (16m) beam and 26.2 feet draft. USAT "Meigs" was part of the Pensacola Convoy attempting to reinforce the Philippines during the early stages of World War II. As the largest vessel in Darwin Harbour she was frequently under air attack, and went down in flames after being struck by incendiary bombs and aerial torpedoes. Two of its crew of sixty-six were killed.

Although the superstructure of the wreck was salvaged after the war by Fujita Salvage of Osaka, Japan, the cargo of munitions, railway lines, Bren gun carriers and trucks intended for Allied forces in Portuguese Timor remains. The "Meigs" is now a dive site, where the remnants of the cargo are as visible as the remains of the vessel itself. It lies in convert|26|m|ft|0 of water, and due to the large tidal movements creating strong currents and poor visibility, is only divable around neap tides.

Namesakes

The name "USS "Meigs" is incorrectly applied to the USAT "Meigs" and also to the USS|General M. C. Meigs|AP-116, which saw service in the Korean War.

ee also

* List of ships sunk by the Imperial Japanese Navy