SS Pruth (1916)

For other ships of the same name, see SS Pruth.
Career
Name: SS Pruth
Owner: Hain Steamship Company
Builder: J.L. Thompson and Sons, Sunderland
Yard number: 511
Identification: IMO number: 1139109
Fate: Wrecked upon Natara Reef, Port Moresby in 1923
General characteristics
Tonnage:4698 gross ton
Length:121.9 metres (400 ft)
Beam:16.2 metres (53 ft)
Draught:7.9 metres (26 ft)
Installed power:421 n.h.p.[1]
Propulsion:Triple expansion engine[1]
Speed:10 knots[1]

SS Pruth was a 4698[1] gross ton steam ship built by J.L. Thompson and Sons, Sunderland for the Hain Steamship Company in 1916. She was on a voyage from New York to Cairns, via Port Moresby when she was wrecked upon Natara Reef near Port Moresby on 31 December 1923. Attempts to salvage her failed.[2] Her wreck became known as the Moresby Wreck.

Her wreck was used for strafing and bombing practice by the United States Army Air Forces 5th Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force between 1942 and 1943 during World War II. Six allied aircraft crashed while undertaking the strafing and bombing practice.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "SS Pruth (+1923)". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  2. "Pruth, A Total Wreck". Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wednesday 23 January 1924, p.4. Retrieved 16 July 2012.

External links

Coordinates: 9°32′52″S 147°10′47″E / 9.54778°S 147.17972°E