23 Feb 1942: HMAS Ping Wo begins tow from Batavia

0
277

23 February 1942
On this day in 1942, HMAS Ping Wo began the tow of HMAS Vendetta from Batavia to Melbourne.
Yarra (II) was the escort until relieved by HMAS Adelaide on 24 February. Fremantle was reached on 3 March. Vendetta left Fremantle on 4 March and at King George Sound Albany on 24 March, the tow was transferred from Ping Wo to SS Islander for the remainder of the voyage to Melbourne for repairs.

On 15 April Vendetta reached Port Phillip Bay after a nightmare voyage across the Great Australian Bight in heavy seas.

She was at sea under tow for forty days, the total journey having taken 72 days and the tow having parted five times. There was no power in the ship, no sanitary arrangements and due to the absence of refrigeration only tinned food was available to sustain her crew. For his part in bringing Vendetta safely to port LEUT Whiting was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSO) .

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here