Blue Funnel Line - Ocean Steamship Company
Three of this company’s ships were operating between Singapore and Western Australia at the start of the Second World War:
Ship |
Built |
Gross Tons |
In Service |
Centaur | 1924 | 3066 | 1924-1943 |
Gorgon | 1933 | 3533 | 1933-1964 |
Charon | 1936 | 3703 | 1936-1964 |
Centaur was converted in 1940 to a Hospital Ship and placed on loan to the Australian Government. On 14 May 1943 she was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I.74 while en route Sydney-Papua New Guinea. Gorgon, though surviving the war, suffered enemy bombing damage at least twice: in February 1942 during the evacuation from Singapore and in April 1943 at Milne Bay.