TheFlying Ws and 'P' Class

WOODARRA


With Thanks to David Milligan

Woodarra © IL

Built: 1957 by Barclay, Curle & CO Ltd, Glasgow.
Tonnage: 8, 753g, 4, 056n, 11, 470 dwt
Engine: Single Screw, 1 x 2 Stage Pametrada Turbines 10, 850 SHP, 20.74 Knots (Trials).
Passengers: 12
Launched on the 22nd November 1956, completed 10th April 1957. Yard No. 737.

Woodarra is a mine in Western Australia.

Woodarra was launched by Mrs. K.M. Campbell whose husband later became the Chairman of British India. Both ships of this class were originally built for the Australia to Europe wool trade but with containerisation were transferred to P & O ownership in 1968, Woodarra became Pando Gulf, Waroonga- Pando Point. With the introduction of the Tokyo Bay Class six years later both ships were transferred to Ben Line Pando Gulf became Benalbanach, Pando Point -Benwyvis. With just another four years of service the ex-Woodarra arrived at Inchon for scrapping on the 21st May 1978 by the Sangyong Corporation, the ex-Waroonga arrived for scrapping at Kaohsiung in 1978 by Gi Yuen Steel Enterprise Co.

WAROONGA



Waroonga ©mpl

Built: 1957 by Barclay, Curle & CO Ltd, Glasgow.
Tonnage: 8, 753g, 4, 056n, 11, 470 dwt
Engine: Single Screw, 1 x 2 Stage Pametrada Turbines 10, 850 SHP, 20.62 Knots (Trials).
Passengers: 12
Launched by Mrs. J. Gilchrist on the 28th May 1957, completed 6th September 1957. Yard No. 738.


©jc


Waroonga passing Sirsa
With Thanks to Captain John Cole


Waroonga in Melbourne
With Thanks to Captain John Cole


Waroonga at Dusk
With Thanks to Captain John Cole


Waroonga gets a Rocket
With Thanks to Captain John Cole


Waroonga Christmas 1966
With Thanks to Captain John Cole

Waroonga is Northwest of Toowoomba, Queensland

'P' CLASS

PACHUMBA



With thanks to Captain John Cole

Built : 1945 by William Gray & Co, West Hartlepool.
Tonnage: 7, 283g, 4, 992n, 10, 060 dwt.
Engine: Single Screw, Triple Expansion, 510 NHP, 2, 500 IHP, 12 Knots.
Passengers: 6
Laid down in 1944 as a standard PF ( C ) type.
Launched 15th March 1945, completed 25th May 1945, Yard No. 1175.

Pachumba is a town in Bengal.

The first of six ships built for BI based on the Empire type ship design Pachumba was originally coal fired but converted to oil fuel in 1950. She served briefly in the Liner Division as a Mechanical Transport Ship and was transferred in March of 1946 to BI ownership. Her BI career was uneventful and she was sold to Wing Tak Steamship Co Ltd of Hong Kong becoming Sun Pink flying the Panamanian flag. She was sold to the Crystal Maritime (Panama) S.A. becoming Crystal in 1966 and remaining as such until being sold for scrap to Matsuhara Kaija K.K. of Hirao, Japan. Work commenced on the 6th of May 1970.

PALIKONDA



Palikonda ©mpl

Built: 1945 at John Readhead and Sons, South Shields.
Tonnage: 7, 434g, 5, 181n, 10, 100dwt.
Engines: Screw Triple Expansion 2, 500 IHP. 11 Knots.
Passengers: 12 in Dems Gunner Accommodation.

Launched 22nd June 1945. Delivered 17th September 1945. Yard Nos. 546

She is named after a town near Repalle, North of Madras.

She returns to BI in 1946 after a brief period in the Liner Division. On the 29th November 1951, while at Lyttelton, a fire breaks out in Number 5 hold. The following morning it's brought under control with no casualties or damage to the ship. 1952 she transports materials for the building of the R.A.A.F. airstrip on the Cocos Island, and she tows the Seychelles coaster Isle of Mahe, which had broken down, to Mombasa arriving on the 23rd November. In 1958 whilst alongside she is rammed by Union Castle Line's Kawaroa just over the Engine Room Crew Accommodation. A repair is facilitated and she is able to continue. She is the first 'P' Class to be sold and her new owners Sadikzade Rusen Ogullari Denizalik rename her Sadikzada in 1959. In 1964 she is renamed Preveze for the same owners. In 1969 she has an Engine Room fire and is also in a collision whilst under tow. After the cargo is discharged the ship returns to Turkey where she is broken up.

PEMBA



©J.C.

Built : 1945 by Bartram & Sons Ltd;, Sunderland.
Tonnage: 7, 449g, 5, 216n, 10, 200dwt.
Engine: Single Screw, Triple Expansion by North Eastern, Sunderland, 2, 500 IHP, 10.5 Knots (Trials).
Launched 24th August 1945, completed 22nd December 1945. Yard No. 305.

Pemba is a island north of Zanzibar.

Pemba served the first three months of her career in the Liner Division and was converted to oil burning in the same year. In 1952 she refuelled Arusha at sea which was assisting Bank Lines Westbank which had run aground on Juan De Novo Island. She was sold to the United Oriental Steamship Co of Karachi on the 6th of January 1960 and renamed Maqboolbaksh. She was sold for breaking in 1972 and work commenced in the November at Karachi by Ilyas Associates.

PENTAKOTA



©J.C.

Built : 1946 by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow.
Tonnage: 6, 704g, 3, 845n, 9, 650dwt.
Engine: Single Screw, Triple Expansion by David Rowan & Co. Ltd., 2, 500 IHP, 11.8 Knots (Trials).
Launched 20th November1945, completed 24th January 1946. Yard No. 1007.

Pentakota is a fishing village in the Vizagapatam District.

She remained in the Liner Division until April of 1946, she led a totally uneventful life and was sold out of the Fleet to C.U.N.V. ve Tikaret T.A.S. of Istanbul on the 21st April 1961 and renamed Mehmet. She was sold for breaking in 1969 and work commenced at Istanbul on the 5th March.

PALAMCOTTA




Palamcotta ©mpl

Built: 1945 by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow.
Tonnage: 6, 704, 3, 822n, 9, 650dwt
Engine: Single Screw, Triple Expansion, 2, 500 IHP, 11.75 Knots.
Passengers: 12 Launched on 19th September 1945, completed 8th November 1945. Yard No. 1006.

Palamcotta is a town near Tirunelveli just North of Cape Comorin.

Palamcotta had been ordered by the Ministry of War Transport but was delivered straight to British India and spent four months only in the Liner Division. Her career for the next fifteen years was rather uneventful most spent on the UK-India service. She collided with the Desdemona on the 7th of September 1960 on the Tyne whilst on passage to Hull outward bound for Calcutta. She was sold to the Marine Industry Corporation of Hong Kong on the 5th August 1961 and renamed Doria. She was in service for them for less than a year and in 1962 was owned for a short period by International Union of Monrovia before moving again to Taiwan Ming Sung Company of Keelung becoming the New Hweisung. She was finally sold for scrap to the Chung Hwa& Material Co Ltd and work commenced on the 25th October 1968.

PURNEA




Punea ©IL





Built: 1947 by Charles Connell & Co Ltd;, Scotstoun.
Tonnage: 5, 340g, 3, 000n, 8, 930dwt
Engine: Single Screw, 3 Cylinder Doxford 2S.C.S.A., 2, 500 BHP, 12.5 Knots (Trials).
Passengers: 6.
Launched on 23rd January 1947, completed 23rd June 1947, Yard No. 454.

Purnea is a town and district in Bengal.

Duncan Haws states that the Purnea was British India's first post war purpose built vessel, Laxon and Perry slightly contradict this by stating that she was of Nourse design and was one of three built the other two being Kallada and Marjata for the Nourse Fleet. She served on most British India routes usually long haul to which I can concur spending nearly two months on one voyage. Its stated that the only incident in her uneventful career was when a condenser exploded injuring the Engineer on watch with the ship having to return to Auckland to land him. I know of one other when she had to visit drydock in rather a hurry with serious problems with her stern tube I'm still waiting the full information which I'll add on receipt. She was eventually sold for scrapping on the 21st October 1971 to Alfonso Garcia of Bilbao and work commenced on the 20th March 1972.