[Mike Cecil]

Interesting, Lang.

Manunda was an Adelaide Steamships Company vessel, launched 16 November 1928. It copped a near miss in Darwin harbor that killed four on board and put over 70 puncture holes in the hull and superstructure. The next bomb didn't miss: dropping in through the Music Room skylight and exploding between B and C decks, doing 'terrific damage and causing many casualties' according to the ship's Master. The rear of the Bridge was severely damaged, and all compasses and comms gear was U/S. One engine was out of action, and the fire service mains had all been cut. Nevertheless, once barely seaworthy, Manunda embarked a large number of wounded (the aft section of the ship was still functioning as a hospital ship) then sailed to Fremantle for repairs, which took until August to complete. No wonder you could still see the damage in later years!

Ironically, Manunda was sold to the Japanese company Okada Gumi KK in late 1956, and became the Hakone Maru, a workforce static accommodation ship in Osaka. It was scrapped in mid-1957 in Osaka.

Mike C