USN
Transport
Crew
(5 KIA in sinking)
Captain Henry Nelson
J
Tranape 2001
Ship History
Originally
a converted luxury liner that traveled from San Francisco to
the Far East. She was converted to a troop transport and completed
six military mission before being sunk. When she sunk, she was
carrying 5,440 men of the mostly from the 43rd Infantry Division,
plus arms and equipment. Five men died in the accident. The
wreck is full of military supplies and equipment.
SInking History
Sunk on
October 26, 1942 by a collision with
two American Mines in Segond Channel at Espiritu Santo Harbor.
Shipwreck
From November 20-30, 1942 the USS Ortolan ASR-5 salvaged war suppies off the sunken ship.
The shipwreck lies on her port side with her bow at only 70', only a short walk and a swim from shore nearLuganville. At 45m within the ship is "The Lady" in the first class passengers lounge smoking room. Now she poses for those divers sufficiently experienced to penetrate the wreck.
References
National Geographic "Ghosts of War"
