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| HMAS Former Assignments Kaiserliche Marine Yacht / Sloop / Gunboat 977 Tons 3 x 4" BL guns 2 x 12 pounders  RAN 1914  RAN 1915  RAN 1916 |
Ship History Built by Bremer Vulkan AG in Bremerhaven, German during 1911. Commissioned as KGS Komet with a luxurious interior and steamed to the Pacific for use as an administrative vessel described as a yacht for the administrator of Deutsch Neu Guinea (German New Guinea) and senior staff. This vessel was normally anchored at Simpson Harbor at Rabaul. Wartime History During August 1914 at the start of World War I, Komet was at Morobe transporting the acting Governor General Dr. Eduard Haber to inspect the town. Afterwards, returned to New Britain arriving at Haber then proceeded to Herbertshohe near Rabaul. Afterwards, Komet supported Admiral von Spee's German fleet as a supply vessel for auxiliary cruiser Prinz Eitel Freidrich until late September 1914. In Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy) service designated SMS Komet. On September 11, 1914 the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) occupied Rabaul and instead Komet proceeded to Komethafen (Komet Harbour) near Talasea on the north coast of New Britain. Spotted, the vessel was reported to the AN&MEF and HMAS Nusa an armed yacht was sent to capture her. On October 11, 1914 Komet was surprised and captured by HMAS Nusa while at Komethafen. Aboard were five German crew, 52 native sailors. Afterwards, Komet returned to Rabaul then to Sydney as a war prize and for refit at Cockatoo Island Dockyard. On November 17, 1914 commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as HMAS Una. In Australian service this vessel was deemed a sloop or gunboat and armed with 3 x 4" BL guns one of the forecastle and two on the quarter deck plus two 12 pounders. In 1915 entered dry dock in Singapore and patrolled northern Australia and New Guinea and former German New Guinea, deemed to be a vessel familiar to the local population in a show the flag exercise. During October 1916, steamed to New Hebrides as part of a punitive expedition with native troops aboard to establish control with French Navy Kersaint. At the end of October arrived at Vila and on November 3, 1916 landed troops at Malakula Island (Malekula) when the local population became threatening to the French administration where it was claimed cannibalism was still practiced. Ashore one sailor was killed and the native troops suffered heavy casualties but reestablished colonial control. Decommissioned on June 30, 1920. Afterwards offered for sale. On January 27, 1925 sold to Port Phillip Sea Pilots and renamed "Akuna" and operated in Australia. During World War II, Akuna performed naval duties as an examination vessel in Port Phillip Bay in southern Victoria until late 1943 but was not recommissioned into the RAN. Postwar Returned to civilian service and remained in use until 1953. Fate During 1959 sold for scrap and broken up. References Rabaul - Una (photos, news articles) Contribute
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