SS Aorangi (1893)

The Aorangi was a refrigerated passenger vessel built by John Elder & Co., Glasgow for the New Zealand Shipping Company and launched in 1883. She was chartered by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) between April 1914 until 1915. She was sunk as a block ship at Scapa Flow. In 1925 she was raised and scrapped.

Career
Launched in 1884 from the shipyard of John Elder & Co, Glasgow for the New Zealand Shipping Company as a refrigerated passenger vessel carrying 80 first, 80 second and 250 third class persons. Built for the English - New Zealand passenger route. In 1894, she was chartered to Huddart Parker. She underwent a refit in 1896 and once completed in 1897, her funnel was 10 feet taller and changes to accommodation included 100 first class and 50 second class berths. She then was used on the San Francisco run until 1914 when she was laid up at Sydney.

Aorangai was chartered by the RAN in April 1914 and after being fitted out was used as a supply ship. She was not commissioned into the RAN and was manned by her civilian crew. She was armed with a QF 12 pounder 12 cwt naval gun and took part in operations against the German colonies in the Pacific with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force and Australian Fleet. Returned to her owners in May 1915 she was sold to the Admiralty.

Fate
She was later scuttled in Holm Sound, Scapa Flow as a block ship on 10 August 1915. She was salvaged/refloated in 1920 and used as a store ship at Malta. She was scrapped in 1925.