HMAS Koolonga

HMAS Koolonga was a 4,260 gross tons cargo ship built by Sunderland Shipbuilding Company, South Dock Sunderland, England, in 1914 and bought by McIlwraith, McEacharn Line Pty Ltd, Melbourne and named SS Koolonga. She was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy on 6 August 1914, as a collier and supply ship. She was returned to her owners in late 1915. She was sold in 1937 to Madrigal & Company, Philippines and renamed Paz. She was scuttled during the Second World War at Sourabaya Harbour (now Surabaya) in 1942 and was later salvaged by the Imperial Japanese and renamed Hatsu Maru. While at anchor in Manila Bay, Philippines on 13 November 1944, she was attacked by United States Navy carrier aircraft and was sunk.

RAN Service
Koolonga was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy on 6 August 1914, as a collier and supply ship, and commissioned as HMAS Koolonga. She participated during the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force occupation of German New Guinea until May 1915 when she was later returned to her owners. She was awarded the battle honour Rabaul 1914.

Australian coastal service
After being returned, she was employed on cargo trades from Whyalla, South Australia to Newcastle, New South Wales.

She was sold in October 1917 through Scott Fell & Company, Newcastle to BHP Shipping and renamed Iron Monarch, before being sold again in 1920 to Interstate Steamships Ltd. She ran aground on Curlews Island in the Spencer's Gulf on 18 February 1930, once at Port Kembla, New South Wales, and at Cape Three Point, Broken Bay on 23 October 1937. Iron Monarch was seriously damaged on the Stockton breakwater at Newcastle on 26 November 1934 requiring repairs at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, which cost £8,985. She was sold in 1937 to Madrigal & Company, Philippines and renamed Paz.

Fate
Scuttled in March 1942 at Sourabaya Harbour during the Second World War. The wreck was salvaged and raised by the Imperial Japanese and renamed Hatsu Maru. She was sunk after being bombed by United States Navy carrier based aircraft in Manila Bay, Philippines, on 13 November 1944 at 14°35'N, 120°55'E.