HMNZT MAUNGANUI

7527 gross tons, 4542 net. Lbd: 430″8″ x 55″8″ x 25 feet. (136.2 x 17 x 7.6 metres) on: 127810 Steel twin screw passenger steamship built by Fairfiels Shipbuilding & Engineering Co, Govan Glasgow for Union Steamship Co of New Zealand. Propulsion: Two sets of Quadruple expansion steam engines developing 650 nautical horsepower (8,500 Indicated Horsepower). Cylinder bores; 24.5, 35.5 50.5 and 73 inches, with a 45 inch stroke and driving twin screws at about 80 r.p.m. Steam at a pressure of 220 lbs p.s.i. was supplied by two double-ended and two single-ended boilers adapted for Howden”s system of forced draught. Maximum speed attained 18 knots, service speed 16-17 knots. Required 258 tons of fuel per day to maintain a speed of 15.4 knots Intended for the Trans-Tasman route, she could accomodate 501 passengers, and refrigerated cargo space of 14,540 cubic feet in her four holds. 499 passenger; 244 saloon (first class), 175 second class and 80 third class, with up to ten berth cabins in third class. There was seating for 144 in the first class dining saloon, 110 in second class and 58 in third. Crew – 136. Maiden voyage 15 February 1912 from Wellington via New Zealand southern coastal ports to Melbourne, Australia.

TRANSPORT VOYAGES

………1914 Departed Wellington with Headquarters Staff. NZEF Headquarters N.Z. Infantry Brigade Field Troop N.Z.E. Wellington Infantry Battalion (West Coast Company) NZ Mounted Field Ambulance 38 Officers, Naval Transport Officer, Medical Officers, Chaplain. Total – 528 Men 204 Horses

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George”s Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces
Of the ten New Zealand transport vessels within the first convoy, she was designated flagship of the New Zealand fleet

14 February 1915 as HMNZT- 17 departed with 3rd Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force 1,719 persons all accomodated with two other vessels Tahiti (HMNZT 18) and Aparima (HMNZT 19)
26 March 1915 arrived at Egypt
13 June 1915 as HMNZT- 24 in convoy with Tahiti (HMNZT 25) and Aparima (HMNZT 26) departed with 5th Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force and No.2 Stationary Hospital 2,299 persons
24 July 1915 arrived at Egypt
9th October 1915 as HMNZT- 30 departed New Zealand in a convoy with Tahiti (HMNZT 31), Aparima (HMNZT 32), Navua (HMNZT 33) & Warrimoo (HMNZT 34). In conjunction with Tahiti (HMNZT 31) carried 1st and 2nd Battalion NZ Rifle Brigade. 1,249 troops under Major Austin
17 November 1915 arrived Egypt
8th Janaury 1916 as HMNZT- 37 departed New Zealand with 9th reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force. In a convoy with Tahiti (HMNZT 38) and Warrimoo (HMNZT 39) carried total of 2,406 troops among three vessels with Captain Joll in charge of troops aboard Maunganui
8th February 1916 arrived Egypt
1st April 1916 as HMNZT- 49 in convoy with Tahiti (HMNZT 50) departed with 11th Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force, 5th Reinforcements 1st, 2nd Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade 2nd Reinforcements 3rd, 4th Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade, a combined total of 2,222 troops
3rd May 1916 arrived Egypt
26 June 1916 as HMNZT- 56 in convoy with Tahiti (HMNZT 57) departed with 14th Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force, 8th Reinforcements to 1st & 2nd Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 5th Reinforcements to 3rd & 4th Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade and the 4th Maori Contingent. A combined total of 2,123 troops
22 August 1916 arrived Plymouth England
15 November 1916 as HMNZT 68 in convoy with Tahiti (HMNZT 69) departed with 19th Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force, 13th Reinforcements to the 1st & 2nd Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade and 10th Reinforcements to the 3rd & 4th Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade all billeted abaord both vessels.
30 January 1917 arrived Egypt

12th June 1917 as HMNZT- 86 departed with 26th Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force (part as dispersed over the two vessels, the other being the Willochra that departed three days earlier). Also carried 18th Reinforcements Maori Contingent and 26th Reinforcements NZ Rifle Brigade.
15 August 1917 disembarked at (unknown) England

21 November 1917 as HMNZT- 96 departed with (part) 32nd Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force [roll No.75] whilst HMNZT 95 Willochra also transported (part) 32nd Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force. A total of 97 troops under Captain C A Hawkins
7th January 1918 arrived at Liverpool England
9th May 1918 as HMNZT 103 departed with 37th Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force and the 29th Reinforcements Maori Contingent [roll No.82] . A total of 970 troops under Major J L Saunders
24 June 1918 arrived at Liverpool England

Post hostilities saw conversion to oil fired propulsion and back in service 1919

Converted from coal to oil burning in 1922

Placed upon Pacific route of Auckland – Sydney – Vancouver. Later serviced San Francisco in an on – off role until 1936 when that service was discontinued. 1937 ran the trans-tasman route between New Zealand and Sydney until June 1940 when requisitioned as a Hospital Ship by the New Zealand Government.

Served admirably and at end of 1945, laid up at Wellington pending any decision on her fate. 1947 sold to G M Lykiardopulo, Panama flag
1948 owned by Cia Naviera del Atlantico (Hellenic Mediterranean Lines), Panama
1949 owned by Hellenic – Mediterranean Line, Greece who refitted her at Piraeus as a migrant vessel. She then saw Australian shores again in new livery as the Cyrenia with emigrants specifically from Genoa – Italy, Valetta – Malta and Piraeus – Greece. This service continued until 1956 when she was sold to Italian shipbreakers and scrapped February 1957