HMNZT MOERAKI 01 1903-33

4392 gross tons. Lb: 368’7″ x 47′ (112.4 x 14.4 metres). Passenger/cargo steamship built 1902 by W Denny & Bros, Dumbarton for the Union Steamship Co of New Zealand Ltd. Registered Dunedin yet flew the flag of Great Britain. From 1907 flew the New Zealand Flag. Twin screw, triple expansion engine making 14.5 knots

11 August 1914 transported the Samoan Force, disembarking Apia, Samoa on 29 August 1914

TRANSPORT VOYAGES

10 August 1916 transhipped from New Zealand the 16th Mounted Rifles (123 troops) to Sydney Australia where they boarded the RMS Mooltan. Arrived England 20 September 1916
14 December 1916 transhipped from New Zealand the 20th Mounted Rifles (113 troops) to Sydney Australia where they boarded the RMS Mooltan. Arrived England 24 January 1917
15 February 1917 transhipped from New Zealand the 22nd Mounted Rifles (122 troops) to Melbourne Australia where they boarded the Borda (A30). Arrived England 8th April 1917
19 April 1917 transhipped from New Zealand the 23rd and 24th Mounted Rifles (258 troops) to Sydney Australia where they boarded the ‘Port Sydney’ (A15). Arrived England 19 June 1917
31 May 1917 trans-shipped the Mounted Rifles 35th and 36th Reinforcements (276 troops) from New Zealand to Sydney, where they embarked aboard the Port Lincoln (A17) arriving England 19 October 1917
21 February 1918 trans-shipped the Mounted Rifles 25th and 26th Reinforcements (262 troops) from New Zealand to Sydney, where they embarked aboard the RMS Ormonde arriving England 4 April 1918
9th August 1918 trans-shipped the 39th Mounted Rifles (132 troops) either Melbourne or Sydney Australia (details unknown). Further, their time of arrival was 19 September 1918 – location unstated and with a 2 month travelling timespan this date seems unlikely if destination was England
11 October 1918 transhipped the 40th, 41st, 42nd and 43rd Mounted Rifles (451 troops) to Sydney Australia where they boarded RMS Malta. During voyage orders were changed with destination becoming ?unknown?, possibly Egypt where they arrived 22 November 1918

Post Hostilities

Resumed passenger services between Wellington – Sydney – Hobart also known ‘horseshoe’ run
Scrapped at Osaka August 1933