Sunday History Photo / Tas

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Five of these launches were built in Tasmania during 1944-45 from Huon pine logs which were felled in the Upper Franklin Mountains and then floated down the Franklin River. They were designated as follows…
AH 1730 Koorakee , AH 1731 Koroit , AH 1732 Koumala , AH 1733 Krawarree and , AH 1734 Kuranda .

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The Specifications , Length 80ft, Beam 15ft 6 inches, Draught 5ft, Max speed 14.25 knots, Cruising speed 11.25 knots. Powered by 2 Hercules DNX6 Supercharged Marine Diesels of 300HP @ 2000 rpm
And 2:1 Reduction Gear.
Accommodation was for 12 Crew and 31 Patients.
AH 1732 Koumala was completed on 27th July 1945.

The primary purpose of these launches, with their shallow draft, was to evacuate casualties from the beachheads to the awaiting hospital ships. The launches were very versatile and sometimes, were used as command vessels and general seat transport and communication vessels. The design was taken from the 80' Harbor Defence Motor Launches with the stern section raised and widened to accommodate stretchers. They served in the New Guinea theatre during and after WWII, and of the many hundreds of vessels that served with the Australian Army Water Transport Units in the Second World War.


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The above photo show's Matron in Chief of A.A.N.S Col. A.M. Sage at the launching of AH 1732 Koumala at Jack's yard , Launceston , Feb' 1945.


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