HMAS Ping Wo

The Hong Komng registered TSS "Ping Wo" was a rusty 3,105 ton flat bottomed Yangtse riverboat built in 1922 operated by the Indo-China Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. It was requisitioned by the British Admiralty in December 1941 and commissioned into the Royal Navy. It was manned by a small crew to evacuate refugees out of Singapore just before the Japanese occupation. The crew partly comprised two officers and European crew members from the badly damaged 10,253 ton merchant ship "Talthybius" which had been bombed by the Japanese in Singapore Harbour and subsequently abandoned. Some RANVR and RAN sailors also formed part of the crew of the Ping Wo.

Captain Kent of the 'Talthybius", under orders from the Royal Navy Port Authority ordered the crew to load coal and food supplies on board Ping Wo. They left the wharf mid afternoon on 11 February 1942 and moved to the Eastern Roads in Singapore where they took on board nearly 200 European and Eurasian refugees. That night, they set sail for Java and after a number of Japanese bombing attacks they arrived in Java where they transferred the evacuees to other ships. There they refueled and loaded more supplies.

Ping Wo was then ordered to tow the disabled Australian destroyer HMAS Vendetta back to Australia. HMAS Vendetta had earlier been undergoing repairs and a refit at the naval dock in Singapore and was towed away by the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Stronghold to avoid being captured by the Japanese. Her engines and other essential equipment were still removed when the decision was made to tow her to the Netherlands East Indies. After some Japanese air raids they eventually arrived at Palembang where the Royal Nay tug HMT St. Just and HMAS Yarra under Lt. Cmdr. R.W. Rankin took over the tow to Tangjong Priok.

It was here that Ping Wo took over the tow of HMAS Vendetta to Fremantle, Australia accompanied by the "Giang Ann" and the "Darvel" escorted by HMAS Yarra and HMS Electra. At 1400 on 17 February 1942, HMAS Vendetta was towed by two tugs to rendezvous with Ping Wo outside the harbour. The tugs passed the towing duties over to Ping Wo at 1700 hours.

About 200 miles south of Christmas Island, HMAS Yarra hander over the small convoy to HMAS Adelaide at 1700 hours on 24 February 1942. They arrived off Rottnest Island Light at 1700 hours on 3 March 1942 where Ping Wo handed the tow line over to tug "Newcastle" at 2100 hours on the same day. At 2130 hours the tow line parted due to heavy seas. The tow line was recovered again at 2145 hours. The tow line parted again at 2305 hours and the HMAS Vendetta started drifting towards Cottesloe Beach. The tow line was recovered again at 2310 hours.

At 0200 hours on Wednesday 4 March 1942, they waited off Fremantle Harbour for a second tug which arrived at 0245 hours. They proceed into Fremantle Harbour and berthed at North Wall No. 7 Berth at 0320 hours.

Ping Wo was carrying a precious cargo of 10,635 fine ounces of gold bullion worth approximately Ł85,080 sterling which was quickly picked up by Bank officials in Fremantle. It was carried in 21 boxes and marked MB5, MB8-10, CBI192 thru 206, CBI-1 NGP and CBI-2 LH.

The gold belonged to the Bank of England. The gold had originated in Singapore from the Straits Settlements Bank of Singapore. The gold was then transferred by train, under escort, from Fremantle to Melbourne for assay on 17 March 1942. On 3 May, the shipment was moved by rail to Broken Hill, where all the gold bullion in Australia was stored for the rest of WWII.

At 0945 hours on 10 March 1942, HMAS Vendetta was towed from Fremantle Harbour by tug "Whalla" accompanied by Ping Wo. At 1230 hours the tow line was passed to Ping Wo and they proceeded on the long journey to Melbourne at 1300 hours.

At 1330 hours on 11 March, Ping Wo stopped at sea for engine repairs. At 1300 hours on 12 March Ping Wo reported more engine problems and suggested they should pull into Albany for repairs. The Captain of HMAS Vendetta, Lieutenant W. G. Whitting RANVR, agreed to the request, not wanting to attempt a crossing of the Great Australian Bight with a suspect engine.

They arrived off Albany at around 2000 hours on the night of 14 March. Due to very heavy seas they steamed around the area overnight. At 0645 hours on 15 March they battled their way towards Albany. They finally made it into Albany at 1130 hours. HMAS Vendetta anchored outside Albany Harbour at 1430 hours. They stayed there on 16 March when conditions eased slightly after dawn but worsened as the day progressed.

On 19 March, Ping Wo towed HMAS Vendetta into Albany Harbour where she was anchored in the Inner Harbour. At 0800 hours on 20 March, Ping Wo came alongside HMAS Vendetta so that HMAS Vendetta could bunker with coal and water the ship. Weather conditions had turned perfect.

The Captain of HMAS Vendetta. Lieutenant Whitting held a conference with the D.N.O. and the masters of the newly arrived S.S. Islander and Ping Wo at 0830 hours on 24 March 1942. At 1400 hours Ping Wo towed HMAS Vendetta into King George's Sound where the tow lines were handed over to the S.S. Islander which proceeded to continue the tow at 1700 hours.

At 0320 hours on 25 March 1942, the tow line parted, due to a link breaking in the chain cable. They were 30 miles offshore where they floundered. At 1230 hours Ping Wo took HMAS Vendetta in tow temporarily while the S.S. Islander recovered a broken tow from her end. S.S. Islander had HMAS Vendetta in tow again at 1630 hours.

At 0905 hours on 26 March while veering the cable, HMAS Vendetta lurched and a capstan bar struck Chief Petty Officer Thorne, breaking his right leg. The Captain, Lt Whitting, and Mr. Lace, Gunner (T) RAN rendered first aid. They made some splints from a milk box. Weather was still bad on 27 March and CPO Thorne had great difficulty staying safe in his bunk.

The weather turned worse on 29 March and the S.S. Islander and HMAS Vendetta hove to at 0415 hours for the next 19 hours. They got underway at 2215 hours and had lost sight of Ping Wo.

At 1150 hours on 31 March the tow line parted again due to a faulty chain cable. It broke at the 4th shackle at S.S. Islander's end of the tow line. HMAS Vendetta was then at the mercy of the very rough seas. At 0800 hours on 1 April 1942, all hands stood by to recover the broken tow forward. They lost 1 barricoe, one coil of 3 1/2 inch hemp, and one coil of 2 inch grass in attempting to pass another tow line to S.S. Islander which also fouled its port screw, running over the barricoe and 3 1/2 inch hemp. She was then no longer able to maneuver.

At 1200 hours on 1 April 1942, HMAS Vendetta had been adrift at the mercy of the gales for 24 hours. S.S. Islander radioed for assistance from the D.N.O. South Australia. There was still no sign of Ping Wo. At 0650 hours on 2 April, S.S. Islander contacted HMAS Vendetta to advise that HMAS Moresby and a tug were coming to their assistance with an ETA of 1600 hours the following day.

At 0710 hours on 2 April they were able to transfer the tow line to S.S. Islander. At 0900 hours S.S. Islander was struggling to weigh the two line with two winches. HMAS Vendetta was also struggling with a hand capstan and 20 hands. At 1350 hours an RAAF Lockheed Hudson circled the two ships then flew away in a north easterly direction at 1430 hours.

At 1600 hours on 2 April, S.S. Islander was still struggling with the tow line. HMAS Vendetta by then was seven miles away. S.S. Islander recovered the broken tow line and returned at 1730 hours. The seas were too rough so they waited for the next day. At 0700 hours on 3 March 1942, HMAS Vendetta rigged a hand capstan and picked up the tow line from S.S. Islander.

They had drifted 102 miles over the previous 72 hours at the mercy of the wind and high seas. There was still no sign of Ping Wo. Lockheed Hudson A16-45 flew from Ceduna to located two distressed vessels. The Hudson located the two ships drifting shoreward. It successfully guided HMAS Moresby towards HMAS Vendetta. It then circled HMAS Vendetta and exchanged some recognition signals at about 1300 hours on 4 April 1942 before flying away in a north easterly direction and returned to Parafield.

HMAS Moresby was sighted by HMAS Vendetta at 1100 hours on 5 April and closed in on the port quarters to HMAS Vendetta at 1500 hours. It transferred much needed fresh provisions, and some M. and B. tablets for two ratings suffering from a poisoned leg and a poisoned arm respectively.

Lockheed Hudson A16-45 flew from Parafield to Port Lincoln on 5 April to search for Ping Wo without success. It then returned to its home base at Laverton.

At 1300 hours on 6 April 1942, a sea boat from HMAS Moresby came alongside HMAS Vendetta with the Medical Officer and more fresh provisions. The Medical Officer saw the following ratings:-

They passed 20 miles off Kangaroo Island at 1330 hours. The tug "Woonda" stood by on the Port Quarter at 1500 hours. At 1700 hours HMAS Vendetta slipped the tow line from S.S. Islander and was towed by the tug "Woonda" in Adelaide's Outer Harbour.

At 1350 hours on 7 April 1942, HMAS Vendetta was towed by tug "George" to outside the breakwater and berthed at the Outer Harbour, No. 3 Berth at 1500 hours. At 1900 hours C.P.O. Thorne disembarked and an X-Ray confirmed he had a double fracture. He remained in the military hospital in Adelaide. The trip from Albany to Adelaide had taken 14 days.

On 9 April 1942, HMAS Vendetta received 4 shackles of chain cable from HMAS Goulburn. On 10 April at 1630 hours HMAS Vendetta rendezvoused with S.S. Islander whilst being towed by tug "Woonda". The tow line was passed to S.S. Islander at 1730 hours and they continued the tow at 1800 hours.

At 1330 hours on 12 April, the tow line parted yet again, this time due to a faulty chain cable. The hand capstan was rigged on HMAS Vendetta and the broken tow line was recovered at 1500 hours and stowed in the Port cable locker. S.S. Islander had HMAS Vendetta in tow again at 1700 hours.

At 1510 hours on 13 April, the tow line parted again due to a faulty chain cable. This was the fifth time the tow had parted since leaving Singapore. Escort vessel, HMAS Whyalla, steamed around HMAS Vendetta laying oil fuel on the troubled waters as the sea was getting worse. HMAS Vendetta cleared the lower deck and all hands were on the forecastle to recover the broken tow with a hand capstan. They were under tow again at 1755 hours.

At 0650 hours on 14 April 1942, S.S. Islander hove to so that HMAS Vendetta could renew its chaffing gear in the bull ring and around 5 1/2 inch wire. At 0930 hours they found that one strand of 5 1/2 inch wire had completely worn through with chaffing in the bull ring. They stopped towing and cleared the lower deck and rigged a hand capstan using all hands on the forecastle. They brought in sufficient wire for a fresh nip in the bull ring. The wire was served either side of the broken strand.

At 2350 hours on 14 April they had arrived off Port Phillip Heads near Melbourne. It was a very rainy cold day. The lower deck of HMAS Vendetta was cleared to pick up the tow from tug "Tooronga" They then slipped from the S.S. Islander.

They passed through the Rip at 0100 hours on 15 April 1942, beating the ebb tide by only 2 minutes. "Tooronga" took HMAS Vendetta into Victoria Docks at 11 hours and they were secured at No. 18 Wharf at 1330 hours.

Living conditions on HMAS Vendetta during this long trip had been far from ideal. There was no power on the ship, no sanitary arrangements, and only tinned food was available due to the absence of a refrigerator or ice box.

The Ping Wo was paid off by the Royal Navy on 19 May 1942 and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy on 22 May 1942 as "FL150 Stores Ship" and served as a tender and support ship for the Amphibious Operations Training Establishment, HMAS Assault located at Port Stephens in New South Wales.

HMAS Ping Wo was berthed at No. 4 Breakwater in Townsville on 6 November 1943 when HMAS Pirie pulled alongside her for main engine maintenance. HMAS Ping Wo spent some time attached to HMAS Magnetic in Ross Creek in Townsville carrying out Base Repairs for Corvettes and Fairmiles. On 7 November 1943 HMAS Ping Wo departed from the Townsville area towing PT-364 and PT-370 as part of a large convoy of ships headed for Port Moresby and Milne Bay in New Guinea.

In December 1943 HMAS Ping Wo was assigned to a Utility Task Unit in Task Force Seventy-six in the Seventh Amphibious Force, US Navy. HMAS Ping Wo got underway from Milne Bay at 0400 hours LOVE time on 25 December 1943 and proceeded to Buna. On arrival there it reported to Landing Craft Control Officer, Captain Christoph in AMYCUS and discharged its cargo and water to ships present in the area. When released by the Landing Craft Control Officer, Buna it returned to Milne Bay. The coal hulk Rona supplied HMAS Ping Wo.

HMAS Ping Wo got underway at 1500 hours LOVE time on 4 January 1944 and proceeded to Milne Bay. It reported to the Naval Officer in Charge New Guinea on arrival and filled with fresh water and coal. It reported to the Commander Naval base, Milne Bay to load cargo and mail and when completed it returned without delay to Cape Sudest. The Utility Task Unit was dissolved on its return to Cape Sudest. HMAS Ping Wo's W/T call sign was "X1L" and its R/T call sign was ZODIAC.

HMAS Ping Wo got underway at 1300 hours LOVE time on 10 January 1944 and proceeded to Milne Bay where it reported to NOIC New Guinea and filled to capacity with fresh water and coal. It reported to Commander Naval base, Milne Bay to load cargo and mail then returned without delay to Cape Sudest.

HMAS Ping Wo got underway at about 1200 hours LOVE time on 26 January 1944and proceeded to Milne Bay where it reported to NOIC New Guinea and filled to capacity with fresh water and coal. It reported to Commander Naval base, Milne Bay to load cargo, mail and passengers for vessels in the forward area. Upon completion of loading, it proceeded to Sudest as routed by NOIC Milne Bay.

HMAS Ping Wo, 76.12.56 Utility Task Unit, got underway from Cape Sudest at about 1000 hours LOVE time on 15 March 1944 and proceeded to Milne Bay. It adjusted speed to pass through Raven Channel during daylight hours. It reported to NOIC, New Guinea on arrival at Milne Bay and filled to capacity with fresh water and coal. It reported to Commander Transports Seventh Amphibious Force, and NOIC New Guinea, and Commander Naval Base, Milne Bay to load cargo, mail and passengers for vessels in the forward area. Upon completion of loading it proceeded to Cape Sudest as routed by NOIC, Milne Bay.

On 24 June 1944 a Catalina from 11 Squadron guided HMAS Ping Wo through reefs into Port Romily on the southern side of New Guinea.

On 26 January 1945 HMAS Ping Wo arrived at Townsville from Port Moresby. HMAS Ping Wo subsequently left Townsville for Bowen on 28 January 1945. HMAS Ping Wo left Bowen for Sydney on 29 January 1945.

On 9 February 1945, the Minister for the Navy signed a "War Cabinet Agendum" to recommend the conversion of HMAS Ping Wo to a Works Ship for a mobile works unit. This was in anticipation of more territories in Japanese hands being liberated then requiring the need to establish more shore bases. He indicated that bases would be required not only in the Solomon Islands area, but also in the islands to the north west of New Guinea and even in the Dutch East Indies. HMAS Ping Wo was then to replace HMAS Whang Pu in this role. The estimated cost for conversion was Ł89,000 with Ł15,000 of this being required to repair defects in the ship's hull.

At the end of the war HMAS Ping Wo was payed off on 26 June 1946 and returned to the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company.

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