HMS KANIMBLA Hong Kong, China, 1940
Artist
A Cheuk
Date1940
Object number00042375
NamePainting
MediumOil on board, wood, paper, metal
Dimensions407 x 585 x 21 mm
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
Collections
DescriptionKANIMBLA is depicted arriving in Hong Kong to commence duties with the British Royal Navy under the command of Royal Australian Navy Commander F E Getting. KANIMBLA was used on the passenger service between Cairns and Fremantle from 1936 to 1939, when it was requisitioned into the Royal Navy as an Armed Merchant Cruiser.HistoryFormerly a merchant passenger ship with McIlwraith McEachern Limited, the KANIMBLA was requisitioned on 5 September 1939 for conversion to an armed merchant cruiser in Britain's Royal Navy. On 6 October 1939, the ship was commissioned HMS KANIMBLA and under the command of Commander Frank Getting, RAN, patrolled the China and Japan coasts and intercepted and searched ships for contraband and well as other general patrol and escort duties.
In 1943 the ship was again converted, this time into a landing ship infantry (LSI) for operations in the Pacific and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy as HMAS KANIMBLA. Transport and troop landings followed and as part of task force 79 in 1945, KANIMBLA was involved in the battle of Lingayen Gulf. After the war ended, the ship was involved in the repatriation of Australian servicemen from the Pacific islands and also in returning Dutch dependents to the East Indies; and transporting troops of the British Commonwealth occupation forces to Japan. Decommissioned in 1949, KANIMBLA was returned to McIlwraith McEachern in 1950.
This painting depicts the ship as it arrived in Hong Kong to commence duties with the Royal Navy - under the command of an Australian naval officer.SignificanceThis painting represents the vessel HMS KANIMBLA and the considerable role it played in the Pacific during World War II. It also demonstrates the use of merchant ships during periods of war.
