24th October 1914

G. Aus. Bight

Saturday October 24 1914 - SS Rangatiara A22

No sight of land still on the deep, no ships to be seen anywhere.  I am on top deck picquet tonight and the seas are not so smoothe as they could be, so expect a few horses down the wind is whistling through the masts and riggings.  The horse stall shelter one a lot.  I know now what it is like to be on the seas.  But one cant help but feel safe on the Rangatiara.  She is a good seaworthy old tug.  I would go anywhere in her.

A22 Rangatira's Specifications:

 
Type:  Steel hull, twin screw steam ship. Shelter Deck sheathed in wood; 8 cemented bulkheads; fitted with electric light, wireless & refrigerating machinery; cellular double bottom, aft 117 feet long, under engine & boilers 77 feet, forward 221 feet.
 
Tonnage:  10,118 tons gross, 6,988 under deck and 6,545 net. 
 
Dimensions:  494 feet overall, 477 feet at the waterline, 61 feet beam and holds 31.3 feet deep; Bridge Deck 180 feet long; Forecastle 50 feet. 
 
Construction:  1908 by Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd. at Belfast, she was one of five similar ships commissioned by Shaw Savill for the frozen meat trade. 
 
Propulsion:  Triple expansion engine with 6 cylinders of 23, 38 1/2 & 66 inches diameter each pair; stroke 48 inches; operating at 205 p.s.i.; 920 nominal horsepower; 5 single ended boilers; 20 corrugated furnaces; grate surface 333 sq. ft.; heating surface 13,590 sq. ft.; forced draught; engine built by the same company as the hull. 
 
Cruising speed:  14 knots. 
 
Passenger accommodation:  1,000 steerage class. 
 
Capacities:  Coal: 5,338 tons; Water: 1,490 tons; Cargo: Bale capacity: 655,245 cubic feet; Grain: 693,613 cubic feet; Carcases: 96,720 or 16,378 tons of general cargo. 
 
Owners:  Shaw, Savill & Albion Co. Ltd. 
 
Port of Registry:  Southampton 
 
Official Number:  124523 
 
Code letters:  HQKR

[Courtesy of New Zealand National Maritime Museum]

Saturday 24th October

Exercising again very satisfactorily carried out. Two horse suffering from colic, but recovered during day. Brigade Head Quarters had practice with ball ammunition from stern of boat. All matting brought up on deck after morning stables. Afternoon given to men for washing etc. Concert at night. Ships piano used. Boat and Fire stations rehearsed.

[Courtesy of State Library of New South Wales - Sir Charles Rosenthal diary]