Manus Island was captured by the Allies. Seeadler Harbour was developed as a major naval base and by September 1944 it rivalled Pearl Harbour. It was equipped with a 100,000 ton floating dock and cranes with a lifting capacity of 180 tons.
HMAS LACHLAN was launched at Mort’s Dock, Sydney.
The cola lighter MOMBAH was requisitioned by the RAN to increase the Navy’s ability to meet the needs of coal-burning vessels engaged in the war effort. MOMBAH served in Sydney and Melbourne until deployed to Darwin in October 1944. In December 1944 she was towed to Morotai and there she provided valuable service there for 10 months until towed back to Sydney. She was paid off to reserve in July 1946.
