HMAS Upolu

Medium:

Drawing, graphite pencil on paper

Setting:

WW I (1914-1918)

HMAS Upolu (Image courtesy of Jack Coyle) (Royal Australian Navy Website)

Upolu is sailing along smoothly in this painting, but she was only able to steam at 10 knots (the best her old coal fired boilers could manage) and hence found to be unsuitable as a depot ship for the navy.

About HMAS Upolu
HMAS Upolu was chartered by the RAN and converted into a submarine depot ship to support the two submarines, HMA Submarines AE1 and AE2 for operations in German New Guinea waters. Upolu was unarmed but additional workshop equipment, machinery and a motorboat were embarked for her naval service. Upolu proved to be an unsuitable choice as depot ship and was returned to her owners.

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