HMAS Duntroon HMAS " Duntroon " was a troopship operated by the Royal Australian Navy ( RAN ) from 1946 to 1949 . Built in 1935 as MV " Duntroon for the Melbourne Steamship Company , the ship was offered for conversion into an armed merchant cruiser at the start of World War II , but was not accepted . In 1942 , the ship was requesitioned by the Australian Army for use as a troopship , and became HMAT " Duntroon . Her army service continued until 1946 , when she was chartered by the RAN for transport duties with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force . " Duntroon " was returned to her civilian owners in 1950 . In 1961 , the ship was sold to Kie Hock Shipping Co . and renamed Tong Hoo . She was sold again in 1966 to Africa Shipping Co . and renamed " Lydia " . The ship was laid up in Singapore in 1967 , and sailed to Taiwan for scrapping in 1973 . During her career , " Duntroon " collided with and sank two vessels : the auxiliary minesweeper in November 1940 , and the destroyer in November 1943 . Construction . The 10 , 346 ton vessel was built by Swan , Hunter & Wigham Richardson , Wallsend - on - Tyne , in 1935 for the Melbourne Steamship Company of Australia . She was designed for the East – West Australian coastal passenger service . Operational history . Melbourne Steamship Company . " Duntroon " operated as a passenger transport until the start of World War II , when she was offered for conversion into an armed merchant cruiser . This offer was turned down , and she continued to operate as part of the merchant navy . On the evening of 20 November 1940 , " Duntroon " departed from Melbourne for Sydney , with soldiers aboard . At 20 : 37 , while attempting to exit Port Phillip Bay , " Duntroon " collided with the blacked - out auxiliary minesweeper , which was sailing to Portsea to anchor for the night . The smaller ship was cut in two , and all 24 aboard were killed : the first RAN losses of World War II . " Duntroon " attempted to recover survivors , but was only successful in finding six bodies . The ship returned to Melbourne for bow repairs , which were completed on 18 December . Military service . In February 1942 , " Duntroon " was requisitioned by the Australian Army . She was converted into a troopship and received the prefix HMAT . " Duntroon " transported elements of the Second Australian Imperial Force from the Middle East back to Australia before commencing operations in the South West Pacific and Far East . " Duntroon " was involved in a second collision in November 1943 , this time with United States Navy destroyer . The destroyer was sailing from Milne Bay to Buna when she was rammed portside amidships and cut in two by " Duntroon " just before 02 : 00 on 29 November , from Ipoteto Island . Four Americans were killed . Between 24 and 28 December 1944 , " Duntroon " transported the 58th / 59th Battalion from Julago , Queensland to Torokina , Bougainville . After the war ' s end , " Duntroon " was used to repatriate prisoners of war to Australia . The ship left army service in April 1946 , but was chartered by the RAN three months later . " Duntroon " was commissioned into the navy , and received the prefix HMAS . While in RAN service , " Duntroon " was used to transport personnel of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force between Japan and Australia until late 1948 . Return to civilian service . " Duntroon " was returned to her owners in March 1949 , and resumed coastal passenger and cruising services in August 1950 . On 23 October 1950 , she was damaged by fire while berthed in the Yarra River . In 1960 , " Duntroon " was sold to the Grosvenor Shipping Co . and was towed to Hong Kong by the tug " Ajax " . The ship ' s bell was removed ; this was later installed on the parade ground of the Royal Military College Duntroon , in Canberra . She was resold to Kie Hock Shipping Co . in 1961 and was renamed " Tong Hoo " and used on Hong Kong – Indonesia passenger service . " Tong Hoo " was sold in 1966 to the Africa Shipping Co . , renamed " Lydia " and used for the India – Pakistan – East Africa route . Fate . She was laid up in 1967 at Singapore for her last voyage Yokosuka to Kaohsiung , Taiwan in 1973 where she was scrapped .