Overview

In 1936 and 1937 Lithgows in Port Glasgow built four sister ships for BHP. Iron Baron and Iron King were launched in 1936. Iron Knight and Iron Chieftain were launched in 1937. Iron Chieftain was launched on 22 October and completed in December. The four ships shared a similar layout, with a bridge and main superstructure amidships and engine room and funnel aft. All four ships had the same beam of 56.2 ft (17.1 m) and a depth of 23.2 ft (7.1 m). Iron Knight and Iron Chieftain had a registered length of 404.5 ft (123.3 m), which was 11.3 ft (3.4 m) longer than Iron Baron and Iron King. Iron Chieftain's tonnages were 4,812 GRT and 2,737 NRT. This book is a description of the sinking of the SS Iron Chieftain by the famous Japanese submarine I-24 on 3 June 1942. SS Iron Chieftain was the first merchant vessel sunk off the southeast coast of Australia by submarines in World War II; twelve merchant seamen lost their lives. Thirty-seven survived, including twenty-five who spent more than a day rowing to shore in a lifeboat. Onboard the lifeboat was Allan's maternal grandfather, George Anderson. This book is a tale of loss, luck, endurance, and leadership and is indicative of the experience of many who served in Australia's Merchant Navy in World War II. The book draws upon many first-hand accounts.

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