Iron+Knight

= Iron Knight: = =  = //Iron Knight // was built by Lithgow’s Ltd, Port Glasgow for Broken Hill Proprietary Company, Broken Hill. She was completed in October 1937 and was homeported in Melbourne under the British Flag. On 8 February 1943, //Iron Knight// was part of Convoy OC 8 from Whyalla, South Australia up the east coast of New South Wales to Newcastle, New South Wales. At 2:30 am, a torpedo fired by Japanese submarine I-21 at escorts HMAS //Townsville// and HMAS //Mildura// passed under the bow of //Townsville// and struck //Iron Knight//, which was at the head of the convoy. Her position was //Iron Knight // sank within two minutes bow first. Out of the crew of 50 only 14 survived after climbing on board a single lifeboat. The convoy steamed ahead and the survivors were picked up by the French destroyer //Le Triumphant// ten days later.

The wreck of the //Iron Knight// was discovered in waters off the town of Bermagui, New South Wales at a depth of approximately 125 metres (410 ft). The wreck was officially declared a protected wreck on 4 August 2006. The crew of //Iron Knight// who lost their lives in the attack are commemorated on the Newcastle Mercantile Marine Memorial, outside Newcastle railway station   