Slamat

(Noordzee NZ-20)

Type: Passenger / general cargo
Displacement: 11,406 tons
Dimensions: 483 x 62 x 29 ft.
Machinery: Two geared turbines, S.H.P. 8,000 = 15 knots
Passengers: 398 (139 first class, 158 secnd class, 69 third class, 32 fourth class)

Builder: Scheepsbouw Maatschappij "De Schelde", Flushing, The Netherlands, 1924

Service: Built for the Rotterdamsche Lloyd Line (Dutch flag). Ordered 25 Feb 1921 as Papandajan; name changed to Slamat 21 Aug 1921. Maiden voyage 19 Apr 1924, joining weekly Rotterdam-East Indies mail service. Later sailing from southern France. Lengthened by 15 ft and upgraded engines increased speed to 17 knots, 1931. In Dutch East Indies when the Netherlands were invaded in May 1940. Given in bare-boat charter to the British Ministry of War Transport, and converted to troop transport at Sydney in three weeks. Trooped in Pacific to 1941, then sent to Port Said to join convoys evacuating British troops from Greece. Hit by one bomb and two near misses, but still seaworthy when she was hit again on 27 Apr 1941, resulting in an uncontrollable fire. Survivors picked up by destroyers Diamond and Wryneck. On way to Suda bay, both destroyers were again attacked and sunk; only 52 survivors total, including just 10 of the Slamat crew.