{{Short description|Steam turbine ship launched in 1934}} {{Use Australian English|date=April 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} {{More footnotes needed|date=June 2008}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = Taroona.jpg | image_caption = ''Taroona'' circa 1951 }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | country = Australia | flag = | name = ''Taroona'' | namesake = Taroona, Tasmania | builder = Alexander Stephen & Sons, Glasgow | yard_number = 543 | owner = Tasmanian Steamers | operator = | laid_down = | launched = 22 November 1934 | completed = January 1935 | in_service = | out_of_service = 1959 | struck = | registry = | identification = | fate = | notes = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = title | country = Greece | flag = | name = ''Hellas'' | namesake = Hellas (Greece) | owner = Typaldos Lines | operator = | acquired = 1959 | commissioned = | decommissioned = | struck = | registry = Piraeus | identification = {{IMO|5147011}} | fate = Scrapped at Aliağa in 1989. | notes = }}
|section4={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | class = | type = | tonnage = 4325 grt | displacement = | length = {{cvt|354|ft|7|in|m|2|order=flip}} | beam = {{cvt|50|ft|1|in|m|2|order=flip}} | height = | draught = {{cvt|15|ft|1|in|m|2|order=flip}} | depth = | power = | propulsion = 6 steam turbines single reduction geared to 2 screw shafts of 6000{{nbsp}}shp, 3 water tube boilers fitted to burn oil | speed = {{cvt|16|kn}}, top speed of {{cvt|18|kn}} | range = | endurance = | complement = | armament = | armour = | notes = }} }} '''SS ''Taroona''''' was built in Linthouse, Glasgow by Alexander Stephen & Sons for Tasmanian Steamers, Australia. She was a steam turbine ship capable of {{convert|18|kn}}, but typically operated at {{convert|16|kn}} for better fuel economy.
== Service in Australia and New Zealand == ''Taroona'' entered service in 1935 serving on the Bass Strait route from Melbourne to Bell Bay and Beauty Point from Melbourne to Devonport and Burnie.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SS Taroona 1934 |url=https://www.mastermariners.org.au/stories-from-the-past/4586-ss-taroona-1934 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=www.mastermariners.org.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> ''Taroona'' was requisitioned for service as a troopship in World War II by the Government of New Zealand. She carried troops from Auckland to Suva's Naval Base Fiji in January 1942, and in March 1942. On her return to the Bass Strait run she was almost immediately again requisitioned this time by the Government of Australia again as a troopship. During her first trip to Naval Base Port Moresby at Port Moresby she carried 480 troops and supplies; on leaving Port Moresby she ran aground on a reef at the entrance where she remained for three days, helpless hard and fast aground. All attempts to refloat her using both engines and the assistance of navy vessels proved useless. The situation became serious when on several occasions Japanese bombers swept in to attack the Seven Mile Aerodrome outside Port Moresby. Why they failed to attack ''Taroona'' remains a mystery. Finally aided by three naval vessels, she shook herself free.
In her war time career she travelled {{convert|204,535|mi|order=flip}} and carried 93,432 troops. Although frequently under fire during her ninety-four trips she remained unscathed.
''Taroona'' arrived in Sydney on 4 February 1946, ending her career as an Australian troop carrier. She was handed back to Tasmanian Steamers and joined {{SS|Nairana}} which had maintained a very busy schedule during ''Taroona''’s absence including transporting troops from Tasmania to Melbourne.
In 1959, ''Taroona'' was replaced by the ''Princess of Tasmania'', a ship more suitable for the times as motor cars were becoming very popular and ''Taroona'' could only take 30 which had to be winched aboard.
== Service in Greece == [[File:"Hellas" - Eleusis, 1986.jpg|thumb|left|''Hellas'' laid up in Elefsina, July 1986]] ''Taroona'' was sold to Typaldos Lines, renamed ''Hellas'' and immediately taken over by her new crew and departed Australia for Greece. She was converted to a cruise ship and operated cruises around the Mediterranean Sea until 1966. On a notable journey on 7 February 1964, former Greek Prime Minister Sofoklis Venizelos died on board the ship of a pulmonary edema, en route from Chania to Piraeus, at age 69.<ref>{{cite news|title=Venizelos Dead; Greek Leader, 69; Former Premier Was Son of World War I Statesman|newspaper=New York Times|agency=Reuters|date=Feb 7, 1964|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/02/07/archives/venizelos-dead-greek-leader-69-former-premier-was-son-of-world-war.html|accessdate=2022-07-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Venizelos Buried on Crete After Athens State Funeral|newspaper=New York Times|date=10 February 1964|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/02/10/archives/venizelos-buried-on-crete-after-athens-state-funeral.html|accessdate=2022-07-03}}</ref>
In 1966 she was laid up in Perama bay for the winter but never worked again after the {{SS|Heraklion}} sank in big seas and the Typaldos Lines was found guilty. Subsequently, all their ships were sold except ''Hellas'' and SS ''Athinai''. ''Hellas'' remained laid-up at Elefsina bay until May 1989 when she was towed out of the bay to Aliağa in Turkey and scrapped.
==General references== {{refbegin}} *{{cite book|title=Ferry to Tasmania, A Short History|first= Peter|last= Plowman|year= 2004|publisher= Rosenberg Publishing|isbn= 1-877058-27-0}} *{{cite book|title=Bass Strait Crossings, The Shipping History of the|first= David|last= Hopkins|date= 1994|publisher= Taswegia|isbn= 0-646-18635-3}} *{{cite book|title=The Vanished Fleet|first=Thomas|last=Fitchett|year=1976|publisher=Rigby |isbn=0-7270-0210-4}} {{refend}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.merchant-navy-ships.com/index.php?id=54,0,0,1,0,0 Australia's Merchant Navy in the Second World War: S.S Taroona] *[http://users.nex.net.au/~reidgck/shipping.htm#TAROONA Taroona: A brief History]
{{Australianferries|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taroona}} Category:Bass Strait ferries Category:Ships built on the River Clyde Category:Steamships of Greece Category:Troop ships of Australia Category:1934 ships