This webpage is dedicated to the memory of the men who served in these ships.

Early in WWII merchant ships owned by British companies operating in China were requisitioned or comandeered by both Japanese and Allied Authorities for wartime naval service.

Some thirty of these vessels were taken into Allied Naval Service as depot, training, hospital, guard/boarding, ammunition/stores supply, patrol, repair and general purpose naval duty ships. They served in various theatres of WWII and many were lost by enemy action.

Four ships, Ping Wo, Poyang, Whang Pu and Yunnan were commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy for service as supply, repair and support ships in the Pacific and East Indies. The Changte and Taiping were requisitioned for service as victualling supply ships to support the British Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean. "Victualling" was a euphemism because cargoes usually included gasoline, ammunition, aircraft bombs and fuel as well as victualling supplies.

Subsequently HMAS's Poyang and Yunnan served with the American 7th fleet.

After their war service these six ships were returned to their owners.

An Allied Chinese Ships Association comprised of ex Royal Australian Personnel who served in HMAS Ping Wo, HMAS Po Yang, HMAS Whang Pu, HMAS Yunnan, VSIS Changte and VSIS Taiping during World War II was formed in 1986.

Patron, Sir Adrian Swire of London, heads the Swire Group of Companies which includes the China Navigation Company and Cathay Pacific Airlines. As the pre war owner of some of the R.A.N. ships the Swire Group, through Sir Adrian, supported the Association's activities. In turn the Association supplemented the Swire Archives with historical records and information relating to the wartime experiences of the ships and their crews.

Anyone wishing to contribute information to this website is invited to contact:

Merv. Wildy, Website Owner, 8 Mayfair Drive, West Beach, South Australia. 5024. Phone 08 8356 6131 Email:Merv Wildy

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Site last updated 14th July 2003

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