SS Pruth (1916)

For other ships with the same name, see SS Pruth.

SS Pruth was a 4698 gross register ton^[1] steamship built by J.L. Thompson and Sons, Sunderland for the Hain Steamship Company in 1916. The ship was on a voyage from New York to Cairns, via Port Moresby when she was wrecked upon Nateara Reef ^{[clarification needed]} near Port Moresby on 31 December 1923. Attempts to salvage her failed.^[2] Her wreck became known as the "Moresby Wreck".

History
Name	SS Pruth
Owner	Hain Steamship Company
Builder	J.L. Thompson and Sons, Sunderland
Yard number	511
Identification	Official number: 1139109
Fate	Wrecked upon Nateara Reef,[1] Port Moresby in 1923
General characteristics
Tonnage	4698 gross register
Length	121.9 metres (400 ft)
Beam	16.2 metres (53 ft)
Depth	7.9 metres (26 ft)
Installed power	421 n.h.p.[1]
Propulsion	Triple expansion engine[1]
Speed	10 knots[1]

Her wreck was used for strafing and bombing practice by the United States Army Air Forces Fifth Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942 and 1943 during World War II. Six Allied aircraft crashed while undertaking the strafing and bombing practice.