Historical information

the Akuna started life as a 210ft moto yacht 'Komet', built in 1911 for the German Administraror of New Guinea. When wa started in 1914 the German Navy took it over as an armed patrol boat, but plans were thwarted when she and her 57 crew were captured by a detachment of the Australian Navy and AMEF. Sailed to Sydney as a prize, she was commissioned a monthe later as HMAS Una , She became the first Australian Aircraft carrier when she took a Marrice Farman sea plane , and a BE 2A land plane, along with pilots to New Guinea in Nov. 1914.
During and after the war her duty was Patrol and general Purpose vessel in Ner Guinea waters, still listed as a RAN ship in May 1920, decommissioned in 1925.
January 1925 as the Akuna she was sold to Port Phillip Pilot Service in Melbourne. In 1953 she was sold for scrap, ending over 40 yrs of reliable service in war and peace time.

Physical description

Sepia photograph of port Phillip pilot vessel 'Akuna'