SS Bantam was built by N.V. Machinefabriek & Scheepswerf van P. Smit Jr. of Rotterdam, Netherlands in 1930 of 3322 gross weight and operated by Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij.

Bantam, under charter, became a part of the initial United States Army local fleet in Australia, was severely damaged 28 March 1943 in New Guinea and eventually scuttled off Sydney.

"[2] In early March 1943 almost half the permanent local fleet was composed of the refugee KPM vessels operated by their company crews.

On 28 March 1943, nine Imperial Japanese Val dive bombers attacked Oro Bay, New Guinea while SS Bantam was alongside a liberty wharf unloading.

[4] The Bantam was sinking and it was decided to beach her and a couple of large motor boats assisted in pulling the ship away from the wharf.