Kraka-Toa was a naval tramp steamer that first appeared in Munitions.
Biography
Once she was being loaded with ammunition and taking fuel at the same time, a dangerous practice. Due to fuel drums falling onto explosives and a spark from Bluenose's stack after the latter hit Zorran's barge, the dock caught fire, thus setting off the explosives and fuel that had been taken aboard her. Since she was nearly fully loaded, her cargo "ripped her apart" (as Zorran predicted) and she was destroyed and fatally keeled over in the water. In a deleted scene from Quarantine, the burnt-out hulk of Kraka-Toa is shown with Top Hat and Warrior preparing to tow her away. As Burke and Blair were in Bigg City Port at the time, it's presumed that the Navy declared her a total loss and sold her for scrap after the fire.
Appearances
Episodes
- Sunshine (stock footage; cameo)
- Munitions (does not speak)
- Ghosts (cameo)
- Quarantine (cameo)
- Bigg Freeze (deleted scene)
Books and Annuals
- Naval Manoeuvres (does not speak)
Trivia
- Kraka-Toa was named after the equally explosive volcano Krakatoa, which exploded in 1883 and caused much disturbance in the global climate for a while afterwards.
- She is the only female tramper, even though she never speaks.
- She is the only character to physically die in the series.
- Her top speed was 30 knots.
- The sinking of the Kraka-Toa is loosely inspired by the sinking of the former French CGT ocean liner SS Normandie after it caught fire during its conversion to a US troopship at New York Harbour's Pier 88 on the afternoon of the 9th February 1942.
- Unlike the sinking of the Kraka-Toa in episode, the Normandie (which capsized in the early hours of the 10th February) sank due to the amount of water that was pumped from the fire boats onto the ship to contain the fire. An investigation into the sinking of the Normandie was believed that the fire was caused by the sparks from a welder's torch coming into contact with a stack of lifejackets that was filled with flammable kapok oil.
- As the sinking had occurred two months after the US entered the Second World War on the side of the Allies, it was suspected that the fire was enemy sabotage and led to the commence of Operation Underworld, a joint co-operation between the US Government and members of the American Mafia.
- Unlike the sinking of the Kraka-Toa in episode, the Normandie (which capsized in the early hours of the 10th February) sank due to the amount of water that was pumped from the fire boats onto the ship to contain the fire. An investigation into the sinking of the Normandie was believed that the fire was caused by the sparks from a welder's torch coming into contact with a stack of lifejackets that was filled with flammable kapok oil.
Gallery
Television Series
Promotional Material
Behind the Scenes
Books
| TUGBOATS | Bluenose |
|---|---|
| OTHER WATERCRAFTS | Grampus (formerly) |
| SHIPS | The Naval Ship* | Kraka-Toa | Old Rusty* (possibly) |
| LOCATIONS | Naval Yard* | Oil Yard* |