World War I and sinking

The British suspected that Tabora was not really a hospital ship, but rather operated as a troopship or ammunition transport ship, disguised as a hospital ship with her sides painted with the Red Cross emblem.^[4]

On 26 March 1916, in the port of Dar es Salaam in German East Africa, the Royal Navy battleship HMS Vengeance and protected cruisers HMS Challenger and HMS Hyacinth and the Royal Australian Navy light cruiser HMAS Pioneer approached Tabora. The British demanded that the Germans allow them to inspect Tabora to confirm or debunk their suspicions about her. The Germans did not reply. Pioneer received orders to open fire if the German ship made any suspicious move. After time had passed without a reply from Tabora, Pioneer received orders to fire four warning shots from her 4-inch (102-mm) guns. At the same time, Vengeance signaled Tabora asking her to evacuate any wounded she had on board. When Tabora still did not answer, the British ships and Pioneer opened fire on her. An avalanche of shells hit Tabora, and she quickly caught fire. She was shrouded in thickening clouds of black smoke, took on a list to port, and began to sink. The British ships and Pioneer then steamed away without any return fire from the Germans. Tabora rolled onto her side and came to rest on the harbor bottom on her port side, with her starboard side remaining above water. It is unknown if anyone died on Tabora.^[4]