HMAS Warrnambool (J202)

Coordinates: 14°45′32″S 145°49′41″E / 14.75889°S 145.82806°E / -14.75889; 145.82806
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other ships with the same name, see HMAS Warrnambool.

HMAS Warrnambool in 1941
HMAS Warrnambool in 1941 before being commissioned.
History
Australia
NamesakeCity of
Warrnambool, Victoria
Builder
Morts Dock & Engineering Co
in Sydney
Laid down13 November 1940
Launched8 May 1941
Commissioned23 September 1941
Motto"Protect And Avenge"
Honours and
awards
FateSunk during mine clearance on 13 September 1947
BadgeShip's badge
General characteristics
Class and typeBathurst-class corvette
Displacement650 tons (standard), 1,025 tons (full war load)
Length186 ft (57 m)
Beam31 ft (9.4 m)
Draught8.5 ft (2.6 m)
Propulsiontriple expansion engine, 2 shafts
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) at 1,750 hp
Complement85
Armament
  • 1 ×
    4 inch Mk XIX
    gun
  • 1 ×
    40 mm
    Bofors AA gun (installed later)
  • 3 × 20 mm Oerlikon guns (1 later removed)
  • machine guns
  • depth charge chutes and throwers

HMAS Warrnambool (J202), named for the city of

Warrnambool, Victoria was one of 60 Bathurst-class corvettes constructed during World War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).[1] Warrnambool sank after she hit a mine in the Great Barrier Reef on 13 September 1947.[1]
She was one of only four Bathurst class corvettes lost while in Australian service, and the only one lost after World War II.

Design and construction

Main article: Bathurst-class corvette

In 1938, the

British Admiralty but manned and commissioned as RAN vessels, and 4 for the Royal Indian Navy.[2][7][8][9][1]

Morts Dock & Engineering Co laid Warrnambool down in Sydney on 13 November 1940.[1] She was launched on 8 May 1941 by Mrs Simpson, wife of a shipyard Director, and commissioned on 23 September 1941.[1]

Operational history

Warrnambool began her career with patrols of Bass Strait, before heading to northern waters.

bombing of Darwin on 19 February 1942, although she was not damaged.[1] A day later she was involved in the rescue of 73 crew from the Filipino merchant vessel MV Don Isidro, following attacks by Japanese dive bombers.[1] During the rescue, the Japanese attacked Warrnambool but she received only minor damage. Over the next 12 months Warrnambool was involved in five evacuations or rescues (including that of HMAS Voyager’s crew following the destroyer running aground in September 1942), present for eighteen Japanese air raids, and transported over 4,000 troops to New Guinea.[1]

In late 1942, the corvette moved to the east coast of Australia, where she remained until September 1944, performing convoy escort and anti-submarine patrols.

Koepang, Timor, on 11 September 1945.[1]

HMAS Warrnambool sinking after striking a mine on 13 September 1947, near Cockburn Reef, Queensland.

Following the conclusion of World War II, Warrnambool performed mine clearance work in the Solomon and New Guinea Islands before moving to the Great Barrier Reef.[1] While performing clearance work on 13 September 1947, the corvette hit a mine around 16:00 near Cockburn Reef, off the northern Queensland coast.[1][10] Four sailors were killed and another 29 were injured.[10] Warrnambool sank shortly afterward, in 25 metres (82 ft) of water.[1] The wreck was sold to Southern Cross Diving and Salvage on 3 July 1972.[1] A Board of Inquiry found that there was no culpable negligence in the loss of the corvette, and praised the conduct of her crew and commanding officer.[10][11] Warrnambool is the only RAN ship to be sunk by a mine.[12] A survey conducted in 2016 by HMAS Mermaid found that the wreck of Warrnambool remained largely intact.[13]

The corvette's wartime service was recognised with three battle honours: "Darwin 1942", "Pacific 1942–45", and "New Guinea 1942".[14][15]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "HMAS Warrnambool (I)". Sea Power Centre Australia. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  2. ^ a b c Stevens, The Australian Corvettes, p. 1
  3. ^ Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, p. 103
  4. ^ Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, pp. 103–4
  5. ^ Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, pp. 103–5
  6. ^ Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, p. 104
  7. ^ Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, pp. 105, 148
  8. ^ Donohue, From Empire Defence to the Long Haul, p. 29
  9. ^ Stevens et al., The Royal Australian Navy, p. 108
  10. ^ a b c Morley, Dave (12 September 2013). "Corvette's final sweep". Navy News. p. 16.
  11. ^ "Warrnambool Inquiry Clears Captain and Crew". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 30 October 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  12. OCLC 50418095
    .
  13. ^ "HMAS Mermaid visits old friend to test new technology". Navy Daily. Royal Australian Navy. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours". Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  15. ^ "Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours" (PDF). Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.

References

Books
Journal and news articles

External links

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14°45′32″S 145°49′41″E / 14.75889°S 145.82806°E / -14.75889; 145.82806

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