HMAS Warrnambool (I)
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| Type | Australian Minesweeper (Bathurst Class) |
|---|---|
| Laid down | 13 November 1940 |
| Launched | 8 May 1941 by Mrs Simpson, wife of a Director of Mort's Dock and Engineering Co Ltd |
| Builder | Mort's Dock and Engineering Co Ltd, Sydney |
| Commissioned | 23 September 1941 |
| Displacement | 650 tons (standard) |
| Length | 186 feet56.693 m 5,669.28 cm 0.0567 km 0.0352 mi 2,232 in |
| Beam | 31 feet9.449 m 944.88 cm 0.00945 km 0.00587 mi 372 in |
| Draught | 8 feet 6 inches |
| Armament |
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| Main Machinery |
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| Horsepower | 1,750 |
| Speed | 15 knots7.717 m/s 27.78 km/h 0.00772 km/s 1,519.029 ft/min 25.317 ft/s |
| Complement | 85 |
HMAS Warrnambool (I) was one of sixty Australian Minesweepers (commonly known as corvettes) built during World War II in Australian shipyards as part of the Commonwealth Government's wartime shipbuilding programme. Twenty were built on Admiralty order but manned and commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy. Thirty-six (including Warrnambool (I)) were built for the Royal Australian Navy and four for the Royal Indian Navy.
Warrnambool (I) commissioned at Sydney on 23 September 1941 under the command of LEUT Eric J. Barron RANR(S).
After completion of trials, Warrnambool (I) was immediately engaged in patrols in Bass Strait. She was present at Darwin when the first Japanese air raid occurred on 19 February 1942, but sustained no damage or casualties. The following day the ship rescued 73 survivors of the Filipino merchant ship DON ISIDRO which had been attacked and set on fire by Japanese dive bombers. During the rescue operation Warrnambool (I) was bombed by a Japanese flying boat, but without damage or casualties.
In the first twelve months of Warrnambool (I)'s commission, all except the first three of which were spent in northern waters, the ship had carried out five evacuations or rescue trips, been present during 18 air raids, and ferried 4,000 troops in New Guinea. In July 1942, in company with HMAS Southern Cross, she carried Netherlands East Indies troops and stores from Darwin to Dobo, in the Aru Islands. In September 1942 Warrnambool (I) rescued survivors of the force from Dobo.
Later in September the ship assisted in the rescue of personnel of HMAS Voyager (II), which had grounded at Betano on the south coast of Timor whilst landing Australian troops and subsequently became a total loss.
Late in 1942 Warrnambool (I) transferred to the Australian east coast and spent most of the remainder of the war operating in that area on anti-submarine patrols and convoy protection. Late in September 1944 she proceeded to Fremantle where she was based until the end of February 1945. Warrnambool (I) then transferred to Darwin where she was based for the remainder of 1945.
Following the cessation of hostilities, Warrnambool (I) was present at the Japanese surrender at Koepang, Timor, on 11 September 1945.
Warrnambool (I)'s subsequent post war career consisted of mine clearance work in Solomons and New Guinea waters, followed by similar operations in the Great Barrier Reef area. Whilst engaged in this work she struck a mine in the vicinity of Cockburn Reef on 13 September 1947 and sank shortly afterwards. Four sailors lost their lives. On 3 July 1972 the wreck was sold to Southern Cross Diving and Salvage, of Dee Why, New South Wales.
Further Reading
- The Corvettes: Forgotten Ships of the Royal Australian Navy by Iris Nesdale - published by the Author, October, 1982.
- Corvettes - Little Ships for Big Men by Frank B. Walker - published by Kingfisher Press, NSW, 1996.
