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| RAN Bathurst-class corvette 650 Tons (standard) 1,025 (loaded) 186' x 31' x 8.5' (As Built Armament) 1 x 12 pounder 3 x 20mm cannons .50 caliber MG Depth Charges (Late War Armament) 1 x 4" Mark XIX gun 1 x Bofors 40mm gun 3 x 20mm cannons .50 caliber MG Depth Charges  RAN 1943  RAN 1944  RAN April 24, 1944  Fitzpatrick June 24, 1944 |
Ship History Built by Evans Deakin & Company at at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane. Laid down June 7, 1941 as a Bathurst-class corvette. Launched December 1, 1941 as HMAS Bundaberg (J231/M231) sponsored by Mrs. Hurwood, wife of the Director of Evans Deakin the first ship named for Bundaberg. Commissioned September 12, 1942 in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) under the command of Lieutenant Commander Neville D Pixley, RANR. Afterwards, underwent sea trials. Wartime History During October 1942 assigned to escort convoys between Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. During January 1943 to May 1943 continues escorting convoys. Until the end of 1942, the enemy were comparatively inactive in Australian waters, but in January 1943 the Japanese launched their third and final submarine campaign on coastal shipping in an attempt to disrupt the flow of war materials to the forward areas. Between January and May 1943, during which period Bundaberg was almost constantly at sea, 11 ships were lost off the coast. Only four of these, however, were in convoy at the time of attack, one of which, the United States vessel SS Portmar, was being escorted by Bundaberg. On June 15, 1943 escorting convoy GP55 of ten ships and three Landing Ship Tanks (LST) escorted by HMAS Bundaberg, HMAS Cootamundra, HMAS Deloraine, HMAS Kalgoorlie, and HMAS Warrnambool. At 5:15pm roughly 35 miles off Smoky Cape, USS LST-469 and USAT Portmar were hit by torpedoes fired by I-174 that escaped. This was the last last Japanese submarine attack off Australia. In December 1943 Bundaberg began escorting convoys from Cairns to Port Moresby and Milne Bay. After nearly three months of this uneventful duty, transfered to Task Force 74 (Australian Squadron) in New Guinea. In September 1943, returned to Australia for refit then returned to New Guinea for escort, anti-submarine patrol and shore bombardment to support operations. In addition it carried out anti-submarine patrols in the Solomon Sea, off Hollandia and in the Sepik River area. Escort duties were a continuing commitment during this period which included the escort of troop transports from Finschhafen to Madang. During April 1944, Bundaberg bombards Japanese positions on Alim Island in the Admiralty Islands. On April 24, 1944 in Madang Harbor embarked a platoon 8th Infantry Brigade from the pier in Madang and lands them on Sek Island then moored to the wharf at Alexishafen. Afterwards, remains in the vicinity. On April 27, 1944 embarks war correspondents Mr. Roy Macartney, Mr. John Scarlet and Mr. Fred Aldridge. On April 30, 1944 the crew presented a Australian flag to the Australian Army, 30th Infantry Battalion that raised it over the ruins of the Alexishafen Catholic Mission at Alexishafen. On June 24, 1944 entered Uligan Harbor and salvaged a Japanese 37mm anti-tank gun from a sunken barge. The gun was cleaned and painted by the crew as a war prize to be delivered to the citizen of Bundaberg. In July 1944 Bundaberg, with by HMAS Whyalla helped refloat Australian Landing Ship Infantry HMAS Kanimbla that went ashore at Cape Cretin. During September 1944, steamed to Adelaide for a refit. In October 1944 returned to New Guinea and for the next six months and performed escort and anti-submarine off Mios Woendi, Biak and Morotai. In May 1945 it returned to Australia for another refit. In the middle of June 1945 returned to New Guinea for duty between Biak and Morotai and performs patrol and escort missions until the end of the Pacific War. During September 1945 Bundaberg steamed to Borneo helped recovery of Allied Prisoners Of War (POW) from Kuching with HMAS Kapunda. On September 9, 1945 present for the official surrender of Japanese forces on Borneo. Postwar On October 28, 1945 arrived in namesake Bundaberg where it was given an official reception by grateful citizens. Since her commissioning, she steamed 112,199 miles. On March 26, 1946 paid off. On November 4, 1947 towed by HMAS Katoomba from Brisbane to Sydney arriving three days later and remained in reserve status in Sydney. Fate On Januay 6, 1961 sold for scrap to Kinoshita (Aust) Pty Ltd. and afterwards broken up. Awards For her Wold War II service, Bundaberg was awarded the battle honours for Pacific 1942–45 and New Guinea 1943–44. Memorials Bundaberg is recognized on a memorial plaque In memory of those who served HMA Ships dedicated by the RAN Corvette Associations of Australia in recognition of each of the 56 Australian built Second World War RAN corvettes. References Australian Navy HMAS Bundaberg Contribute
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