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| RAN River-class frigate 1,839 Tons 283' x 36.5' x 9' 2 x x 4" guns 8 x 20mm 3 x 40mm Bofors 4 x 20mm twin mounts 1 x Hedgehog 24 spigot A/S projector up to 50 depth charges  RAN 1945  RAN Sept 13, 1945  RAN Oct 1, 1945 |
Ship History Built by Walkers Ltd., in Maryborough, Queensland. Laid down April 12, 1943 as a River-class frigate. Launched April 6, 1944 as HMAS Diamantina (K377). Commissioned April 27, 1945 in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) at Hervey Bay, Queensland. Wartime History During July 1945 and August 1945 Diamantina provided fire support to the Australian Army on Bougainville. On September 8, 1945 Diamantina transports Lt. General Kanda and Vice Admiral Baron Samejima with their staff were embarked at Kahili (Buin) and transported to Torokina to surrender Japanese forces on Bougainville and offshore islands to Australian Army Lt General Stanley G. Savige, commander 2 Corps. On September 13, 1945 arrived at Nauru Island and embarked Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) Captain Hisayuki Soeda and Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Lieutenant Commander Kishimoto who surrendered his sword and signed the instrument of surrendered in the presence of Brigadier John R. Stevenson, commander 11th Infantry Brigade. On September 30, 1945 Diamantina arrives at Ocean Island and embarks a Japanese envoy to negotiate the surrender of the garrison of roughly 530 personnel. On October 1, 1945 on the quarterdeck of Diamantina, Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Lieutenant Commander Naoomi Suzuki and senior staff officer Lieutenant Sukuma surrender the Japanese garrison on Ocean Island to Australian Army Brigadier J. R. Stevenson, Commanding Officer (C. O.) 11th Infantry Brigade. On December 13, 1945 Diamantina returned to Sydney Harbor to Garden Island with 86 passengers embarked. The ship remained at Sydney Harbor until February 1, 1946 departed for a patrol in New Guinea. Diamantina returned to Sydney Harbor on June 14, 1946. On August 9, 1946 placed into reserve status. Postwar On June 22, 1959 recommissioned as an oceanographic survey ship. During July 1959 completed her first oceanographic survey. On August 20, 1959 departed on her first oceanographic cruise. On September 20, 1959 performed the first survey of the Montebello Islands following "Operation Hurricane" the first test of a British atomic test. On October 22, 1959 Diamantina carried out the first survey off Christmas Island. On February 7, 1960 discovered the deepest known part of the Indian Ocean named Diamantina Deep in honor of the vessel. Until early 1980, Diamantina remained in service as an oceanographic vessel based in Fremantle. Postwar her pennant numbers included F377, A266, and GOR266. On February 29, 1980 Diamantina was paid off from the RAN as the last World War II era frigate still in service. Display Diamantina is permanently berthed in the dry dock on the Brisbane River in Brisbane and is operated as a museum ship by the Queensland Maritime Museum. In March 2006, Diamantina was towed out into the river to allow repairs to the dock, which had been flooded since the seals failed in 1998. As of July 2006, she has been returned to the dry dock, where she remains open to the public as a museum ship. References Royal Australian Navy - RAN HMAS Diamantina (K377) Historic Naval Ship Log - HMAS Diamantina (K377) WW2 Nominal Roll - John R. Stevenson, 25977 AWM - Diamantina (A big country) F10264 pays off and steams from Sydney to Brisbane AWM - HMAS Diamantina Radiation Survey Monte Bello F11009 Radiation Survey Monte Bello AWM - HMAS Diamantia arrives Sydney F11010 HMAS Diamantia arrives Sydney AWM - Surrender on Nauru Island F07347 Nauru and Ocean Islands, surrendered AWM - Signing of surrender document at 2 Australian Corps F07300 conference held at 2 Australian Corps Contribute
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