- HMAS Wallaroo
HMAS "Wallaroo" (J222), named after the town of
Wallaroo, South Australia , was one of 60 "Bathurst" class corvettes constructed during World War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by theRoyal Australian Navy (RAN).cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Wallaroo_(I) |title=HMAS Wallaroo (I) |accessdate=2008-09-16 |publisher=Sea Power Centre Australia] "Wallaroo" was one of only three "Bathurst"s lost during World War II; in a collision with USLiberty ship "Henry Gilbert Costin" on the night of 11 June 1943.David Stevens et al., 2001, "The Royal Australian Navy", opposite pg 112]Construction
"Wallaroo" was laid down by
Poole & Steele Limited in Sydney on 24 April 1941. She was launched on 18 February 1942 by Mrs Poole, wife of the shipyard's Chairman of Directors, and commissioned on 15 July 1942.Operational history
"Wallaroo" entered service in September 1942, patrolling between Adelaide in South Australia and Fremantle in Western Australia for submarines, as well as performing escort and minesweeping duties around Fremantle.
Just after midnight on 11 June 1943, while out to sea west of Fremantle, the corvette collided with United States
Liberty Ship "Henry Gilbert Costin". The night was overcast, and the ships were travelling without lights as a precaution against attacks. Three of "Wallaroo"’s crew were killed in the collision, and the corvette sank four hours later with no further casualties while trying to reach Fremantle. The Liberty Ship received minor damage, and made it to port.References
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