- HMAS Echuca
HMAS "Echuca" (J252/M252), named for the town of
Echuca, Victoria , 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/w/index.php/HMAS_Echuca |title=HMAS Echuca |accessdate=2008-08-27 |work=HMA Ship Histories |publisher=Sea Power Centre - Royal Australian Navy]Construction
"Echuca" was laid down by
HMA Naval Dockyard atWilliamstown, Victoria on 22 February 1941. She was launched on 17 January 1942 by Lady Royle, wife of Fist Naval MemberSir Guy Royle , and commissioned into the RAN on 7 September 1942.Operational history
World War II
"Echuca"’s initial role was as an anti-submarine partol and convoy escort vessel alon the eastern Australia coast and in New Guinea waters. She stayed in this role from October 1942 until August 1944, when she was ordered to Darwin and attached to the
United States Seventh Fleet 's Survey Group. She performed survey duties until the end of World War II, when she was refitted with minesweeping gear in Brisbane and assigned to the 20th Minesweeping Flotilla. The Flotilla was responsible for clearing minefields set up in the waters of Australia, New Guinea, New Britain, and the Solomon Islands."Echuca" was paid off into Reserve in August 1946, but recommissioned in January 1947 for mine clearance work in the
Great Barrier Reef . The corvette performed this duty until August 1947, and in November 1947 towed the decommissioned corvette HMAS "Inverell" to Sydney. "Echuca" was decommissioned again in Fremantle on 29 June 1948. At the end of April 1952, the corvette was sailed to Melbourne.RNZN service
On 5 March 1952, "Echuca" and three other "Bathurst" class corvettes (HMA Ships "Inverell", "Kiama", and "Stawell") were transferred to the
Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). [cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/index.php/HMAS_Inverell_%28I%29 |title=HMAS Inverell (I) |accessdate=2008-08-27 |work=HMA Ship Histories |publisher=Sea Power Centre - Royal Australian Navy] She was commissioned into the RNZN on 7 June 1952,Fact|date=August 2008 and received the prefix HMNZS.The corvette remained in service with the RNZN until 1967. She was sold to Pacific Scrap Limited of Auckland for scrapping on 11 April 1967.Fact|date=August 2008
ee also
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Corvettes of the Royal New Zealand Navy
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