- HMAS Inverell
HMAS "Inverell" (J233/M233), named for the town of
Inverell, New South Wales , 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_Inverell_%28I%29 |title=HMAS Inverell (I) |accessdate=2008-08-27 |work=HMA Ship Histories |publisher=Sea Power Centre - Royal Australian Navy]After World War II, the corvette was transferred to the
Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), where she served from 1952 to 1976.Construction
"Inverell" was laid down by
Morts Dock & Engineering Co atBalmain, New South Wales on 7 December 1941. She was launched on 2 May 1942 by Mrs. T. S. Punch, Mayoress of Inverell, and commissioned into the RAN on 17 September 1942.Operational history
World War II
"Inverell" began service in November 1942 as a convoy escort along the eastern Australian coast. At the end of December, she was relocated to Darwin, and primarily performed escort runs between Darwin and Thursday Island. On 11 November 1943, "Inverell" arrived at
Williamstown Naval Dockard for a month-long refit. On conclusion, she returned to Darwin and resumed escort duties.In early February 1943, "Inverall" was required to rescue the crew of a
United States Army Air Force Liberator bomber, which had crashed onCroker Island . Of the eight survivors, one died onboard while the corvette was returning to Darwin. On 22 September 1944, "Inverell" sailed to Fremantle.While based in Fremantle, the corvette's main duties was to perform training exercises with United States Navy and Royal Navy submarines, with secondary duties including convoy escort and patrol. "Inverell" departed Fremantle for Darwin on 4 May 1945. Between 22 May and 11 July, the corvette was involve in minesweeping, before she, sister ship HMAS "Stawell", and Services Reconnaissance Department vessel HMAS "River Snake" were assigned to
Morotai . "Inverell" was required to tow "River Snake" for the first part of the voyage.Based in Morotai, "Inverell" was primarily used as a patrol vessel until the end of World War II, when she became involved in the transfer of
Dutch East Indies territories from Japanese to Allied control. From 21 September to 18 November, she was designated as the command ship for Port Directorate Macassar. On 29 November, she left Morotai, and spent the next month operating off the coast of Queensland before arriving in Brisbane on 25 December 1945 and preparing for decommissioning. Several delays meant that "Inverell" was not paid off into reserve until 14 June 1946. On 4 November 1946, "Inverell" was towed to Sydney by sister ship HMAS "Echuca", arriving on 17 November.RNZN service
On 5 March 1952, "Inverell" and three other "Bathurst" class corvettes (HMA Ships "Echuca", "Kiama", and "Stawell") were transferred to the
Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). "Inverell" was commissioned into the RNZN on 10 April 1952, but was decommissioned into reserve after a refit.In 1965, the corvette was refitted as a training and fisheries patrol ship to replace the frigate HMNZS "Rotoiti". She was recommissioned on 15 August 1965, and served until 19 August 1976, when she was decommissioned.
On 1 November 1977, "Inverell" was sold to Pacific Scrap Limited of Auckland for scrapping.
ee also
*
Corvettes of the Royal New Zealand Navy References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
