HMAS Kiama

HMAS "Kiama" (J353), named for the coastal town of Kiama, 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 the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/index.php/HMAS_Kiama_%28I%29 |title=HMAS Kiama (I) |accessdate=2008-08-26 |work=HMA Ship Histories |publisher=Sea Power Centre - Royal Australian Navy]

After World War II, the corvette was one of four sold to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). She served as HMNZS "Kiama" (M353) from 1952 until 1976, when the corvette was paid off and marked for disposal.

Construction

"Kiama" was constructed by Evans Deakin & Co, at Brisbane in Queensland. She was laid down on 2 November 1942, and launched on 3 July 1943 by Mrs. G. Lawson, wife of the Minister for Transport. "Kiama" was commissioned into the RAN on 26 January 1944.

Operational history

World War II

"Kiama"’s first deployment was in March 1944 to Milne Bay in New Guinea. From her arrival until September 1944, the corvette's main duty was to escort convoys along the New Guinea coastline, although a reassignment for the duration of June saw "Kiama" perform anti-submarine patrols in the Solomon Sea. In September, "Kiama" was used to transport soldiers between New Guinea and New Britain. On conclusion, she resumed her convoy escort role until the end of 1944, when she departed for Sydney. During her eight months in New Guinea waters, "Kiama" travelled over convert|30000|nmi|km, was at sea for more than 3,000 hours, performed shore bombardments in support of Australian operations,Fact|date=August 2008 and sank a Japanese submarine off the coast of Manus Island.Fact|date=August 2008

The corvette arrived in Sydney on 21 December 1944. On 25 December, the crew was recalled from leave to go to the assistance of the liberty ship SS "Robert J. Walker", which had been torpedoed by German submarine "U862". "Kiama", along with HMA Ships "Quickmatch" and "Yandra", and USS "PC597" were dispatched to the last known location of the ship and began to search the area for the liberty ship's crew and the attacking submarine; finding the 67 survivors of the attack at 05:45 on 26 December but failing to locate "U862".cite book |last=Gill |first=George Hermon |title=Royal Australian Navy, 1942–1945 |year=1968
url=http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/chapter.asp?volume=25 |format=PDF |accessdate=2007-05-14 |series=Australia in the War of 1939–1945, Series 2, Volume II |publisher=Australian War Memorial |location=Canberra |id=NLA registry number Aus 68-1798 |oclc=65475 |chapeter=Submarines' Swansong |chapterurl=http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/25/chapters/19.pdf |pages=p 552] "Kiama" was assigned to anti-submarine patrols near Sydney for the final days of the year, before sailing to Adelaide for a month-long refit on 3 January 1945.

Post-refit, "Kiama" was assigned to Fremantle for two months of anti-submarine warfare exercises with United States, before returing to New Guinea on 7 May 1945. In May and June, the corvette performed several coastal bombardments in the Bougainville area. In July, "Kiama" transported Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester from New Guinea to the Solomon Islands, then spent the rest of the month moving troops and military cargo between these two locations. From 5 to 24 August, the corvette was based in Brisbane, before returning to New Guinea waters. "Kiama" spent the rest of 1945 as a troop and supply transport, minesweeper, and general duties vessel. When the war ended, "Kiama" took part in the Japanese surrenders at Rabaul and Kabieng.Fact|date=August 2008

"Kiama" returned to Sydney on 29 January 1946, and was decommissioned into Reserve on 3 April 1946. During her wartime service, the ship had been at sea for 6,369 hours, and had sailed a distance of convert|60822|nmi|km

Transfer to RNZN

On 5 March 1952, "Kiama" and three other "Bathurst" class corvettes (HMA Ships "Echuca", "Inverell", 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] "Kiama" was commissioned into the RNZN,when receiving the prefix HMNZS. Upon acquisition by New Zealand, the corvette was converted into a training ship.Fact|date=August 2008 "Kiama"’s 4-inch gun and aft minesweeping equipment were removed, and replaced with two 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns.Fact|date=August 2008 Two additional messdecks were installed aft; one to hold crew displaced by the modifications, the other to accommodate 30 trainees.Fact|date=August 2008 "Kiama" was the last wooden-decked ship in the RNZN, and the last RNZN ship to use hammocks.Fact|date=August 2008

New Zealand singer Allison Durbin was adopted as the ship's mascot, with a large signed photograph of Allison hung in the ships forward mess deck.Fact|date=August 2008

"Kiama" was on occasion assigned to the 27th Fisheries Protection Squadron.Fact|date=August 2008 Other duties included search-and-rescue operations and transportation of scientific teams to small island along New Zealand's coastline.Fact|date=August 2008

In late 1967, "Kiama" sailed to Australia to visit her namesake town.Fact|date=August 2008 She returned to New Zealand in early 1968.Fact|date=August 2008

"Kiama" was paid off for disposal on 19 August 1976.

ee also

* Corvettes of the Royal New Zealand Navy

References

*Sailors pocket handout issued to all new members of HMNZS Kiama's ships company in the RNZN. (Subritzky Collection)Verify credibility|date=August 2008