HMAS Bungaree

HMAS "Bungaree" was an Australian auxiliary minelayer of Royal Australian Navy (RAN) serving during World War II.

The civilian merchant freighter "Bungaree" was requisitioned by the RAN in October 1940 and was commissioned into the RAN on 9 June 1941 after being converted into a minelayer. Following her conversion HMAS "Bungaree" had a capacity of 423 naval mines and was originally armed with two four inch guns for self protection. [G. Herman Gill (1957), " [http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/24/chapters/12.pdf Official History of Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 2 – Navy. Volume I 1939 – 1942.] " Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Page 420.] She was later modified to carry 467 mines.

HMAS "Bungaree" laid her first minefield off Port Moresby in August 1941 and, as Australia's only minelayer, laid over 10,000 mines in defensive minefields in Australian and New Zealand waters during World War II. [cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/RAN_in_the_Second_World_War |title=RAN in the Second World War |first=J.H. |last=Straczek |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |accessdate=2008-09-19] "Bungaree" was present in Sydney Harbour during the Japanese midget submarine attack on 31 May 1942. [cite book |last=Jenkins |first=David |title=Battle Surface! Japan's Submarine War Against Australia 1942–44 |year=1992 |publisher=Random House Australia |location=Milsons Point |isbn=0-09-182638-1 |pages=pp 193–194 |chapter=]

As the Allies moved onto the offensive the need for defensive minefields lessened and "Bungaree" served as a survey ship from January 1944 and a store ship from August 1944.

HMAS "Bungaree" was decommissioned on 7 August 1946 and was returned to her owners on 5 November 1947. [ [http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/ran.htm All-Time List of RAN Ships ] ]

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