HMAS Dubbo (J251)

HMAS "Dubbo" (J251/M251), named for the city of Dubbo, 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).

Construction

"Dubbo" was built by Morts Dock and Engineering at Balmain, New South Wales. She was launched on 7 March 1942 by Mrs. B. B. Scrisier, Mayoress of Dubbo, and commissioned on 31 July 1942.

Operational history

World War II

From 1942 until mid-1945, "Dubbo" was assigned to anti-submarine duties off the Western Australian coast.

In March 1945, "Dubbo" sailed to Port Moresby, where she spent the rest of World War II around New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, actively supporting Australian land forces. "Dubbo" fired her first hostile shots on 25 April 1945, against a Japanese position on Muschu Island.Fact|date=August 2008 This was the first of several bombardments against Japanese positions during the war. "Dubbo" was undamaged during all of these, and returned to Brisbane in May 1945.

Post-war

In August 1945, "Dubbo" retured to the Solomon Islands, where she was part of minesweeping operations. She returned for refits in October 1945, and in January 1946 performed minesweeping duties off the Australian coast.

Decommissioning and fate

"Dubbo" was paid off into reserve on 7 February 1957, and was sold for scrap to Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha of Tokyo on 20 February 1958, 11 years later. In June 1958, "Dubbo" and the repair ship HMAS "Platypus" left Sydney under tow.

References

*cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Dubbo_(I) |title=HMAS Dubbo I |accessdate=2008-09-15 |publisher=Sea Power Centre Australia