HMAS Wollongong (J172)

The first Australian naval ship to be named after the city of Wollongong, HMAS "Wollongong" (J172) was a Bathurst class corvette laid down by Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Co Ltd on the 29 January 1941, launched 5 July 1941, by Mrs Beasley, wife of the Minister for Supply and Shipping, and commissioned 23 October 1941.

During her career, "Wollongong" was part of the British Eastern Fleet.

On 11 February 1946, "Wollongong" paid off at Sydney in preparation for transfer to the Royal Netherlands Navy. She had steamed more than a quarter of a million miles during her commission with the Royal Australian Navy. Renamed HNLMS "Banda", she served with the Royal Netherlands Navy until April 1950, when she was handed over to the newly created Indonesian Navy, being renamed "Radjawali". Jane's Fighting Ships reports that, in April 1968, the vessel was scrapped in Hong Kong.

References

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