HMAS Cessnock (J175)

The first HMAS "Cessnock" (J175/B240/A114) was a "Bathurst" class corvette laid down by Cockatoo Docks and Engineering at Sydney in New South Wales on 16 April 1941, launched on 17 October 1941 by Lady Gordon, wife of Sir Thomas Gordon, a director of the constructing firm, and commissioned on 26 January 1942.

Operational history

After a period of working up, "Cessnock" commenced duty as an escort vessel and escorted Allied shipping travelling between Townsville to New Guinea until September 1942. "Cessnock" operated in Western Australian waters from October until November 1942 when she was assigned to the British Eastern Fleet. "Cessnock" escorted Allied convoys in the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea during 1943 and 1944. In January 1945 she returned to Australia and became part of the British Pacific Fleet in February. The ship operated as an escort in the Pacific until the end of the war.

"Cessnock" was present in Tokyo Bay on Victory over Japan Day (2 September 1945), when the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed. [cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq69-2.htm |title=Allied Ships Present in Tokyo Bay During the Surrender Ceremony, 2 September 1945 |accessdate=2007-01-13 |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=27 May 2005|publisher=Naval Historical Center - U.S. Navy|quote=Taken from "Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPAC/CINCPOA) A16-3/FF12 Serial 0395, 11 February 1946: Report of Surrender and Occupation of Japan"]

Fate

HMAS "Cessnock" paid off on 12 July 1946 and was sold for scrap to the Nan Chiao Shipping and Salvage Company of Shanghai in China on 23 April 1947.

References

* Seapower Centre - Australia [http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Cessnock_(I).html HMAS "Cessnock" ship history]