HMAS Gladstone (J324)

HMAS "Gladstone" (J324/M324), named for the city of Gladstone, Queensland, 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_Gladstone_%28I%29 |title=HMAS Gladstone (I) |accessdate=2008-08-30 |work=HMA Ship Histories |publisher=Sea Power Centre Australia]

Construction

"Gladstone" was laid down by Walkers Limited at Maryborough, Queensland on 4 August 1942. She was launched on 26 November 1942 by Mrs. D. Watson, wife of a member of the dockyard staff, and commissioned into the RAN on 22 March 1943.

Operational history

World War II

Post-war

Post-military career

"Gladstone" paid off from military service on 16 July 1956, was sold to the Port Phillip Sea Pilots Association and renamed "Akuna". In November 1973, "Akuna" was sold to a private owner and used as a yacht. A report in 1981 revealed that the vessel had since been sold to Food for the Hungry International, was based in Singapore, and tasked with rescuing Vietnamese boat people from the Gulf of Thailand.

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