HMAS Wyatt Earp

This ship served in the Royal Australian Navy known as HMAS "Wongala" between 1939-1945 and later as HMAS "Wyatt Earp" between 1947-1948.

While being a motorised vessel, her masts and booms normally used for cargo handling were capable of being rigged for sailing in an emergency.

Early years

Originally built for the Norwegian herring fishing trade, FV "Fanefjord" was a single deck motor vessel built of pine and oak.

She was purchased by the American explorer and aviator, Lincoln Ellsworth, for his 1933 Antarctic expedition, refitted and sheathed with oak and armour plate, and renamed "Wyatt Earp" in memory of the legendary marshal of Dodge City and Tombstone, Arizona. "Wyatt Earp" was used on four of Ellsworth's Antarctic expeditions from 1933 to 1939, as a base ship for his aircraft.

Navy service

In February 1939 she was purchased from Ellsworth by the Government of Australia and handed over to the Royal Australian Navy which intended using "Wyatt Earp" as a Fleet Auxiliary (Ammunition and Store Carrier). In September 1939 it was decided to rename her "Boomerang", however, that name was rejected as a vessel of that name was already registered in Australia; on 25 October 1939 she was named "Wongala", an Australian aborigine word meaning boomerang.

"Wongala" made one trip as a Royal Australian Fleet Auxiliary, leaving Sydney on 14 November 1939 bound for Darwin with a cargo of stores. On return to Sydney in January 1940 she was laid up pending future employment.

As HMAS "Wongala", she served at Port Adelaide, South Australia, with the Examination Service from 1940-1943. From November 1943 to March 1944 she served as Guard Ship at Whyalla, also patrolling off Port Pirie and Wallaroo. In late March 1944 "Wongala" arrived at Port Adelaide to await disposal, and paid off on 19 July 1944.

Cadet service

Before her disposal the Minister for the Navy received a request in March 1945 from the South Australian Branch of the Boy Scouts Association, that the ship be made available for Sea Cadet training.

Antarctic service with the Navy

In February 1947 the Association was notified by the Department of the Navy that the federal Government was considering renewing Antarctic exploration. The Association was requested to return the vessel, to be slipped and surveyed. Navy reported that the vessel was basically sound, and Government approval was given for her conversion for Antarctic exploration. The Naval Board decided in July 1947 that, in view of her impending voyage to the Antarctic, and since it was under the name of "Wyatt Earp" that she had achieved international fame for her previous exploration work there, that "Wongala" was to be renamed "Wyatt Earp". She recommissioned on 17 November 1947 at Port Adelaide and, following a visit by Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, in early December sailed for Williamstown, Victoria for loading.

After loading, including an RAAF OS2U Kingfisher amphibian, on 19 December 1947 "Wyatt Earp" left from Nelson Pier, Williamstown, and proceeded to Hobart. Gales caused some problems enroute. After several days in Hobart, on 26 December 1947 she left for the Antarctic, but storm damage caused her to return to Melbourne for repairs, leaving again on 8 February 1948.

The weather was intense, particularly beyond 65 degrees South, and a landing at Adelie Land was impossible. She turned towards Macquarie Island and there met HMAS "Labuan" discharging a team of scientists. "Wyatt Earp" returned to Melbourne, and her voyaging for Navy ended.

Later years

"Wyatt Earp" was sold to a commercial operator in late 1951 and was renamed "Wongala". A later change of ownership had her called "Natone", and under this name she plied the east Australian coast until wrecked in a storm near Double Island Point, Queensland, on the night of 23/24 January 1959.

ee also

*List of Royal Australian Navy ships

External links

cite web |title=HMAS "Wyatt Earp" |publisher=Sea Power Centre Australia |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Wyatt_Earp |accessdate=2008-09-16]
* [http://www.aad.gov.au/default.asp?casid=29497 HMAS Wyatt Earp 1947- 48] , Australian Antarctic Division, accessed 4 January 2008