HMAS Boonaroo

HMAS "Boonaroo" was an Australian National Lines cargo vessel, chartered by the Department of Shipping and Transport in 1966 to carry supplies to Australian forces operating in Vietnam.

After completing an initial voyage as the "MV Boonaroo", the ship returned to Australia on 8 July 1966. The next voyage was scheduled for early 1967, carrying further war materiel for the Royal Australian Air Force. When the Seamen's Union refused to crew the vessel, it was decided to commission "Boonaroo" into the navy with an RAN crew. Subsequently, the ship was commissioned into the navy on 1 March 1967, and left port as "HMAS Boonaroo" on 3 March 1967 under the command of Commander P.R. Burnett. Boonaroo was the first vessel in the RAN to commission under the Australian White Ensign.

On completion of this voyage, the ship was returned to her owners in Sydney, and was decommissioned on 8 May 1967.

References

[http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Boonaroo.html Australian Navy history of HMAS Boonaroo]