| History | |
|---|---|
 [1]Australia | |
| Name | Waree |
| Owner | Waratah Tug and Salvage Company |
| Laid down | 4 July 1938 |
| Launched | 21 January 1939 |
| Completed | 12 April 1939 |
| History | |
 Australia | |
| Name | Waree |
| Commissioned | 18 September 1942 |
| Fate | Sank on 17 October 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Tug boat |
| Tonnage | 233gross register tons[1] |
| Length | 95 ft (29 m)[1] |
| Beam | 25 ft (7.6 m)[1] |
| Draught | 13.4 ft (4.1 m)[2] |
| Depth | 11.3 ft (3.4 m)[1] |
| Installed power | 860 hp (640 kW) |
| Propulsion | Single screw triple expansion steam engine |
| Speed | 11.5 |
| Complement | 13 |
| Armament | 2 × .303-inchVickers machine gun |
HMASWaree (W128) was atug boat operated by theRoyal Australian Navy (RAN) during World War II. She operated as a tug boat for theWaratah Tug and Salvage Company before being requisitioned by the RAN in 1942, and operating in northern Australia and Papua.[1] She sank on 17 October 1946 off the New South Wales coast while sailing to Sydney from Thursday Island.
Laid down on 4 July 1938,Waree was built by theCockatoo Docks & Engineering Company atCockatoo Island Dockyard inSydney and launched on 21 January 1939 for the Waratah Tug Company.[3] Construction was completed on 12 April 1939.[4] Measuring 233gross register tons, the ship was 95 ft (29 m) long and had a beam of 25 ft (7.6 m) and a draught of 13.4 ft (4.1 m).[1][2] Powered by a single screw triple expansion steam engine producing 860 hp (640 kW), the ship was capable of steaming 11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) and had a crew of 13, including two officers.[4] In RAN service, the ship was fitted with 2 × .303-inchVickers machine guns for self-defence.[2]
Warree was requisitioned by the RAN on 4 September 1942 and after fitting out she was commissioned on 18 September 1942. She was sent toPort Moresby,Territory of Papua, where she served until 30 January 1945. She returned to Australia where she operated in the waters off North Queensland and the Northern Territory.[4]
While steaming to Sydney fromThursday Island with cargo on 17 October 1946,Waree began taking on water and was run aground near the entrance of theClarence River atYamba, New South Wales. She was declared a total loss.[5][6] All crew members were rescued after a long swim to shore. A court martial later foundWaree's captain, Lieutenant Bill Boas, culpable for her loss.[4]
29°25.385′S153°21.854′E / 29.423083°S 153.364233°E /-29.423083; 153.364233
