 HMASGeelong traveling at full speed while escorting a convoy off New Guinea in September 1944 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Namesake | City ofGeelong, Victoria |
| Builder | HMA Naval Dockyard |
| Laid down | 16 October 1940 |
| Launched | 22 April 1941 |
| Commissioned | 16 January 1942 |
| Motto | "Strive To Succeed" |
| Honours and awards |
|
| Fate | Lost following a collision, 18 October 1944 |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Bathurst-classcorvette |
| Displacement | 650 tons (standard), 1,025 tons (full war load) |
| Length | 186 ft (57 m) |
| Beam | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| Draught | 8.5 ft (2.6 m) |
| Propulsion | triple expansion engine, 2 shafts, 1,750 hp |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) at 1,750 hp |
| Complement | 85 |
| Armament |
|
HMASGeelong (J201), named for the city ofGeelong, Victoria, was one of 60Bathurst-class corvettes constructed during World War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by theRoyal Australian Navy (RAN).[1]
Geelong was lost after a collision on 18 October 1944.[1] She was one of only threeBathurst class corvettes lost during World War II.
In 1938, theAustralian Commonwealth Naval Board (ACNB) identified the need for a general purpose 'local defence vessel' capable of both anti-submarine and mine-warfare duties, while easy to construct and operate.[2][3] The vessel was initially envisaged as having adisplacement of approximately 500 tons, a speed of at least 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph), and a range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi)[4] The opportunity to build a prototype in the place of a cancelledBar-class boom defence vessel saw the proposed design increased to a 680-ton vessel, with a 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h; 17.8 mph) top speed, and a range of 2,850 nautical miles (5,280 km; 3,280 mi), armed with a 4-inch gun, equipped withasdic, and able to fitted with eitherdepth charges orminesweeping equipment depending on the planned operations: although closer in size to asloop than a local defence vessel, the resulting increased capabilities were accepted due to advantages over British-designed mine warfare and anti-submarine vessels.[2][5] Construction of the prototypeHMAS Kangaroo did not go ahead, but the plans were retained.[6] The need for locally built 'all-rounder' vessels at the start of World War II saw the "Australian Minesweepers" (designated as such to hide their anti-submarine capability, but popularly referred to as "corvettes") approved in September 1939, with 60 constructed during the course of the war: 36 (includingGeelong) ordered by the RAN, 20 ordered by theBritish Admiralty but manned and commissioned as RAN vessels, and 4 for theRoyal Indian Navy.[2][7][8][9][1]
Geelong was laid down byHMA Naval Dockyard atWilliamstown, Victoria on 16 October 1940.[1] She was launched on 22 April 1941 by the wife of LordWinston Dugan, then Governor of Victoria, and was commissioned into the RAN on 16 January 1942.[1]
After commissioning,Geelong visited her namesake city before undergoing working up trials.[1] On completion, the corvette was assigned as a minesweeper and anti-submarine patrol ship along the east coast of Australia, before being redeployed to New Caledonia on 8 March 1942 to perform similar duties.[1] In May 1942,Geelong returned Sydney, and was one of several Allied vessels located in Sydney Harbour during theJapanese midget submarine attack of 31 May 1942.[1][10] In June, the ship began convoy escort runs between Sydney and Brisbane, which continued until January 1944, when she sailed to Adelaide for a two-month refit.[1]
After the refit,Geelong briefly operated in Australian waters before being assigned to New Guinea.[1] Using Milne Bay as a base of operations, the corvette served as a convoy escort and anti-submarine patrol ship throughout theSouth West Pacific Area.[1]
On 18 October 1944,Geelong collided with the American tankerYork and sank north ofLangemak, New Guinea, at6°4′S147°45′E / 6.067°S 147.750°E /-6.067; 147.750.[1] There were no deaths, with the survivors picked up byYork and transported to Langemak.[1]
Geelong was one of only threeBathurst class ships to be lost during World War II, and one of two lost to collision.
The ship received twobattle honours for her wartime service: "Pacific 1942–44" and "New Guinea 1944".[11][12]
| |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
