 HMASInverell transferring liberated prisoners of war to HMASMaidstone off Makassar, Dutch East Indies in September 1945 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Namesake | Town ofInverell, New South Wales |
| Builder | Mort's Dock & Engineering Co |
| Laid down | 7 December 1941 |
| Launched | 2 May 1942 |
| Commissioned | 17 September 1942 |
| Decommissioned | 14 June 1946 |
| Identification | Pennant number: J233 or M233 |
| Fate | Transferred to RNZN |
 New Zealand | |
| Acquired | 5 March 1952 |
| Commissioned | 10 April 1952 |
| Decommissioned | 1952 |
| Recommissioned | 15 August 1965 |
| Decommissioned | 19 August 1976 |
| Reclassified | Training and fisheries protection vessel |
| Honours and awards | |
| Fate | Sold for scrap on 1 November 1977 |
| General characteristics in RAN service | |
| Class & type | Bathurst-classcorvette |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 186 ft (57 m) |
| Beam | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| Draught | 8.5 ft (2.6 m) |
| Propulsion | triple expansion engine, 2 shafts, 2,000 ihp (1,500 kW) |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) at 1,750 hp |
| Complement | 85 |
| Armament |
|
HMASInverell, named for the town ofInverell, New South Wales, was one of 60Bathurst-classcorvettes constructed duringWorld War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by theRoyal Australian Navy (RAN).[1]
After World War II, the corvette was transferred to theRoyal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), where she served from 1952 to 1976.
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 10knots (19 km/h; 12 mph), and a range of 2,000nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi)[4] The opportunity to build a prototype in the place of a cancelledBar-classboom 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 (includingInverell) 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]
Inverell waslaid down byMort's Dock & Engineering Co atBalmain, New South Wales on 7 December 1941.[1] She waslaunched on 2 May 1942 by Mrs. T. S. Punch, Mayoress of Inverell, andcommissioned into the RAN on 17 September 1942.[1]
Inverell began service in November 1942 as a convoy escort along the eastern Australian coast.[1] At the end of December, she was relocated toDarwin, and primarily performed escort runs between Darwin andThursday Island.[1] On 11 November 1943,Inverell arrived atWilliamstown Naval Dockyard for a month-long refit.[1] On conclusion, she returned to Darwin and resumed escort duties.[1]
In early February 1943,Inverell was required to rescue the crew of aUnited States Army Air ForcesLiberator bomber, which had crashed onCroker Island.[1] Of the eight survivors, one died onboard while the corvette was returning to Darwin.[1] On 22 September 1944,Inverell sailed toFremantle.[1]
While based in Fremantle, the corvette's main duties was to perform training exercises withUnited States Navy andRoyal Navysubmarines, with secondary duties including convoy escort and patrol.[1]Inverell departed Fremantle for Darwin on 4 May 1945.[1] Between 22 May and 11 July, the corvette was involve in minesweeping, before she,sister shipHMAS Stawell, and Services Reconnaissance Department vesselHMAS River Snake were assigned toMorotai.[1]Inverell was required to towRiver Snake for the first part of the voyage.[1]
Based in Morotai,Inverell was primarily used as a patrol vessel until the end of World War II, when she became involved in the transfer ofDutch East Indies territories from Japanese toAllied control.[1] From 21 September to 18 November, she was designated as the command ship for Port Directorate Macassar.[1] On 29 November, she left Morotai, and spent the next month operating off the coast ofQueensland before arriving inBrisbane on 25 December 1945 and preparing fordecommissioning.[1] Several delays meant thatInverell was not paid off into reserve until 14 June 1946.[1] On 4 November 1946,Inverell was towed toSydney by sister shipHMAS Echuca, arriving on 17 November.[1]
The corvette received two battle honours for her wartime service: "Darwin 1942" and Pacific 1942–45".[10][11]
On 5 March 1952,Inverell and three otherBathurst-class corvettes (HMA ShipsEchuca,Kiama, andStawell) were transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy.[1]Inverell was commissioned into the RNZN on 10 April 1952, but was decommissioned into reserve after a refit.[1]
In 1965, the corvette was refitted as a training and fisheries patrol ship to replace the frigateHMNZS Rotoiti.[1] The 4-inch gun was replaced by a second 40 mm Bofors gun, and minesweeping gear was removed.[12] She was recommissioned on 15 August 1965, and served until 19 August 1976, when she was decommissioned.[1]
On 1 November 1977,Inverell was sold to Pacific Scrap Limited of Auckland for scrapping.[1]
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