TRIBAL-Class Destroyer
ordered from Cockatoo Docks and
Engineering Co at Sydney, Australia for service with the Royal Australian
Navy on 24th January 1939. The ship was laid down on 15th November 1939 and launched
on 3rd November 1940. Her build was completed on 30th April 1942. Build design
followed that of the TRIBAL Class Fleet Destroyers ordered from UK shipyards in
1936. She was the first RAN ship to bear the name
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
GUADALCANAL
1942-43 - PACIFIC 1942-45 - NEW
GUINEA 1942-44 - LEYTE GULF 1944 - LINGAYEN GULF 1945
H e r a l d i c D a t a
None is recorded in the Admiralty Official List
as this ship belonged to the RAN
D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e
(for more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and type name in Site Search)
1 9 4 2
April
Contractors
trials
30th - Commissioned
for RAN service.
Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials
May to June
On completion
of trials and storing worked-up for operational service based on Sydney.
July
Nominated for
convoy escort duties in defence of military convoys/ Prepared
for war service. Passage to Port Moresby
August
Deployed for
escort of troopships to New Guinea. Carried
troops to Milne Bay from Port Moresby with HM Australian Sloop SWAN.
29th - During
escort of troopship MARITA from Milne Bay to Cairns came under attack by
Japanese submarine which torpedoed the
troopship. (Note: Japanese troops had been
landed near Milne Bay, Papua ). Detected submarine and carried out
depth charge attacks which sank submarine RO33. MARITA was damaged but survived this attack.
September
Deployed in
support of defence of New Guinea including convoy defence,
October
New Guinea
deployment in continuation
23rd - Deployed
with HM Australian Destroyer STUART and carried 640 troops for landing on Goodenough Island which had been evacuated by Japanese
troops.
November
New Guinea
deployment in continuation.
December
Carried out
routine maintenance at Port Moresby. Resumed
operational duties in New Guinea,
1 9 4 3
January
Deployed in SW
Pacific
9th - Carried
out rescue of 282 troops and 31 civilians from Timor Island which had been occupied by Japanese troops. Passage
to Darwin to land passengers.
February
Joined combined
US and Australian Task Force 74 on formation with HM Australian Cruisers AUSTRALIA, HOBART and HM Australian Destroyer
WARRAMUNGA. Took passage with ships of TF74 to
Coral Sea. Pennant Number for visual Signalling
purposes changed to D05 to conform with US Navy designation
for destroyers.
March
Detached from
TF74 with same RAN ships and joined US Desdron 5 in 7th US Fleet with HMAS WARRAMUNGA. (Note:
Desdron is the US Navy equivalent of RN Destroyer Flotilla and also included seven US Navy destroyers.)
Under
refit at Sydney Deployed for escort of convoys
between Queensland and New Guinea.
April
Convoy defence
duties in continuation.
May
Re-joined TF74
and deployed with HMAS AUSTRALIA and HMAS WARRAMUNGA and
provided cover for landings by US 158th Infantry Regiment on Woodlark and
Kiriwina Islands
June
Resumed convoy
defence duties in SW Pacific.
23rd - Deployed
with HMAS AUSTRALIA, HOBART, WARRAMUNGA and US Destroyer LAMSON of TF74 to provide cover for US
landings on New Georgia in Solomons. (Operation
CARTWHEEL)
July
4th - Released
from covering force and resumed convoy defence duties.
August
Convoy defence
in continuation
21st - Deployed
with HMAS WARRAMUNGA for escort of damaged cruiser HMAS HOBART during passage from Espiritu Santo to Sydney for
repair. (Note: HOBART had been damaged
by torpedo from Japanese submarine I11.)
26th - Detached
from HMAS HOBART on arrival at Sydney. Took
passage to Milne Bay for support of operations in New Guinea against Japanese
invasion.
29th - During
deployment as part of escort for convoy to Port Moresby came under under
submarine attack. Sank
Japanese submarine RO33 after mercantile had been torpedoed.
September to October
Deployed for
convoy escort in SW Pacific.
November
5th - Transferred
with HMAS AUSTRALIA, SHROPSHIRE and
ARUNTA and joined US Destroyers RALPH TALBOT and HELM
to reinforce TF74 for planned operations in New Hebrides. Passage from Milne Bay, New Guinea.
29th - Provided
Naval Gunfire Support during landings at Gasmata on south coast of New Hebrides with same ships.
December
.
13th - Provided
cover for US landings at Arawe, New Britain with HMAS AUSTRALIA,
SHROPSHIRE and WARRAMUNGA.
26th - Provided
Naval Gunfire Support during US landings at Cape Gloucester with same ships.
1 9 4 4
January
2nd - Provided
cover for US landings near Saidor, New Guinea with same ships and joined US cruisers USS NASHVILLE, USS PHOENIX and six US Navy
destroyers of TF74. (Operation DEXTERITY)
3rd - Released
from TF74 and took passage to Sydney for refit and leave. Taken in hand for refit.
February
Under refit.
March
On completion
of post refit trials resumed operational duties with Task Group 76.1
2nd - Deployed
with eight US Destroyers for escort for assault convoy taking 3rd wave of US troops for landings at Los Negros, Admiralty Islands
5th - Arrived
at Los Negros.
April
Deployed with
TF74
22nd to 29th - Provided
cover for US landings on Hollandia (Operation RECKLESS) and Aitape to with Task 74 which also included HMAS AUSTRALIA,
SHROPSHIRE,
WARRAMUNGA and USS AMMEN
and MULLANY (Operation
PERSECUTION). Provided Naval Gunfire support
during assault with US cruisers USS PHOENIX, USS
NASHVILLE and USS BOISE screened by 6 US navy destroyers. (Note: General MacArthur was embarked in USS
NASHVILLE.)
May
TF74 deployment
in continuation
5th - Sailed
from Hollandia as part of Task Group 77.2 to provide cover for US landings on south coast of Biak (Operation HORLICKS) (Note: Task Group also included HMAS AUSTRALIA, SHROPSHIRE,
WARRAMUNGA and two US Navy
destroyers.).
Bombarded positions at Sarwa and
Sarmi
25th to 29th
- Provided
cover and Naval Gunfire Support during landings.
June
Deployed off
Biak for support of assault Deployed with HMAS AUSTRALIA, SHROPSHIRE,
and USS BOISE and PHOENIX, HMAS WARRAMUNGA and 11 US
Navy destroyers to intercept Japanese naval
force sighted by air reconnaissance. Unable
to engage enemy ships which retired.
July
Support of military
operations at Biak in continuation
2nd - Carried
out bombardment of airstrip at Kamari on Biak with HMAS SHROPSHIRE and
WARRAMUNGA.
14th to 26th
- Carried
out bombardments on troops west of Aitape with HMAS AUSTRALIA,
SHROPSHIRE, WARRAMUNGA and two US destroyers
to deter an advance.
On release took passage to
Sydney for leave and maintenance.
August
Deployed at
Sydney.
September
Resumed
operational service and joined HMAS AUSTRALIA, SHROPSHIRE,
WARRAMUNGA and two US Navy destroyers as Task
Group 77.2 provide cover and Naval Gunfire Support during planned landings at Morotai
10th - Sailed
from Aitape with ships of TF77.
15th - Deployed
during assault at Morotai.
October
Nominated for
service in Task Group 77.3 to provide cover during planned attacks on Leyte, Cebu and North Mindanao. Joined US Navy cruisers USS PHOENIX and BOISE, HMAS
AUSTRALIA and SHROPSHIRE, 5 US Navy destroyers and
HMAS WARRAMUNGA.
17th - Entered
Leyte Gulf as part of Desdron 24..
20th - Under
air attacks and destroyed one aircraft.
24th - Took
part in Battle of Leyte Gulf. (For details see WAR WITH JAPAN
(HMSO.))
November
Took part in
operations in Leyte Gulf.
1st - Under air
attacks including suicide bombers. (See above reference.)
25th - Took part
in unsuccessful engagement against Japanese battleships FUSO and YAMASHIRO with WARRAMUNGA and US Navy destroyer
December
Leyte
deployment in continuation.
15th - Provided
cover for landings at Mindoro with HMAS SHROPSHIRE, USS BOISE, and PHOENIX, HMAS WARRAMUNGA and five US Navy
destroyers. On release took passage to British
Forward Base at Manus, Admiralty Islands.
1 9 4 5
January
Nominated for
escort and support of planned US landings at Lingayen with Task Group 77.2. See above reference. Passage from Manus with HMAS AUSTRALIA SHROPSHIRE
and
WARRAMUNGA to join ships of
Unit 2. Deployed with ships of Desdron 56
with HMAS WARRAMUNGA. (Note: Desdron 56 included five US
Navy Destroyers..)
5th - Under
attacks by KAMIKAZE aircraft in Lingayen Gulf and sustained damage by near miss with seven casualties including two fatal. Ship remained operational after repair to steering
gear.
6th to 8th - Provided
Naval Gunfire Support during assault and under sustained air attacks.
9th - Released
from support duties and took passage to Leyte with other damaged warships.
Taken in hand for emergency repair before resuming
cover duties at Lingayen.
February
Deployed in
Lingayen Gulf with Reserve Fire Support Unit CTU 77.2.5. See above reference.
March
1st - Detached
from service with 7th US Fleet and took passage to Manus with HMAS SHROPSHIRE.
16th - Arrived
at Sydney from Manus. Taken in hand for repair and refit.
April
Deployed at
Sydney
May
Nominated for
support of landings in New Guinea by US and Australian troops with Wewak Support Force of US 7th Fleet.
4th - Took
passage from Sydney for operational service with HMAS HOBART, HM Cruiser NEWFOUNDLAND and HMAS WARRAMUNGA.
9th - Joined
Support Force off Wewak and took part in bombardments prior to assault
10th - Bombarded
Cape Hoem area with HMS NEWFOUNDLAND.
11th - Provided
gunfire support in Dove Bay during landings (Operation DELUGE)
June
Deployed with
Cruiser Covering Group (Task Group 74.3) for support of landings
in Brunei. See above reference. (Note: Group also included US
cruisers USS NASHVILLE and PHOENIX, HMAS
HOBART, US Navy destroyers USS CONNOR, CHARLOTTE BELL
and BURNS.)
7th - Provided
cover for minesweeping operations Brunei Bay.
10th - Provided
Naval Gunfire Support with ships of TG74.3 during unopposed landings.
20th to 25th- Deployed
to provide cover for landings at Lutong, Seria and Miri with ships of to Task Group 74.1 which also included HMAS
SHROPSHIRE, HOBART and WARRAMUNGA (Note: Broad Pendant of Commodore
Farncombe was transferred to ship from
SHROPSHIRE during this period.)
27th - Arrived
with HMAS SHROPSHIRE and HOBART off Balikpapan, Borneo
to provide cover during preliminary operations and gunfire support during landings by 7th Australian Division. (Operation OBOE I See above reference.)
July
1st to 9th - Carried
out preliminary bombardment with CTG 74.1 and CTG 74.2.
Provided Naval Gunfire Support for shore military operations as required.
10th - Released
from OBOE I
15th - Took
passage to Sydney for refit.
Paid-off and taken in hand for major
refit
August
Under refit
which included installation of improved radar equipment and fit of lattice foremast.
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMAS ARUNTA re-commissioned on
completion of refit and was deployed for Fleet duties for screening and associated duties.. She
took part in joint exercises with RNZN and was
nominated for conversion to an Anti-submarine destroyer
in 1950. She rejoined the Fleet in June 1950 with modified armament including a squid Anti-submarine mortar
outfit. This destroyer was deployed operationally until 1957 when Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status.
Placed on the Disposal List in 1968 the ship was sold the China Steel
Corporation for demolition at Taipai. During passage
in tow to Taiwan by Japanese tug TOKO MARU to Taiwan she developed a serious list and sank 60 miles
from Broken Bay on 13th February 1969.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMAS ARUNTA
by Don Kindell
This convoy list has not been cross-checked with the text above
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Date
convoy sailed
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Joined convoy as escort
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Convoy No.
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Left convoy
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Date
convoy arrived
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08/06/42
|
08/06/42
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CO
001
|
14/06/42
|
14/06/42
|
13/06/42
|
13/06/42
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OC
002
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16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
22/06/42
|
22/06/42
|
GP
003/1
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25/06/42
|
25/06/42
|
25/06/42
|
25/06/42
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PG
003A
|
29/06/42
|
29/06/42
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23/07/42
|
23/07/42
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CO
012
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26/07/42
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26/07/42
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28/07/42
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28/07/42
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ZK
016
|
unknown
|
unknown
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03/08/42
|
03/08/42
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PG
007A
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05/08/42
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05/08/42
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06/08/42
|
06/08/42
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A1
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12/08/42
|
12/08/42
|
02/09/42
|
03/09/42
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P2
|
05/09/42
|
05/09/42
|
04/10/42
|
05/10/42
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ZA/A
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07/10/42
|
07/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
14/10/42
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A6
|
17/10/42
|
17/10/42
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07/11/42
|
07/11/42
|
H
|
10/11/42
|
10/11/42
|
07/11/42
|
07/11/42
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P
|
10/11/42
|
10/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
O
|
18/11/42
|
19/11/42
|
14/12/42
|
14/12/42
|
TN
014
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16/12/42
|
16/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
TN
018
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27/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
01/01/43
|
01/01/43
|
TN
020
|
04/01/43
|
04/01/43
|
20/02/43
|
20/02/43
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TN
039
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23/02/43
|
23/02/43
|
23/02/43
|
23/02/43
|
NT
003
|
25/02/43
|
25/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
27/02/43
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TN
043
|
01/03/43
|
01/03/43
|
12/03/43
|
12/03/43
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TN
048
|
14/03/43
|
14/03/43
|
20/03/43
|
20/03/43
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TN
057
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23/03/43
|
23/03/43
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30/03/43
|
30/03/43
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TN
062
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02/04/43
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02/04/43
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09/04/43
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09/04/43
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TN
070
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13/04/43
|
13/04/43
|
15/05/43
|
15/05/43
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TN
093
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18/05/43
|
18/05/43
|
03/06/43
|
03/06/43
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TN
100
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06/06/43
|
06/06/43
|
07/06/43
|
07/06/43
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NT
015
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10/06/43
|
10/06/43
|
22/07/43
|
22/07/43
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TN
120
|
24/07/43
|
24/07/43
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26/09/43
|
26/09/43
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PV
002
|
03/10/43
|
03/10/43
|
10/10/43
|
10/10/43
|
PV
004
|
17/10/43
|
17/10/43
|
20/10/43
|
20/10/43
|
TN
170
|
23/10/43
|
23/10/43
|
|
|
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(Note on Convoys)
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