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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2006

HMAS WARRAMUNGA (I 41) -  Tribal-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements 

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMAS Bataan, sister-ship (Photo Ships, click to enlarge)

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TRIBAL-Class Destroyer ordered from Cockatoo  Docks and Engineering Co at Sydney, Australia for service the Royal Australian Navy on 24th January 1939. The ship was laid down on 10th February 1940 and launched on 7th February 1942. Her build was completed on 23rd November 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

 

NEW GUINEA 1942-44  - LEYTE GULF 1944 - LINGAYEN GULF 1945 - PACIFIC 1945 - KOREA 1950-52*

(* Awarded for UN service)

 

H e r a l d i c   D a ta

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

 

November

 

Contractors trials

 

23rd - Commissioned for service. Commenced Acceptance Trials

 

December

 

On completion of acceptance trials and storing deployed for work-up in Sydney area prior to operational service

 

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

 

Work up in continuation

 

February

 

On completion of work-up deployed for convoy defence.

 

10th - Carried out failed towing attempt on US Liberty Ship STAR KING which had been torpedoed by Japanese submarine I21 in position 150 miles off Sydney.

 

Deployed for defence of military convoys on passage to and from New Guinea

 

March

 

Convoy defence in continuation. Nominated for service in US Navy Seventh Fleet in Task Force 74 under overall US Navy command. Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to D10 to suit US Navy designation for destroyers.

 

Joined US Desdron 5 in 7th US Fleeet with HM Australian Destroyer ARUNTA (Note: Desdron is the US Navy equivalent of RN Destroyer Flotilla and Desdron 5 also included seven US Navy destroyers.)

 

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 ARUNTA.

 

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, HMAS HOBART, HMAS ARUNTA 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 ARUNTA for escort of damaged cruiser HMAS HOBART during passage from Espiritu Santo to Sydney for repair. (Note: HMAS HOBART had been damaged by torpedo from Japanese submarine I11.)

 

26th - Detached from HMAS HOBART on arrival at Sydney.

 

September to October  

 

Deployed for convoy escort in SW Pacific.

 

November

 

5th - Transferred with HMAS AUSTRALIA, HM Australian Cruiser SHROPSHIRE, HMAS ARUNTA, 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 ARUNTA.

 

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 NASHVILLE, 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 US Navy destroyers AMMEN, MULLANY and minesweeper USS HAMILTON as escort for landing ships and craft during passage to disembark troops on Los Negros, Admiralty Islands. Under shore fire from batteries north of Seeadler Harbour which were later silenced by cruiser gunfire support.

 

10th - Deployed as escort for fourth convoy taking assault troops to Los Negros.

 

15th - Arrived at Los Negros

 

April

 

Deployed with TF74

 

22nd to 29th - Provided cover for US landings on Hollandia (Operation RECKLESS) and Aitape  with Task 74 which also included HMAS AUSTRALIA, SHROPSHIRE, ARUNTA and USS AMMEN and MULLANY. (Operation PERSECUTION)

 

29th - Provided Naval Gunfire support during assault with US cruisers PHOENIX, NASHVILLE and BOISE screened by 6 US destroyers. (Note: General MacArthur was embarked in 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, ARUNTA and two US destroyers.)

 

Bombarded positions at Sarwa and Sarmi

 

25th - Provided cover and Naval Gunfire Support during landings to 29th

 

June

 

Deployed off Biak for support of assault.

 

Deployed with HMAS AUSTRALIA, SHROPSHIRE, USS BOISE and PHOENIX, HMAS ARUNTA 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 HMAS ARUNTA

 

14th to 26th - Carried out bombardments on troops west of Aitape with HMAS AUSTRALIA, SHROPSHIRE, ARUNTA 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, ARUNTA and two US destroyers as Task Group 77.2 to 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 cruisers PHOENIX and BOISE, HMAS AUSTRALIA and SHROPSHIRE, five US destroyers and HMAS ARUNTA.

 

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 HMAS ARUNTA and US Navy destroyer

 

December

 

Leyte deployment in continuation.

 

15th - Provided cover for landings at Mindoro with HMAS SHROPSHIRE, USS BOISE and PHOENIX, HMAS ARUNTA and five US 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 ARUNTA to join ships of Unit 2. Deployed with ships of Desdron 56 with ARUNTA. (Note: Desdron 56 included five US Navy Destroyers..)

 

5th - Under attacks by KAMIKAZE aircraft in Lingayen Gulf during which HMAS ARUNTA sustained damage by near miss.

 

6th to 8th - Provided Naval Gunfire Support during assault and under sustained air attacks. Stood by US destroyer BROOKS which had been damaged in KAMIKAZE attack.

 

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 with HMAS SHROPSHIRE, US cruisers MINNEAPOLIS, and PORTLAND, HMAS ARUNTA and four US Navy destroyers. (See above reference.)

 

Deployed in support of operations including attacks at entrance to Manila Bay.

 

March

 

Deployed for support of military operations in Borneo with Cruiser Covering Force designated Task Group 78.1 which also included Australian cruiser HOBART

 

26th - Present at landings on Cebu Island during which no gunfire support was required. (See above reference.)

 

April

 

Deployment with Task Group 78/1 in continuation.

 

Passage to Tarakan to provide support during planned landings

 

May

 

1st - Provided support during landings on Tarakan Island with HMAS HOBART.

 

On release took passage from Tarakan with HOBART for New Guinea to join Wewak Support Force.

 

9th - Arrived at Wewak and joined HM Cruiser NEWFOUNDLAND and HMAS ARUNTA for support of landings by Australian troops. 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).

 

On release from DELUGE took passage to Sydney and taken in hand for refit

 

June to July  

 

Under refit.

 

August

 

On completion of dockyard work carried out post refit trials. Prepared for service with Commonwealth warships deployed off Japan.

 

Took passage to Leyte to join HMAS SHROPSHIRE and HOBART.

 

Sailed from Leyte with ships of TG70.9 and HM Minesweepers IPSWICH, BALLARAT and CESSNOCK to attend surrender ceremony Japan

 

31st - Joined Commonwealth warships in Sagami Bay

 

September

 

2nd - Present at Tokyo Bay for formal surrender ceremony.

 

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMAS WARRAMUNGA was deployed in Japanese waters and took part in repatriation of allied Prisoners of War and allied civilians held by Japan for several weeks which including transport from Japanese ports to repatriation centres. She continued Fleet service during the period 1946 to 1948 and was deployed re-commissioned on completion of refit and was deployed for Fleet duties for screening duties and in joint exercises with RNZN. This destroyer served with the UN naval Forces deployed off Korea after August 1950 and carried out bombardment duties as well as Plane Guard duties with aircraft carriers operating off Korea The ship was released from UN duties in 1952 and was then nominated for conversion for use as an Anti-submarine destroyer. During conversion which took place between November 1952 and October 1954 her armament was changed and an Anti-submarine mortar was fitted as well as a new design lattice foremast. Re-commissioned  for Fleet duties she was deployed with Royal Navy and other Australian warships off Korea and for SEATO exercises in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. In 1960 she was Paid-off into Reserve and laid up until 1962 when placed on the Disposal List. Sold to a Japanese ship-breaker on 16th February 1963 the ship was taken in tow for passage to Japan where she was demolished.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMAS WARRAMUNGA

by Don Kindell

 

This convoy list has not been cross-checked with the text above

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

26/02/43

26/02/43

TN 042

01/03/43

01/03/43

08/03/43

08/03/43

TN 047

11/03/43

11/03/43

16/03/43

16/03/43

TN 054

18/03/43

18/03/43

23/03/43

23/03/43

TN 058

25/03/43

25/03/43

26/03/43

26/03/43

NT 008

28/03/43

28/03/43

31/03/43

31/03/43

TN 063

03/04/43

03/04/43

03/04/43

03/04/43

NT 009

05/04/43

05/04/43

07/04/43

07/04/43

TN 068

10/04/43

10/04/43

13/04/43

13/04/43

TN 072

16/04/43

16/04/43

13/05/43

13/05/43

TN 092

15/05/43

15/05/43

16/05/43

16/05/43

MB 004/2

17/05/43

17/05/43

22/07/43

22/07/43

TN 120

24/07/43

24/07/43

04/09/43

04/09/43

TN 152

06/09/43

06/09/43

19/09/43

19/09/43

PV 001

27/09/43

27/09/43

26/09/43

01/10/43

PV 002

03/10/43

03/10/43

03/10/43

07/10/43

PV 003

10/10/43

10/10/43

12/10/43

12/10/43

TN 167

14/10/43

14/10/43

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 12/6/11
further editing is required


 

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