Allied Warships

HMAS Bungaree (M 29)

Minelayer of the Auxiliary minelayers class

NavyThe Royal Australian Navy
TypeMinelayer
ClassAuxiliary minelayers 
PennantM 29 
Built byCaledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd. (Dundee, Scotland, U.K.). 
Ordered 
Laid down 
Launched9 Feb 1937 
Commissioned9 Jun 1941 
End service 
History

Completed as merchantile in May 1937
Requisitioned by the Admiralty in October 1940.
Displacement: 7494 tons.
Lenght: 357 feet
Machinery: Two boilers, 1 shaft, reciprocating engine IHP 2500 = 11 knots.
Armament: 2 4" guns (2x1), 2 2pdr AA (2x1) 8 .303" AA (8x1), 423 mines.

Became an amenties ship in 1944 for service with the British Pacific Fleet. 

We don't have any commands listed for HMAS Bungaree (M 29)


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Notable events involving Bungaree include:


29 Jul 1941

Convoy US 11B.

This convoy departed Sydney on 29 July 1941.

It was made up of the troopships Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (Dutch, 19429 GRT, built 1930) and Katoomba (Australian, 9424 GRT, built 1913).

The convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) which joined after having first conducted 4" and close range AA gunnery exercises.

Around 1550K/31, the convoy was joined HMAS Canberra (Capt. H.B. Farncomb, RAN) which was escorting the troopship Marnix van St. Aldegonde (Dutch, 19355 GRT, built 1930) out from Melbourne.

HMAS Canberra then took over the escort the convoy towards Fremantle while HMAS Sydney proceeded to make rendezvous with the auxiliary minelayer HMAS Bungaree (Cdr. N.K. Calder, RAN) which she did around 1700K/31 off the searched channel to Port Phillip. They then set course for Sydney.

The convoy arrived at Fremantle on 6 August 1941.

The convoy departed Fremantle for Singapore on 8 August 1941 still escorted by HMAS Canberra.

The convoy arrived at Singapore on 14 August 1941. (1)

3 Aug 1941
Around 0800K/3, HMAS Sydney (Capt. J. Burnett, RAN) and HMAS Bungaree (Cdr. N.K. Calder, RAN) arrived at Sydney. (2)

3 Aug 1941
Around 1640K/3, HMAS Adelaide (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN) departed Sydney escorting the auxiliary minelayer HMAS Bungaree (Cdr. N.K. Calder, RAN) to the vicinity of Lady Elliot Island.

They parted company around 0030K/7.

HMAS Adelaide then returned to Sydney arriving there around 0550K/9.

HMAS Bungaree was to proceed to Port Moresby. (3)

12 Apr 1943

Convoy OC 87.

This convoy departed from Melbourne 12 April 1943.

It was made up of the following transports; Carslisle (Australian, 1861 GRT, built 1919), Chios (Greek, 5643 GRT, built 1939), Colac (Australian, 3341 GRT, built 1920), Ilissos (Greek, 4724 GRT, built 1915), Iron Baron (Australian, 4584 GRT, built 1936), Talune (Australian, 2742 GRT, built 1930) and Wear (Australian, 1869 GRT, built 1911).

The auxiliary minelayer HMAS Bungaree (A/Cdr. N.K. Calder, RAN) was also part of the convoy.

On departure from Melbourne the convoy was escorted by the A/S patrol vessel HMAS Doomba (T/A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Reading, RANR(S)).

Around 0740K/13, convoy CO 87 was was met and and escorts were exchanged so HMAS Doomba parted company and the destroyer HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. N.A. Mackinnon, RAN) and minesweeper HMAS Bundaberg (Lt.Cdr. N.D. Pixley, RANR) joined.

At 0858K/15, HMAS Stuart picked up the crew of a crashed Anson aircraft from the sea near Point Perpendicular. As one of the crew was badly injured HMAS Stuart parted company with the convoy in the afternoon to race ahead to Sydney to seek treatment for the injured man.

Around 1300K/15, the Chios and Ilissos parted company and proceeded to Port Kembla, arriving there later the same day.

Around , the auxiliary A/S patrol vessel HMAS Yandra (Lt. J.A. Taplin, RANR(S)) joined the convoy so that HMAS Stuart could proceed ahead to Sydney to land the badly injured airmen. After doing so HMAS Stuart rejoined the convoy.

Around 2215K/15, the Carlisle and Talune were detached to Sydney.

The remainder of the convoy arrived at Newcastle around 0530K/16.

28 Sep 1943

Convoy QL 16.

This convoy departed Brisbane on 28 September 1943.

It was made up of the following transports; Balikpapan (Dutch, 1279 GRT, built 1938), Carola (Panamanian, 3842 GRT, built 1916), Colorado (American, 2689 GRT, built 1920), Dundula (Australian, 3344 GRT, built 1920), Duntroon (Australian, 10346 GRT, built 1935), Green Gables Park (Canadian, 7132 GRT, built 1943), John Evans (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Mangola (British, 3352 GRT, built 1920), Ozark (American, 2689 GRT, built 1919) and Tambua (Australian, 3566 GRT, built 1938).

The auxiliary minelayer HMAS Bungaree (A/Cdr. R.B.A. Hunt, OBE, RAN) and Tank Landing Ship USS LST 170 (Lt. T.N. Kelly, USCGR) were also part of the convoy.

On departure from Brisbane the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. J. Plunkett-Cole, RAN), minesweeper HMAS Ararat (T/Lt. N.M. Muzzell, RANR(S)) and the patrol vessels USS PC 1122 (Lt. J.J. Peck, USNR), USS PC 1123 (Lt. W.R. Plage, USNR) and USS SC 650 (Lt.(jg) R.E. Huff, USNR).

Around 0300K/30, near Lady Elliot Island, HMAS Vendetta parted company with the convoy to proceed to Caloundra.

Around 1040K/30, the convoy was dispersed off Bustard Head.

Sources

  1. War diary of HMAS Sydney for July 1941
  2. War diary of HMAS Sydney for August 1941
  3. Report of proceedings of HMAS Adelaide for August 1941

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