| Navy | The Royal Australian Navy |
| Type | Minesweeper |
| Class | Bathurst |
| Pennant | J 242 |
| Built by | Morts Dock & Enginering Co. Ltd. (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) |
| Ordered | 24 Sep 1940 |
| Laid down | 18 Apr 1941 |
| Launched | 30 Aug 1941 |
| Commissioned | 6 Jan 1942 |
| End service | 30 Sep 1983 |
| History | Decomissioned into Reserve at Sydney on 27 November 1945. |
Commands listed for HMAS Colac (J 242)
Please note that we're still working on this section.
| Commander | From | To | ||
| 1 | T/Lt.Cdr. Dudley Charles Northam, RANR(S) | 8 Dec 1941 | 2 Aug 1942 | |
| 2 | Lt. William Slevin Reynolds, RANR | 3 Aug 1942 | 25 Oct 1942 | |
| 3 | T/Lt.Cdr. Spence Bernard Komoll, RANR(S) | 26 Oct 1942 | 4 Jun 1943 | |
| 4 | T/A/Lt.Cdr. Eric John Barron, RANR(S) | 5 Jun 1943 | 10 Jun 1943 | |
| 5 | Lt. William George Whitting, DSC, RANR(S) | 11 Jun 1943 | Aug 1944 | |
| 6 | Cdr. Alan Paterson Cousin, RANR(S) | 21 Dec 1943 | Jan 1944 | |
| 7 | Lt. Kenneth James Hopper, RANR(S) | 18 Oct 1944 | 10 Oct 1945 | |
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Notable events involving Colac include:
9 May 1945
Around 1430K/9 the destroyer HMAS Arunta (Cdr. A.E. Buchanan, DSO, RAN) departed Manus followed around 1800K/9 by the light cruiser HMS Newfoundland (Capt. R.W. Ravenhill, CBE, DSC, RN).
Around 1700I/9, the light cruiser HMAS Hobart (Capt. R.S. Dowling, RAN) and the destroyer HMAS Warramunga (Cdr. M.J. Clark, DSC, RAN) departed Hollandia.
Both forces made rendezvous off Cape Wom around 0800K/10 and the 'Wewak support force' arrived off Wewak around 1300K/10.
After a preliminary run along the coast to search for the targets the sheduled bombardment commenced.
Around 1600K/10, the force retired to seaward for the night.
At 0630K/11, the 'Wewak support force' made rendezvous with the 'Wewak force' made up of the sloop HMAS Swan (Lt. W.J. Dovers, RAN) and minesweepers/corvettes Colac (Lt. K.J. Hopper, RANR(S)) and HMAS Dubbo (T/Lt. F.W. Roberts, RANR(S)) and the assault forces proceeded to their fire support areas. From 0730K/11, targets were successfully engaged to cover the assault on Red Beach. The bombardment was completed at 0840K/11.
After the landing the 'Wewak support force' retired to seaward.
Around 1230K/11, HMS Newfoundland obtained an A/S contact which was subsequently depth charged by HMAS Arunta. Both destroyers then continued to search the area during the afternoon but no further contact was obtained.
Around 1700 hours, HMAS Hobart and HMS Newfoundland carried out another bombardment after which the force was released and proceeded to Hollandia arriving there at 0700I/9. (1)
Sources
- ADM 53/121909 + Report from HMAS Hobart
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.