HMAS Cairns (J183)

[1] In 1938, the Australian 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.[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 ordered by the RAN, 20 (including Cairns) ordered by the British Admiralty but manned and commissioned as RAN vessels, and 4 for the Royal Indian Navy.[1] From entering service until 16 October 1942, Cairns was based in Fremantle and operated as a convoy escort, anti-submarine patroller, and minesweeper.[1] On 16 October, the corvette was reassigned to the British Eastern Fleet and ordered to Kilindini, Kenya, arriving on 14 November.[1] Following a refit in Adelaide from May to July 1944, Cairns was redeployed to Colombo, which was her base of operations until January 1945, when the corvette was sent back to Australia.
HMAS CairnsCairns, QueenslandWalkers LimitedPacificIndian OceanSicilyOkinawaAmbon IslandJavanese bullBathurst-classcorvette4 inch Mk XIXOerlikon 20 mm cannonsBofors 40 mm L/60 gunDepth chargesBathurst-class corvettesWorld War IIAdmiraltyRoyal Australian NavyBathurst-class corvetteAustralian Commonwealth Naval BoarddisplacementBar-class boom defence vesselHMAS KangarooBritish AdmiraltyRoyal Indian NavyMaryborough, QueenslandBritish Eastern FleetKilindiniAllied invasion of SicilyRo-110British Pacific Fleetbattle honoursRoyal Netherlands NavyIndonesian NavyAraratArmidaleBenallaBendigoBunburyBundabergCastlemaineCootamundraDeloraineEchucaFremantleGeelongGladstoneGlenelgGympieHorshamInverellKapundaKatoombaLatrobeLithgowMilduraParkesRockhamptonSheppartonStawellStrahanTownsvilleWallarooWarrnamboolBallaratBathurstBroomeBurnieCessnockGawlerGeraldtonGoulburnIpswichKalgoorlieLauncestonLismoreMaryboroughTamworthToowoombaWhyallaWollongongBengalBombayMadrasPunjabHang TuahPati UnusRadjawaliBatjanBoeroeMorotaiTernateTidoreRoyal New Zealand NavyTurkish NavyAlanyaAmasraAntalyaAyancıkAyvalık