HMAS Deloraine

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 (including Deloraine) ordered by the RAN, 20 ordered by the British Admiralty but manned and commissioned as RAN vessels, and 4 for the Royal Indian Navy.[1] She was launched on 26 July 1941 by Dame Mary Hughes, wife of the Minister for the Navy, and commissioned into the RAN on 22 November 1941.[1] After commissioning, Deloraine sailed to Darwin, where she was based for the first part of her career as a convoy escort and anti-submarine patrol vessel.[11][12] After refitting, Deloraine was used to transport an occupation force from Morotai to Menado, then returned to Sydney and commenced clearing minefields off the New South Wales coast.
Launching of HMAS Deloraine
HMAS Deloraine (foreground) during the Japanese air raids on Darwin
Deloraine, TasmaniaMort's Dock & Engineering CoDarwinPacificNew GuineaBathurst-class corvette12-pounder4 inch Mk XIXDepth chargesBathurst-class corvettesWorld War IIRoyal Australian Navybombing of DarwinAustralian Commonwealth Naval BoarddisplacementBar-class boom defence vesselHMAS KangarooBritish AdmiraltyRoyal Indian NavyMorts Dock & Engineering CoBalmain, New South WalesUSS EdsallUSS Trinity (AO-13)Imperial Japanese NavyKatoombaLithgowPortmarLST-469Convoy GP55battle honoursMorotaiMenadoclearing minefieldsFremantle, Western AustraliaAraratArmidaleBenallaBendigoBunburyBundabergCastlemaineCootamundraEchucaFremantleGeelongGladstoneGlenelgGympieHorshamInverellKapundaLatrobeMilduraParkesRockhamptonSheppartonStawellStrahanTownsvilleWallarooWarrnamboolAdmiraltyBallaratBathurstBroomeBurnieCairnsCessnockGawlerGeraldtonGoulburnIpswichKalgoorlieLauncestonLismoreMaryboroughTamworthToowoombaWhyallaWollongongBengalBombayMadrasPunjabIndonesian NavyBantengHang TuahPati UnusRadjawaliRoyal Netherlands NavyBatjanBoeroeTernateTidoreRoyal New Zealand NavyTurkish NavyAlanyaAmasraAntalyaAyancıkAyvalık