Bathurst Class – HMNZS Inverell

HMAS Inverell, named for the town of Inverell, New South Wales, was one of 60 Bathurst-class corvettes constructed during World War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).^[1]

After World War II, the corvette was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), where she served from 1952 to 1976.

Design and construction[edit]

Main article: Bathurst-class corvette

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.^[2][3] The vessel was initially envisaged as having a displacement of approximately 500 tons, a speed of at least 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph), and a range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi)^[4] The opportunity to build a prototype in the place of a cancelled Bar-class boom defence vessel saw the proposed design increased to a 680-ton vessel, with a 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h; 17.8 mph) top speed, and a range of 2,850 nautical miles (5,280 km; 3,280 mi), armed with a 4-inch gun, equipped with asdic, and able to fitted with either depth charges or minesweeping equipment depending on the planned operations: although closer in size to a sloop than a local defence vessel, the resulting increased capabilities were accepted due to advantages over British-designed mine warfare and anti-submarine vessels.^[2][5] Construction of the prototype HMAS Kangaroo did not go ahead, but the plans were retained.^[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 Inverell) ordered by the RAN, 20 ordered by the British Admiralty but manned and commissioned as RAN vessels, and 4 for the Royal Indian Navy.^{[2][7][8][9][1]}

Inverell was laid down by Mort’s Dock & Engineering Co at Balmain, New South Wales on 7 December 1941.^[1] She was launched on 2 May 1942 by Mrs. T. S. Punch, Mayoress of Inverell, and commissioned into the RAN on 17 September 1942.^[1]

Operational history[edit]

World War II[edit]

Inverell began service in November 1942 as a convoy escort along the eastern Australian coast.^[1] At the end of December, she was relocated to Darwin, and primarily performed escort runs between Darwin and Thursday Island.^[1] On 11 November 1943, Inverell arrived at Williamstown Naval Dockyard for a month-long refit.^[1] On conclusion, she returned to Darwin and resumed escort duties.^[1]

In early February 1943, Inverell was required to rescue the crew of a United States Army Air Forces Liberator bomber, which had crashed on Croker Island.^[1] Of the eight survivors, one died onboard while the corvette was returning to Darwin.^[1] On 22 September 1944, Inverell sailed to Fremantle.^[1]

While based in Fremantle, the corvette’s main duties was to perform training exercises with United States Navy and Royal Navy submarines, with secondary duties including convoy escort and patrol.^[1] Inverell departed Fremantle for Darwin on 4 May 1945.^[1] Between 22 May and 11 July, the corvette was involve in minesweeping, before she, sister ship HMAS Stawell, and Services Reconnaissance Department vessel HMAS River Snake were assigned to Morotai.^[1] Inverell was required to tow River Snake for the first part of the voyage.^[1]

Based in Morotai, Inverell was primarily used as a patrol vessel until the end of World War II, when she became involved in the transfer of Dutch East Indies territories from Japanese to Allied control.^[1] From 21 September to 18 November, she was designated as the command ship for Port Directorate Macassar.^[1] On 29 November, she left Morotai, and spent the next month operating off the coast of Queensland before arriving in Brisbane on 25 December 1945 and preparing for decommissioning.^[1] Several delays meant that Inverell was not paid off into reserve until 14 June 1946.^[1] On 4 November 1946, Inverell was towed to Sydney by sister ship HMAS Echuca, arriving on 17 November.^[1]

The corvette received two battle honours for her wartime service: “Darwin 1942″ and Pacific 1942–45”.^[10][11]

RNZN service[edit]

On 5 March 1952, Inverell and three other Bathurst-class corvettes (HMA Ships Echuca, Kiama, and Stawell) were transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy.^[1] Inverell was commissioned into the RNZN on 10 April 1952, but was decommissioned into reserve after a refit.^[1]

In 1965, the corvette was refitted as a training and fisheries patrol ship to replace the frigate HMNZS Rotoiti.^[1] The 4-inch gun was replaced by a second 40 mm Bofors gun, and minesweeping gear was removed.^[12] She was recommissioned on 15 August 1965, and served until 19 August 1976, when she was decommissioned.^[1]

On 1 November 1977, Inverell was sold to Pacific Scrap Limited of Auckland for scrapping.