Description
Title: HMAS Diamantina – Australia’s Last River Class Frigate, 1945 – 1980
Author: Nunan, Peter
Condition: Near Mint
Edition: 1st Edition
Publication Date: 2005
ISBN: 0957975279
Cover: Soft Cover without Dust Jacket – 160 pages
Comments: The detailed history of HMAS Diamantina during World War 2 and up to 1980.
HMAS Diamantina (K377/F377/A266/GOR266), named for the Diamantina River in Queensland, is a River class frigate that served the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Constructed in the mid-1940s, Diamantina was active from 1945 until 1946, was placed in reserve, then was recommissioned as a survey ship from 1959 until 1980.
Following her second decommissioning, the frigate was preserved at the Queensland Maritime Museum as a museum ship. She was the last World War II-era frigate to leave RAN service, and of the 151 River class frigates constructed for 19 navies worldwide, Diamantina is the only one preserved as a museum ship.
Diamantina provided fire support to the Australian Army operating in Bougainville in July and August 1945.
The frigate carried Lieutenant General Kanda and Vice Admiral Baron Samejima, officers of the Japanese Imperial High Command to the surrender of Torokina on 8 September 1945. She was also involved in the surrenders of Nauru on 13 September and Ocean Island on 1 October; both ceremonies conducted on her quarterdeck.
The ship was awarded the battle honour “Pacific 1945” for her wartime service.
Diamantina returned to Sydney, arriving at Garden Island on 13 December 1945 with 86 passengers embarked. The ship remained in Sydney until 1 February 1946, when she departed for a patrol in New Guinea waters. Diamantina returned to Sydney on 14 June, and was paid off into reserve on 9 August 1946.
Includes Nominal Roll
