Description
Title: HMAS Rockhampton – Australian Corvette in World War II
Author: Wahlquist, Gilbert
Condition: Very Good Plus – Gift inscription on the half title page. Corners bumped with edge wear.
Edition: 1st Edition
Publication Date: 2005
ISBN: 0646449931
Cover: Soft Cover without Dust Jacket – 275 pages
Comments: The story of HMAS Rockhampton during World War 2.
HMAS Rockhampton (J203/M203), named for the city of Rockhampton, Queensland, 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).
Rockhampton began her career as a convoy escort along the east coast of Australia. Following a series of Japanese submarine attacks along the east coast of Australia, a convoy system was established. Rockhampton and USS Selfridge escorted the first Sydney to Brisbane convoy. The corvette remained in this role until January 1944, when she began began escorting convoys to and from New Guinea. She underwent refit in Sydney over April and May 1944, before returning to escort duties in New Guinea waters. Rockhampton operated in both Australian and New Guinea waters up until the end of World War II.
Following the end of the war, Rockhampton was involved in the rescue of Dutch and Indonesian prisoners-of-war and the occupation of Ambon. On 8 October 1945, the corvette carried the Sultan of Ternate on his return home. Rockhampton returned to Sydney in November 1945, where she was assigned to minesweeping duties off the east coast of Australia. She later participated in survey duties off the coast of South Australia, before returning to Sydney on 29 April 1946.
The corvette received two battle honours for her wartime service: “Pacific 1942-45” and “New Guinea 1944”.
Includes Nominal Roll
