HMAS Bataan (I91)

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HMAS Bataan (D9/I91/D191) was a Template:Sclass2 destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Laid down in 1942 and commissioned in 1945, the destroyer was originally to be named Chingilli or Kurnai but was renamed prior to launch in honour of the US stand during the Battle of Bataan.

Although not completed in time to see combat service during World War II, Bataan was present in Tokyo Bay for the official Japanese surrender, and made four deployments to the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. In 1950, while en route for a fifth Occupation Force deployment, the Korean War started, and the destroyer was diverted to serve as a patrol ship and carrier escort until early 1951. A second Korean tour was made during 1952. Bataan was paid off in 1954, and sold for scrap in 1958.

Description

Template:Main Bataan was one of three Template:Sclass2 destroyers ordered for the RAN.<ref name=Cassells25.6/> These ships were designed with a displacement of 2,116 tons, had a length of Template:Convert overall and Template:Convert between perpendiculars, and a beam of Template:Convert.<ref name=Cassells26>Cassells, The Destroyers, p. 26</ref> Propulsion was provided by three drum-type boilers supplying Parsons Impulse Reaction turbines; these provided Template:Convert to the ship's two propeller shafts.<ref>Cassells, The Destroyers, pp. 18, 26</ref> Maximum speed was Template:Convert, with an economical speed of Template:Convert.<ref name=Cassells26/> The ship's company consisted on 261 personnel: 14 officers and 247 sailors.<ref name=Cassells26/>

On completion, the destroyer's primary armament consisted of six 4.7-inch Mark VII guns in three twin turrets.<ref name=Cassells26/> She was also armed with two 4-inch Mark XVI* guns in a twin turret, six 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns, a quad-barrelled 2-pounder Mark VIII pom pom, a quadruple torpedo tube set for four 21-inch torpedoes, two depth charge throwers, and 46 depth charges.<ref name=Cassells26/> In 1945, the number of torpedoes and depth charges carried was reduced.<ref>Cassells, The Destroyers, p. 238</ref>

Construction and career

The destroyer was laid down by Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company Limited at the Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney in New South Wales on 18 February 1942.<ref name=Cassells26/> She was launched on 15 January 1944 by Jean MacArthur, the wife of General Douglas MacArthur.<ref name=Cassells25.6/><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> The ship was commissioned into the RAN on 25 May 1945, with construction work completing on 26 June.<ref name=Cassells26/> The destroyer was originally to be named Chingilli, but this was changed to Kurnai (after the Kurnai or Gunai Aborigines) before construction started.<ref name=Cassells25.6>Cassells, The Destroyers, pp. 25–26</ref> The name was changed yet again prior to the ship's launch to Bataan; honouring ties between Australia and the United States by recognising the stand by US troops during the Battle of Bataan, and reciprocating the US decision to name a cruiser Template:USS in honour of the Australian cruiser Template:HMAS, lost at the Battle of Savo Island.<ref name=Cassells25.6/>

On entering service, Bataan sailed to Japan via the Philippines; although arriving too late to participate in combat, she was present in Tokyo for the official Japanese surrender on 2 September 1945.<ref name=Cassells26/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bataan remained in Japanese waters until 18 November, serving as representative of the Australian military and helping coordinate the repatriation of prisoners-of-war.<ref name=Cassells26/> Between late 1946 and late 1949, the destroyer spent 17 months over four tours of duty in Japanese waters with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.<ref name=Cassells26/> The rest of these three years was spent operating in Australian waters.<ref name=Cassells26/> It was used in the 1948 film Always Another Dawn.<ref name="always">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Bataan operating off Korea

In late June 1950, Bataan was en route to Japan for a fifth tour when the Korean War started.<ref name=Cassells26/> From early July 1950 until 29 May 1951, the destroyer operated off Korea; patrolling and blockading, escorting aircraft carriers, and bombarding shore targets.<ref name=Cassells26/> A second Korean tour occurred between 4 February and 31 August 1952, with Bataan fulfilling most of the same duties as before.<ref name=Cassells26/> Bataan was presented with the battle honour "Korea 1950–52" for her service.<ref name=newhonours>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=honourslist>Template:Cite web</ref> In November 1953, Bataan visited Singapore.<ref name=Cassells26/> This was the only time since the Korean War, and the only time for the rest of her career, that the destroyer would leave Australian waters.<ref name=Cassells26/>

Decommissioning and fate

Bataan paid off at Sydney on 18 October 1954,<ref name=Cassells26/> and was laid up in reserve awaiting conversion to an anti-submarine escort.<ref>Gillett & Graham, Warships of Australia, p. 166</ref> The conversion was cancelled in 1957, with Bataan placed on the disposal list,<ref>Whitley, ''Destroyers of World War II, pp. 19–20</ref> then sold for scrap to T. Carr and Company of Sydney in 1958.<ref name=Cassells26/>

References

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External links

• RAN history of HMAS Bataan