HMAS Inverell
Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates
Template:Infobox ship imageTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship characteristicsHMAS Inverell, named for the town of Inverell, New South Wales, was one of 60 Template:Sclasss constructed during World War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).<ref name=SPC>Template:Cite web</ref>
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
Template:Main 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.<ref name=Hindsight1>Stevens, The Australian Corvettes, p. 1</ref><ref name=StevensACV103>Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, p. 103</ref> The vessel was initially envisaged as having a displacement of approximately 500 tons, a speed of at least Template:Convert, and a range of Template:Convert<ref name=StevensACV103.4>Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, pp. 103–4</ref> The opportunity to build a prototype in the place of a cancelled Template:Sclass2 saw the proposed design increased to a 680-ton vessel, with a Template:Convert top speed, and a range of Template:Convert, 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.<ref name=Hindsight1/><ref>Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, pp. 103–5</ref> Construction of the prototype Template:HMAS did not go ahead, but the plans were retained.<ref name=StevensACV104>Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, p. 104</ref> 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.<ref name=Hindsight1/><ref>Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, pp. 105, 148</ref><ref name=Donohue29>Donohue, From Empire Defence to the Long Haul, p. 29</ref><ref name=Stevens108>Stevens et al., The Royal Australian Navy, p. 108</ref><ref name=SPC/>
Inverell was laid down by Mort's Dock & Engineering Co at Balmain, New South Wales on 7 December 1941.<ref name=SPC/> She was launched on 2 May 1942 by Mrs. T. S. Punch, Mayoress of Inverell, and commissioned into the RAN on 17 September 1942.<ref name=SPC/>
Operational history
World War II
Inverell began service in November 1942 as a convoy escort along the eastern Australian coast.<ref name=SPC/> At the end of December, she was relocated to Darwin, and primarily performed escort runs between Darwin and Thursday Island.<ref name=SPC/> On 11 November 1943, Inverell arrived at Williamstown Naval Dockyard for a month-long refit.<ref name=SPC/> On conclusion, she returned to Darwin and resumed escort duties.<ref name=SPC/>
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.<ref name=SPC/> Of the eight survivors, one died onboard while the corvette was returning to Darwin.<ref name=SPC/> On 22 September 1944, Inverell sailed to Fremantle.<ref name=SPC/>
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.<ref name=SPC/> Inverell departed Fremantle for Darwin on 4 May 1945.<ref name=SPC/> Between 22 May and 11 July, the corvette was involve in minesweeping, before she, sister ship Template:HMAS, and Services Reconnaissance Department vessel Template:HMAS were assigned to Morotai.<ref name=SPC/> Inverell was required to tow River Snake for the first part of the voyage.<ref name=SPC/>
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.<ref name=SPC/> From 21 September to 18 November, she was designated as the command ship for Port Directorate Macassar.<ref name=SPC/> 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.<ref name=SPC/> Several delays meant that Inverell was not paid off into reserve until 14 June 1946.<ref name=SPC/> On 4 November 1946, Inverell was towed to Sydney by sister ship Template:HMAS, arriving on 17 November.<ref name=SPC/>
The corvette received two battle honours for her wartime service: "Darwin 1942" and Pacific 1942–45".<ref name=newhonours>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=honourslist>Template:Cite web</ref>
RNZN service
On 5 March 1952, Inverell and three other Bathurst-class corvettes (HMA Ships Echuca, Template:HMAS, and Stawell) were transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy.<ref name=SPC/> Inverell was commissioned into the RNZN on 10 April 1952, but was decommissioned into reserve after a refit.<ref name=SPC/>
In 1965, the corvette was refitted as a training and fisheries patrol ship to replace the frigate Template:HMNZS.<ref name=SPC/> The 4-inch gun was replaced by a second 40 mm Bofors gun, and minesweeping gear was removed.<ref name="jfs71p241">Blackman 1971, p. 241.</ref> She was recommissioned on 15 August 1965, and served until 19 August 1976, when she was decommissioned.<ref name=SPC/>
On 1 November 1977, Inverell was sold to Pacific Scrap Limited of Auckland for scrapping.<ref name=SPC/>