View source for HMAS Warramunga (I44)

{{Short description|Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy}}
{{other ships|HMAS Warramunga}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2018}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:HMAS Warramunga AllanGreen.jpg|300px|HMAS Warramunga (I44) in 1946]]
|Ship caption=HMAS ''Warramunga'' in 1946
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=Australia
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Australia|naval-1913}}
|Ship namesake=The [[Warumungu]] people of Central Australia
|Ship builder=[[Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company]]
|Ship laid down=10 February 1940
|Ship launched=7 February 1942
|Ship commissioned=23 November 1942
|Ship decommissioned=7 December 1959
|Ship motto=Courage in Difficulties
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=*Battle honours:
*[[South West Pacific theatre of World War II|Pacific]] 1943–45
*[[New Guinea campaign|New Guinea]] 1943–44
*[[Battle of Leyte Gulf|Leyte Gulf]] 1944
*[[Invasion of Lingayen Gulf|Lingayen Gulf]] 1945
*[[Borneo campaign (1945)|Borneo]] 1945
*[[Korean War|Korea]] 1950–52
|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]]: I44 (later D123)
|Ship fate=Sold for scrap on 15 February 1963
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Ship class={{sclass2|Tribal|destroyer (1936)|0}} [[destroyer]]
|Ship displacement=2,031 tons
|Ship length=*{{convert|377|ft|abbr=on}} [[length overall]]
*{{convert|355|ft|abbr=on}} [[between perpendiculars]]
|Ship beam={{convert|36.5|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|9|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=3 × drum boilers, Parsons impulse-reaction turbines, {{convert|44000|shp|abbr=on}}, 2 shafts
|Ship speed={{convert|36.5|kn}}
|Ship range=*{{convert|1030|nmi}} at {{convert|32|kn}}
*{{convert|2840|nmi}} at {{convert|8|kn}}
|Ship complement=7 officers, 190 sailors
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*At launch:
*6 × [[4.7 inch QF Mark IX & XII|4.7-inch Mark XII guns]] (3 twin turrets)
*2 × [[QF 4 inch Mk XVI naval gun|4-inch Mark XVI* guns]] (1 twin turret)
*1 × quad-barrelled [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder Mark VIII pom pom]]
*6 × [[20 mm Oerlikon]]s<BR />1 × quadruple [[British 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] torpedo tube set
*1 × [[depth charge]] rail
|Ship armour=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''HMAS ''Warramunga'' (I44/D123)''' was a {{sclass2|Tribal|destroyer (1936)|0}} [[destroyer]] of the [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN). Built during [[World War II]], the destroyer entered service in late 1942. She was initially assigned to convoy escort duties, but was assigned to the joint Australian-American [[Task Force 44|Task Force 74]] in 1943, and was involved in supporting numerous amphibious landings through the South-east Asian region until the end of the war. From 1950 and 1952, ''Warramunga'' fought in the [[Korean War]], then was converted into an anti-submarine destroyer. Returning to service in 1954, the destroyer was one of the first RAN ships to operate with the [[Far East Strategic Reserve]], and undertook two tours with the organisation before she was decommissioned in 1959 and sold for [[ship breaking]] in 1963.

==Description==
{{main|Tribal-class destroyer (1936)|l1=Tribal-class destroyer (1936)}}
''Warramunga'' was one of three {{sclass2|Tribal|destroyer (1936)|0}} destroyers built for the RAN during World War II. The ship had a displacement of 2,031 tons, a length of {{convert|377|ft}} [[length overall|overall]] and {{convert|355|ft}} [[between perpendiculars]], a beam of {{convert|36.5|ft}}, and a mean draught of {{convert|9|ft}}.<ref name=Cassells182>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 182</ref> Propulsion machinery consisted of three drum boilers feeding Parsons impulse-reaction turbines, which supplied {{convert|44000|shp}} to the two propeller shafts.<ref name=Cassells183>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 183</ref> The destroyer had a maximum speed of {{convert|36.5|kn}}.<ref name=Cassells182/> She could travel {{convert|1030|nmi}} at {{convert|32|kn}} or {{convert|2840|nmi}} at {{convert|8|kn}}.<ref name=Cassells183/> The ship's company consisted of 7 officers and 190 sailors.<ref name=Cassells183/>

When she was launched in 1942, the ship's main armament consisted of six [[4.7 inch QF Mark IX & XII|4.7-inch Mark XII guns]] sited in three twin turrets.<ref name=Cassells182/> This was supplemented by two [[QF 4 inch Mk XVI naval gun|4-inch Mark XVI* guns]] in a single twin turret, a quad-barrelled [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder Mark VIII pom pom]], six single [[20 mm Oerlikon]]s, a quadruple [[British 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] torpedo tube set, and a rail to launch [[depth charge]]s.<ref name=Cassells182/> During 1945, the six Oerlikons were replaced with six [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm Bofors]] guns, and two depth charge throwers were added.<ref name=Cassells182/> In 1949, half of the torpedo payload and most of the depth charge payload was removed, to allow for the installation of a new motor [[cutter (boat)|cutter]].<ref name=Cassells182/> In 1952, the aftmost 4.7-inch turret was replaced by a [[Squid (weapon)|Squid]] anti-submarine mortar.<ref name=Cassells183/>

==Construction and career==
''Warramunga'' was laid down by [[Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company]] at its [[Cockatoo Island Dockyard]] on 10 February 1940.<ref name=Cassells183/> The destroyer was launched on 7 February 1942 by the wife of [[Francis Michael Forde]], the [[Minister for Defence (Australia)|Minister for the Army]].<ref name=Cassells183/> ''Warramunga'' was commissioned into the RAN on 23 December 1942, the day after her completion.<ref name=Cassells183/> The ship's name comes from the [[Warramungu]] Aborigines.<ref name=Cassells182/>

===World War II===
''Warramunga'' was originally assigned to convoy escort duty between [[Queensland]] and [[New Guinea]].<ref name=Cassells183/>  During April and May 1943, the destroyer was docked for refit.<ref name=Cassells183/> On completion, she was assigned to [[Task Force 44|Task Force 74]], which was operating off the coast of Queensland.<ref name=Cassells183/> In July, the Task Force provided cover for [[Operation Chronicle]], the landings at [[Kiriwina]] and [[Woodlark Island]]s.<ref name=Cassells183/> After {{HMAS|Hobart|D63|6}} was damaged by a Japanese torpedo on 20 July, ''Warramunga'' and sister ship {{HMAS|Arunta|I30|6}} escorted the cruiser from Espiritu Santo to Sydney.<ref name=Cassells183/> After this, ''Warramunga'' escorted two convoys from Townsville to Milne Bay, then a force of [[United States Marine Corps|US Marines]] from Melbourne to [[Goodenough Island]].<ref name=Cassells183/> After a refit in Sydney, ''Warramunga'' escorted the cruiser {{HMAS|Shropshire}} to Brisbane, where the two ships joined Task Force 74.<ref name=Cassells183/> On 29 October, ''Warramunga'' shelled [[Gasmata]].<ref name=Cassells183/> On 15 December, the destroyer supported the [[Battle of Arawe#Landings|amphibious landings at Arawe]].<ref name=Cassells183/> On 26 December, ''Warramunga'' was involved in [[Battle of Cape Gloucester|pre-landing bombardments at Cape Gloucester]].<ref>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', pp. 183–4</ref>

[[File:HMAS Warramunga (I44) at anchor c1944.JPG|thumb|left|''Warramunga'' in 1944.]]

At the start of 1944, ''Warramunga'' helped cover the [[Landing at Saidor]], before leaving Task Force 74 for refits in Sydney.<ref name=Cassells184>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 184</ref> After rejoining the task fore at the start of February, ''Warramunga'' participated in amphibious landings in [[Operation Brewer|the Admiralties]], at [[Operation Reckless|Tanamera Bay]], [[Battle of Wakde|Wakde-Sarmi]], and [[Battle of Biak|Biak]].<ref name=Cassells184/> From May to July, the destroyer was assigned to patrol and escort duties.<ref name=Cassells184/> On 22 July, ''Warramunga'' and the cruiser {{HMAS|Australia|D84|6}} sailed to Sydney for refits and leave.<ref name=Cassells184/> Returning in August, the destroyer was involved in the [[Battle of Morotai|Morotai landings]] on 15 September.<ref name=Cassells184/> ''Warramunga'' was part of the covering force for the [[Battle of Leyte|Leyte landings]], and after ''Australia'' and {{USS|Honolulu|CL-48|6}} were damaged during the operation, escorted the two cruisers back to port for repairs.<ref name=Cassells184/>

At the start of 1945, while assigned to Manus Island, ''Warramunga''{{'}}s Oerlikon guns were replaced with Bofors taken from a disabled US Landing Ship Dock.<ref name=Cassells184/> During the [[invasion of Lingayen Gulf]] in January, ''Warramunga'' was nearly hit by a Japanese [[kamikaze]] aircraft, which instead crashed into the destroyer {{USS|Brooks|DD-232|6}}.<ref name=Cassells184/> On 1 May, the destroyer supported the [[Battle of Tarakan (1945)|landing at Tarakan]], then nine days later participated in landings at Wewak, before sailing to Australia for a two-month refit.<ref name=Cassells184/> On her return to Subic Bay, ''Warramunga'' was present for the Japanese surrender of the Philippines.<ref name=Cassells184/> The destroyer then sailed for Japan, and was present in [[Tokyo Bay]] on [[Victory over Japan Day]] (2 September 1945), when the [[Japanese Instrument of Surrender]] was signed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq69-2.htm |title=Allied Ships Present in Tokyo Bay During the Surrender Ceremony, 2 September 1945 |access-date=2007-01-13 |date=27 May 2005 |publisher=Naval Historical Center – U.S. Navy |quote=Taken from ''Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPAC/CINCPOA) A16-3/FF12 Serial 0395, 11 February 1946: Report of Surrender and Occupation of Japan'' |archive-date=5 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205021301/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq69-2.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The destroyer earned five [[battle honour]]s for her wartime service: "Pacific 1943–45", "New Guinea 1943–44", "Leyte Gulf 1944", "Lingayen Gulf 1945", and "Borneo 1945".<ref name=newhonours>{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |title=Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613184920/http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |archive-date=13 June 2011 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref><ref name=honourslist>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |title=Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614064156/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2011 |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref> After the end of World War II, ''Warramunga'' assisted in the repatriation of prisoners-of-war, and served four tours of duty with the [[British Commonwealth Occupation Force]].<ref>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', pp. 184–5</ref> On January 28, 1949, the ''Warramunga'' rescued 35 survivors from the ''[[SS Taiping (1926)|Taiping]]'', including the 2 people from the cargo ship ''Chienyuan''. Other passengers were rescued by the fishermen from the [[Zhoushan Islands]]. Some survivors were unnamed. One survivor died shortly after being rescued.

===Korean War===
[[File:USS Manatee (AO-58) refueling HMAS Warramunga (D123) off Korea on 27 June 1951 (NH 96261).jpg|thumb|{{USS|Manatee|AO-58|6}} refuels ''Warramunga'' during the [[Korean War]] on 27 June 1951.]]
On 6 August 1950, ''Warramunga'' sailed to join [[United Nations]] forces involved in the [[Korean War]].<ref name=Cassells185>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'' p. 185</ref> Most of the ship's first tour consisted of patrols and shore bombardments.<ref name=Cassells185/> In February 1951, ''Warramunga'' and the U.S. Navy destroyer {{USS|Wallace L. Lind|DD-703|6}} were sent to recover an intelligence party.<ref name=Cassells185/> En route, it was learned that the party had been captured by the North Koreans, who had set up the extraction to capture the recovery party, and when the two destroyers received the light signal, shelled the area and killed the North Koreans.<ref name=Cassells185/> During May and June, the destroyer underwent repairs for gale damage.<ref name=Cassells185/> On 6 September, she returned to Sydney and docked for refit.<ref name=Cassells185/>

On 11 January 1952, ''Warramunga'' sailed for a second Korean War tour.<ref name=Cassells185/> During this second tour, which concluded on 12 August, the ship operated on coastal patrols, and fired 4,151 4.7-inch shells.<ref name=Cassells185/> A sixth battle honour, "Korea 1950–52" was awarded to the destroyer to recognise these deployments.<ref name=honourslist/> On 12 November, the destroyer docked for conversion into an anti-submarine destroyer, including the replacement of her aft gun turret with a Squid mortar.<ref name=Cassells185/>

===Post-war===
''Warramunga'' returned to duty in February 1955, and remained in Australian waters until May 1955, when she sailed to the Far East for exercises with the Royal Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy.<ref name=Cassells185/> ''Warramunga'' stayed in the area, and became one of the first Australian warships assigned to the [[Far East Strategic Reserve]].<ref name=Cassells185/> She returned on 19 December.<ref name=Cassells185/> In April 1957, the destroyer was involved in [[South East Asia Treaty Organisation]] exercises.<ref name=Cassells186>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'' p. 186</ref> In 1958, she operated again with the Strategic Reserve.<ref name=Cassells186/>

==Decommissioning and fate==
''Warramunga'' paid off to reserve at Sydney on 7 December 1959.<ref name=Cassells186/> The ship was marked for disposal on 22 May 1961.<ref name=Cassells186/> She was sold to Kinoshita and Company Limited on 15 February 1963, and was towed to Japan for [[ship breaking]].<ref name=Cassells186/>

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last=Cassells |first=Vic |title=The Destroyers: Their Battles and Their Badges |year=2000 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=East Roseville, NSW |isbn=0-7318-0893-2 |oclc=46829686}}

==Further reading==
{{Commons category|HMAS Warramunga (I44) (ship, 1942)}}
* {{cite book|last=Brice|first=Martin H.|title=The Tribals|publisher=Ian Allan|date=1971|location=London|isbn=0-7110-0245-2}}
* {{cite book|last=English|first=John|title=Afridi to Nizam: British Fleet Destroyers 1937–43|publisher=World Ship Society|location=Gravesend, Kent|date=2001|id= {{Listed Invalid ISBN|0-905617-95-0}} |oclc=49841510 }}

{{Tribal class destroyer (1936)}}
{{Australia in the Korean War}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Warramunga}}
[[Category:Tribal-class destroyers (1936) of the Royal Australian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in New South Wales]]
[[Category:1942 ships]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of Australia]]
[[Category:Korean War destroyers of Australia]]