HMAS Kara Kara was bought by the RAN for service as a boom gate vessel.
The steel vehicle ferry Kara Kara was built for a special service which was discontinued after the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932. It was then laid up and maintained in anticipation of an expected requirement by its owners, Sydney Ferries Ltd.
On 27 February 1941 Kara Kara was requisitioned by the RAN for naval service and was subsequently purchased on 6 January 1942.
After fitting out as a boom gate vessel and commissioning, it departed Sydney on 23 October 1941 for Darwin, where it arrived on 14 November 1941. It took up duty immediately on the maintenance of the Darwin boom defences and served in that capacity almost continuously until mid-1945.
Kara Kara came under heavy air attack at Darwin on 19 February 1942, when the Japanese Admiral Nagumo's carrier borne aircraft made the first enemy attack on the Australian mainland. It suffered several casualties, including two ratings killed by machine gun fire, and was fortunate to escape serious damage.
Those killed were Leading Cook Francis "Dick" Emms and Acting Petty Officer Frank Moore. Emms had formerly been a gunnery sailor and manned one of the ships machine guns. Despite being badly wounded his accurate fire drove off the attacking Japanese aircraft, however, he later died from his wounds. Leading Cook Emms was subsequently awarded a posthumous mention in dispatches for courage and devotion to duty in HMAS Kara Kara during an enemy air raid on Darwin on 19 February 1942
On 8 December 1945 Kara Kara paid off into reserve at Darwin. After 5 years in reserve it departed Darwin on 6 December 1950, arriving at Sydney on 22 December 1950. Without further sea going service it was transferred to unmaintained reserve at Waverton Depot on 30 December 1960 and was later used as a Reserve Amenities Ship at Sydney.
Kara Kara was sold on 15 February 1972 to Marrickville Metals, Marrickville, New South Wales, for breaking up. After being stripped of useful material the hulk was handed back to the RAN for use as a target. On 31 January 1973 Kara Kara was sunk, 40 miles east of Jervis Bay, as a target for RAN ships and aircraft.
Specifications
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Type |
Boom Gate Vessel |
---|---|
Pennant |
Y276 |
Builder |
J Crichton and Co Ltd, Saltney, near Chester, England |
Commissioned |
14 October 1941 |
Decommissioned |
8 December 1945 |
Dimensions & Displacement | |
Displacement | 525 tons |
Length | 199 feet |
Beam | 35 feet 6 inches |
Draught | 13 feet 6 inches |
Performance | |
Speed | 13 knots |
Complement | |
Crew | 39 |
Propulsion | |
Machinery | Triple expansion steam engines - 148 NHP |
Armament | |
Guns |
|
Awards | |
Battle Honours | DARWIN 1942-43 |