HMAS Strahan was one of 60 Australian Minesweepers (commonly known as corvettes) built during the Second World War in Australian shipyards as part of the Commonwealth Government’s wartime shipbuilding program. Twenty were built on Admiralty order but crewed and commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Thirty-six (including Strahan) were built for the RAN and 4 for the Royal Indian Navy.

Strahan commissioned at Newcastle on 14 March 1944 under the command of Lieutenant Commander Leonard D Williams RANR.

Following a period of trials, Strahan proceeded in May 1944 to the New Guinea area where it was employed on escort and anti-submarine patrol duties.

Strahan conducted escort and anti-submarine patrol duties in New Guinea after commissioning.
Strahan conducted escort and anti-submarine patrol duties in New Guinea after commissioning.

 

In October 1944, while in harbour at Morotai, enemy planes bombed the harbour and adjacent targets. Strahan engaged and drove off with main armament and automatic weapons one fighter bomber which attacked its.

Strahan returned to Sydney in April 1945 and then proceeded to Adelaide in May for a refit. On completion it returned to the New Guinea area and resumed escort and patrol duties in the Morotai and Biak areas. In June 1945 Strahan went into action against Japanese land forces for the first time when it bombarded gun emplacements on Kairiru Island.

It then performed escort duties to Tarakan in Borneo and back to Morotai. On the way from Tarakan in August 1945 it sank a Japanese barge and picked up 3 survivors of a crew of 10.

Following the end of hostilities, Strahan proceeded to Hong Kong where it was engaged in minesweeping and anti piracy patrols as a unit of the 21st Minesweeping Flotilla.

Strahan conducted post-war minesweeping duties.
Strahan conducted postwar minesweeping duties.

 

While on patrol on 26 September it struck a mine and had to be towed into Hong Kong Harbour. After repairs, it returned to Australia in November and paid an official visit to its namesake town in Tasmania on 14 November 1945.

Specifications

Class
Bathurst Class
Type
Australian Minesweeper
Pennant
J363
Builder
New South Wales State Dockyard, Newcastle
Laid Down
9 October 1942
Launched
12 July 1943
Launched by
Mrs Cahill, wife of the New South Wales Minister for Public Works and Local Government
Commissioned
14 March 1944
Decommissioned
25 January 1946
Dimensions & Displacement
Displacement 815 tons
Length 186 feet 2 inches
Beam 31 feet
Draught 8 feet 6 inches
Performance
Speed 15.5 knots
Propulsion
Machinery Triple expansion, 2 shafts
Horsepower 2,000
Armament
Guns
  • 1 x 4-inch gun
  • 1 x Bofors
  • Machine guns
Other Armament
  • 2 x Oerlikons
  • Depth charges
Awards
Battle Honours
  • PACIFIC 1941-45
  • NEW GUINEA 1942-44