HMAS Allenwood
HMAS
Allenwood
 |
| Type |
Auxiliary Minesweeper |
|---|---|
| Pennant |
AL |
| Builder |
J Wright, Cape Hawke, NSW |
| Commissioned |
29 July 1941 |
| Decommissioned |
31 October 1944 |
| Fate |
Returned to owners on 1 October 1946. Declared a total loss after grounding 14 September 1951 |
| Dimensions & Displacement | |
| Displacement | 398 tons |
| Length | 147 ft |
| Beam | 35 ft |
| Draught | 8 ft 2 in |
| Performance | |
| Speed | 8.5 knots |
| Complement | |
| Crew | 4 officers, 26 ratings |
| Propulsion | |
| Machinery | Twin screws, compound |
| Armament | |
| Other Armament |
|
The wooden coastal cargo vessel Allenwood was built by Wrights of Tuncurry, Cape Hawke, NSW, in 1920.
Allenwood was one of many requisitioned by the RAN for wartime service.
She was requisitioned for naval service on 29 July 1941 as an auxiliary minesweeper. At that time the Royal Australian Navy was in desperate need of vessels capable of conducting minesweeping operations and Allenwood was one of many coastal steamers and fishing vessels requisitioned for that purpose. These small ships were manned by members of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve and formed into Groups of auxiliary minesweepers that were dispersed at principal Australian ports as follows:
- Group 50 - Sydney
- Group 54 - Melbourne
- Group 60 - Hobart
- Group 63 - Port Adelaide
- Group 66 - Fremantle
- Group 70 - Darwin
- Group 74 - Brisbane
- Group 77 - Newcastle
HMAS Allenwood commissioned on 16 September 1941 under the command of Lieutenant FC Pilcher, RANR(S), and served chiefly on the Eastern Australian seaboard.
Allenwood prior to her conversion to an auxiliary minesweeper.
Ship’s Movements
| Port | Arrived | Departed | Remarks |
| Sydney | 27 Sep 1941 | ||
| Sydney | 3 Oct 1941 | 22 Mar 1942 | |
| Newcastle | 17 May 1942 | 12 Jun 1942 | |
| Newcastle | 27 Jun 1942 | 27 Jul 1942 | |
| Newcastle | 7 Aug 1942 | 7 Aug 1942 | |
| Sydney | - | 24 Oct 1942 | For Port Stephens |
| Port Stephens | 25 Oct 1942 | - | |
| Sydney | 19 Dec 1942 | 10 Jan 1943 | For Melbourne |
| Melbourne | 19 Jan 1943 | - | |
| Williamstown | 24 Jan 1943 | - | |
| Melbourne | - | 2 July 1943 | |
| Westernport | 30 May 1944 | - | |
| Westernport | 27 Aug 1944 | - | |
| Melbourne | 15 Oct 1944 | For Eden | |
| Eden | 17 Oct 1944 | 18 Oct 1944 | |
| Eden | 18 Oct 1944 |
Allenwood paid off on 31 October 1944 and was subsequently returned to her owners A Taylor and Co Ltd.
Allenwood nested alongside HMA Ships Ping Wo and Westralia, Salamander Bay, NSW, circa November 1942.
On 14 September 1951 Allenwood was declared a total loss after being wrecked on the Central Coast of New South Wales, some five miles north of Norah Head. All crew members were saved and the wreck was later sold.
Allenwood aground on the Central Coast of New South Wales, 1951.
