HMAS Wyatt Earp

It was finally decided to employ it as an examination vessel, and it commissioned as HMAS Wongala at Sydney on 15 July 1940 under the command of Lieutenant Commander Frederick J B Blacker RANVR.

Wongala served at Port Adelaide until the examination service was suspended at that port in 1943. From November 1943 to March 1944, it served as guard ship at Whyalla, and patrolled the Whyalla, Port Pirie and Wallaroo areas and as base ship for the Naval Auxiliary Patrol. 

On 26 March 1944 Wongala departed Whyalla for Port Adelaide where it arrived the following day to await disposal. On 19 July 1944 it paid off at Port Adelaide.

Before a decision on its disposal was made the minister for the Navy received a request from the South Australian branch of the Boy Scouts Association on 3 March 1945, that the ship be made available for Sea Cadet training.

In February 1947 the association was notified by the Department of the Navy that the Commonwealth Government was considering renewing Antarctic exploration and the suitability of Wongala to participate. The association was requested to return the vessel to the resident Naval officer in Adelaide to be slipped and surveyed. After examination, Navy reported to the Department of External Affairs that the vessel was basically sound. Government approval was then given to its conversion for Antarctic exploration.

While this work was being carried out, the Naval Board decided on 16 July 1947 that, as Wyatt Earp that it had achieved international fame for its previous exploration work in the Antarctic, Wongala was to be renamed Wyatt Earp. It recommissioned on 17 November 1947 at Port Adelaide under the command of Commander Karl Oom OBE RAN.

Wyatt Earp embarked the scientific personnel, stores and its aircraft on 8 February 1948 and set course for Commonwealth Bay, Adelie Land.

Under favourable conditions, good progress was made until 13 February. By that date it was in position 53º16’S, 144º10’E. Gale force westerly winds which began on 12 February caused it to alter course to west-south-west and reduce speed the following day. Course was resumed on 14 February when the wind backed towards south.

By 18 February, through continuous gales, Wyatt Earp had reached 65º26’S, 143º35’E. There was a slight improvement in conditions and visibility and the first icebergs were seen.

On 19 February a freshening wind and thickening scattered pack ice compelled the ship to retreat. By the time it reached clear water the wind had reached hurricane force, compelling it to heave to. When the wind abated to gale force the next day, course was resumed southward.

Owing to favourable weather conditions from 25 March onwards, Wyatt Earp was able to reach Port Melbourne and tie up alongside Station Pier on 1 April, 12 hours ahead of schedule.

On its return it was decided that it would not be used for further Antarctic voyages. It finally paid off at Melbourne on 30 June 1948 and was sold to the Arga Shipping Company, Victoria. Under its former name of Wongala, the Arga Company used it for tramping between mainland Australian and Tasmanian ports.

In 1956 it was bought by the Ulverstone Shipping Company who renamed it Natone. After 18 months trading in Tasmanian waters it began service between Queensland ports with an occasional voyage south to Victoria.

In January 1959, en route from Cairns to Brisbane, it encountered 2 severe storms. It successfully weathered the first but during the second sprang a leak. The pumps could not cope with the intake of water which soon flooded the engine room. Sails were rigged and it managed to reach Rainbow Bay. Then the moorings failed to hold, and it began to drift.

During the night of 23 January 1959, it ran aground near Mudlow Rocks 6 miles north of Double Island Point Lighthouse. Its crew of 6 Australians and 12 Papua New Guineans reached the shore using its hatch covers as rafts.

Within a few weeks of grounding, the ship was broken up.