HMAS Gunbar
From Our Contribution
 Navy photo | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMAS Gunbar |
| Owner | North Coast Steam Navigation Co |
| Builder | Ardrossan Dockyard Ltd, North Ayrshire, Scotland |
| Completed | 1911 |
| In service | 18 Dec 1940 |
| Out of service | 30 Jun 1943 |
| In service | 21 Oct 1943 |
| Out of service | 3 Dec 1945 |
| Reclassified | Boom Gate Vessel |
| Fate | sold on 25 Jul 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Auxiliary minesweeper |
| Tonnage | 480 tons |
| Length | 150 feet |
| Beam | 30 feet |
| Depth | 8 feet 7 inches |
| Speed | 10 knots |
| Capacity | crew of 4 officers and 23 ratings |
Remarks
Armament comprised 1 x 12 pounder; 1 (quad) 0.5 inch Vickers gun; and 2 depth charge chutes.
The ship was requisitioned on 30 Sep 1940 at a charter rate of £120 per month. After commissioning served in south east coast waters before transferring to Fremantle in April 1941 where she served until January 1942 when she was transferred to Darwin.
Gunbar was in Darwin harbour during the first air raid by the Japanese on 19 Feb 1942, with her crew suffering nine casualties. Despite her casualties she assisted in the rescue of crew from the MV Portmar. Gunbar continued to be base din Darwin until April 1943 when she returned to Sydney where she was paid off to reserve.
The Gunbar was brought out of the reserve and reactivated, this time as a Boom Gate Vessel at the Port Kembla harbour. She was purchased by the RAN early in 1946, and later that year sold to AJ Ellerker Co of Sydney.
Battle Honours
- Pacific 1941-45
- Darwin 1942-43
Crew members
- William George Berry 4 Dec 1940 -30 Apr 1942