HMAS Murchison
From Our Contribution
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMAS Murchison |
| Owner | Royal Australian Navy |
| Builder | Evens Deakin & Co, Brisbane |
| Launched | 31 Oct 1944 |
| Completed | 16 Dec 1945 |
| In service | 17 Dec 1945 |
| Out of service | 31 Jan 1956 |
| Fate | scrapped September 1962 in Japan |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Modified Bay Class Frigate |
| Tonnage | 1,537 tons |
| Length | 301 feet 7 inches (91.91m) |
| Beam | 36 feet 6 inches (11.13m) |
| Depth | 12 feet (3.66m) |
| Propulsion | twin shaft triple expansion 5,500 HP |
| Speed | 19.5 knots |
| Capacity | 175 crew |
Remarks
Built to the Royal navy's Bay Class Frigate design. Following her commissioning HMAS Murchison proceeded to Morotai then Ternate and Celebes with the War Graves Commission. In Jan 1946 she proceeded to Japan as part of the occupying forces before returning to Australian in May 1946. From then until she was sent ot Japan for service in the Korean War, HMAS Murchison was used as a training ship.
She entered the Korean conflict with patrol duties in May 1951 She later participated in patrols that included bombardment tasks. She was also to play a key part in a series of patrols up the Han River and bombardment of enemy forces. In total she fired 1,100 rounds of 4 inch ammunition. She was to later take out entrenched artillery positions, including one designed to destroy her - instead she was holed above the water line several times but was able to neutralise the enemy position. She was to spend eight months on Korean stations before returning to Australia, At home she found that her next tasks was to participate in the British atomic tests in the Monte Bello Islands.
In October 1953 HMAS Murchison returned to Korea to provide security patrols until July 1954 after which she returned to Australia and was again used as a training ship until paid off into reserve on 31 Jan 1956.
Battle Honours
- Korea 1950-53