HMAS Bendigo
From Our Contribution
 Navy photo c 1942 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMAS Bendigo |
| Owner | Royal Australian Navy |
| Builder | Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Co Ltd, Sydney |
| Launched | 1 March 1941 |
| Completed | 9 May 1941 |
| In service | 10 May 1941 |
| Out of service | 27 Sep 1946 |
| Fate | Served in the Navy of the Chinese Peoples Republic as Luoyang |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Bathurst Class Australian Minesweeper |
| Tonnage | 650 tons |
| Length | 56.69m |
| Beam | 9.45m |
| Depth | 2.59m |
| Propulsion | Twin shaft 1,750 HP |
| Speed | 15 knots (27.8 kmh) |
| Capacity | Crew 85 |
Remarks
One of the 60 Australian minesweepers built during WW2. Bendigo was built for the British Admiralty but staffed and run by the Australian Navy. She began her war career with a two month stint at Darwin before sailing for Singapore where she was used on sweeping, escort and patrol duties. Japanese bombers regularly flew overhead but it was not until 2 Feb 1942 that she became a target, suffering extensive scarring from bomb shrapnel. On 8 Feb 1942, in company, she sailed for Batavia from where she operated until 1 March when she departed for Fremantle.
Back in Australian waters HMAS Bendigo was tasked with escorting convoys from Australia to New Guinea and along the east coast until February 1944 when she began escort duties in the New Guinea area, such as Milne Bay to Manus island. She remained in New Guinea waters other than for brief refits until March 1945 when she arrived in Philippine waters attached to a British Fleet. HMAS Bendigo participated in the capture of Okinawa between March and May 1945.
At the conclusion of the war she was sent to Hong Kong to act as a minesweeper until late November 1945 when she sailed for Australia berthing in Williamstown on 20 Dec 1945. On 6 Feb 1946 she arrived in Sydney where she was put on care and maintenance before being paid off on 27 Sep 1946. Sold to Ta Hing Co (Hong Kong) on 5 May 1947 for civilian use as Cheung Hing, she was later acquired by the Navy of the People's Liberation Army and renamed as Luoyang She was last mentioned in Jane's Fighting Ships in the 1987/88 edition.
Armament - Guns
- 1 x 102mm gun
- 3 x 20mm Oerlikons (later 4 then 2)
- 1 x 40mm Bofors (installed later);
- Machine guns.
Other Armament
- Depth charge chutes and throwers
Battle Honours
- Pacific 1941-45
- New Guinea 1942-44
- Okinawa 1945
Crew members
- Victor Charles Every 14 Apr 1941 to 19 Nov 1944