HMAS Birchgrove Park
From Our Contribution
 Birchgrove Park displaying her unique pennant letters BP. (Frost Collection) | |
 HMAS Birchgrove Park underway while in service with the RAN. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMAS Birchgrove Park |
| Owner | Robert W Miller & Co |
| Builder | J Lewis & Sons, Aberdeen, Scotland |
| Yard number | 122 |
| Launched | 10 Sep 1930 |
| Completed | November 1930 |
| Out of service | 2 Aug 1956 |
| Fate | sank in a storm |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Collier |
| Tonnage | 640 tons |
| Length | 153.4 ft (46.7m) |
| Beam | 34.1 ft (10.4m) |
| Depth | 10.7 ft (3.2m) |
| Propulsion | Single screw |
| Speed | 10 knots (18.5 kmh) |
| Capacity | crew of 35 |
Armament:
- 1 x 12 pounder gun,
- 2 x Oerlikon 20mm guns,
- 1 x .303 Vickers machine gun
- Depth charges
Remarks
Requisitioned by the RAN on 9 May 1941 and Commissioned on 22 Aug 1941 as an auxiliary minesweeper. Found to be unsuitable for minesweeping she was used as a stores carrier. She was moved to Port Moresby in August 1943 and spent the next two years in New Guinea waters delivering stores before returning to Sydney in early 1945. She had a brief period out of service from 4 April until 24 July 1945 when she became a tender to HMAS Madang in New Guinea waters.
Following the Japanese surrender she was used in the reoccupation of Ambon and working with HMAS Westralia and HMAS Glenelg in the repatriation of POWs. Decommissioned in December 1945, she was returned to her owners on 20 Feb 1946 and returned to coal carrying duties. On 1 Aug 1956 she departed Newcastle with coal, and in a storm took on water, rolled over and sank. Ten of her 14 crew perisahed.
Armament:
- 1 x 12 pounder gun,
- 2 x Oerlikon 20mm guns,
- 1 x .303 Vickers machine gun
- Depth charges