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HMAS Parkes

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HMAS Parkes
HMAS Parkes.jpg
Navy photo
History
Name HMAS Parkes
Owner Royal Australian navy
Builder Evans Deakin & Co Ltd, Brisbane
Launched 30 Oct 943
Completed 25 May 1944
In service 25 May 1944
Out of service 17 Dec 1945
Fate sold for scrap 2 May 1957
General characteristics
Type Bathurst class
Tonnage 650 tons
Length 186 feet (56.69m)
Beam 31 feet (9.45m)
Depth 8 feet 6 inches (2.59m)
Propulsion 2,000 HP 2 shafts
Speed 15 knots
Capacity 85 crew



Remarks

One of 60 Australian minesweepers constructed during ww2 in Australian shipyards. Following working up trials, HMAS Parkes left for Milne Bay on 3 Jun 1944. For the next three months she escorted convoys between Thursday Island and Darwin with occasional side trips to Papua New Guinea, and was then transferred to Fremantle in late September 1944.


In November she returned to Darwin to provide convoy escorts for ships in the Arafura Sea, especially between Australia and Timor. HMAS Parkes landed the Australian occupying force there after hostilities had ceased, and she was also present for the formal surrender of Timor. Later, she was utilised to help evacuate Dutch ex-POWs to Australia. She continued to ferry supplies to Timor until she was sent to Fremantle, arriving there on 21 Nov 1945 where she was placed in reserve on 17 Dec 1945.


Battle Honours

  • Pacific 1941-45
  • New Guinea 1942-45

Crew members