HMAS Ipswich (J186)

HMAS "Ipswich" (J186/B244/A118), the first Royal Australian Navy vessel named after the city of Ipswich, Queensland, was one of 60 "Bathurst" class corvettes constructed during World War II and one of 20 built on Admiralty order but manned by personnel of and later commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Ipswich_(I) |title=HMAS Ipswich (I) |accessdate=2008-09-15 |publisher=Sea Power Centre Australia] "Ipswich" was later operated by the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNN) as HNLMS "Morotai", and by the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) as KRI "Hang Tuah". The ship was destroyed in Indonesian service by mercenaries.cite book |last=Lind |first=Lew |title=The Royal Australian Navy - Historic Naval Events Year by Year |origyear=1982 |edition=2nd |year=1986 |publisher=Reed Books |location=Frenchs Forest, NSW |isbn= |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages=p 236 |chapter= |chapterurl= |quote= ]

Construction

"Ipswich" was laid down by Evans Deakin & Co at Brisbane in Queensland on 6 March 1941. She was launched on 11 August 1941 by Mrs. H. S. Foll, wife of the Minister for the Interior, and commissioned on 13 June 1942.

Operational history

RAN

"Ipswich" was employed from commissioning until 3 November 1942 as a convoy escort in Australian waters. From 3 November 1942 until 21 January 1945, "Ipswich" was assigned to the British Eastern Fleet, primarily serving in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, but spending May to October 1943 in the Mediterranean. During this time, "Ipswich" was credited with shooting down a twin engined bomber near Syracuse on 25 July 1943, and on 11 February 1944 worked with HMAS "Launceston" and HIMS "Jumna" to sink Japanese submarine "RO-110".

Upon leaving the British Eastern Fleet, "Ipswich" returned to Australia, where she was assigned to the British Pacific Fleet. "Ipswich" was present in Tokyo Bay on Victory over Japan Day (2 September 1945), when the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed. [cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq69-2.htm |title=Allied Ships Present in Tokyo Bay During the Surrender Ceremony, 2 September 1945 |accessdate=2007-01-13 |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=27 May 2005|publisher=Naval Historical Center - U.S. Navy |quote=Taken from "Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPAC/CINCPOA) A16-3/FF12 Serial 0395, 11 February 1946: Report of Surrender and Occupation of Japan"]

RNN

"Ipswich" paid off from RAN service on 5 July 1946 and was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy and renamed HNMLS "Morotai".

TNI-AL

"Morotai" was transferred to the Indonesian Navy in 1949 and renamed KRI "Hang Tuah". The ship was attacked and sunk on 28 April 1958 by an American mercenary flying a B-25 Mitchell bomber. The mercenary had been hired for $US5,000 by a group rebelling against the Indonesian government.

References