The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) did not participate as much in the Battle of the Atlantic as the other allied navies. This has its obvious reasons of course (the Pacific war being somewhat closer and no less important to Australia).
The RAN did however take a part in the battle and is credited with sinking one U-boat. They hunted the Bismarck and took also part in the D-Day landings.
In 1939 its strength was a mere 7 ships (1 heavy cruiser, 3 light cruisers, 4 destroyers and 2 sloops) and one destroyer in reserve. When the war ended they had a fleet of 1 heavy cruiser, 3 light cruisers, 11 destroyers, 6 frigates, 2 sloops, 53 corvettes, 1 minelayer and 73 other vessels.
Losses
The RAN lost 2,176 men and women during the war. This was 5,5% of its peak strength on 30 June, 1945 of 39,650 personnel. Among the ships lost were HMAS Canberra, HMAS Sydney, HMAS Voyager, HMAS Yarra and HMS Perth.
The sloop Parramatta was sunk by U-559 on 27 Nov, 1941 with the loss of 139 lives.
Victories
The RAN destroyer HMAS Nestor sank the U-127 on 14 Dec, 1941. HMAS Wollongong also helped sinking the U-617 on 12 Sept, 1943. RAN forces also sank 2 Italian and 3 Japanese submarines.
Ships of the Royal Australian Navy on 3 Sept 1939
Heavy Cruisers
Australia not yet commissioned from refit
Canberra - in commission
Light Cruisers
Perth in commission RN station ship in the West Indies
Sydney in commission
Hobart in commission
Adelaide commissioned from reserve 1st September 1939 still loading ammunition
Destroyers
Stuart in commission
Waterhen - commissioned from reserve 1st September 1939 still loading ammunition
Vampire in commission
Vendetta in commission
Voyager in commission
Sloops
Swan in commission
Yarra in commission
Building
Destroyer - Arunta
Sloop Warrego
Fitting out
Sloop Parramatta
(Gill, 1957)
Sources
Gill, G. Hermon (1957). Australia in the War of 19391945. Volume I Royal Australian Navy, 19391945.
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Books dealing with this subject include
Australia's Colonial Navies. Gillett, Ross, 1982. |