| Navy | The Royal Australian Navy |
| Type | Minesweeper |
| Class | Bathurst |
| Pennant | J 231 |
| Built by | Evans Deakin Ltd. (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) |
| Ordered | 24 Sep 1940 |
| Laid down | 7 Jun 1941 |
| Launched | 1 Dec 1941 |
| Commissioned | 12 Sep 1942 |
| End service | 26 Mar 1946 |
| History | Decommissioned to reserve on 26 March 1946. |
Commands listed for HMAS Bundaberg (J 231)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Lt.Cdr. Neville Drake Pixley, RANR | Sep 1942 | 1 Nov 1944 |
| 2 | T/A/Lt.Cdr. Charles Macdonald, RANR(S) | 2 Nov 1944 | 28 Nov 1945 |
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Notable events involving Bundaberg include:
3 Apr 1943
Convoy CO 85.
This convoy departed from Sydney and Newcastle on 3 April 1943.
The Sydney section was made up of the following transports; Juan de Fuca (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Talune (Australian, 2742 GRT, built 1930) and Thomas Kearns (American, 7194 GRT, built 1943).
On it's departure from Sydney, around 0900K/3, it was escorted by the minesweeper HMAS Bundaberg (Lt.Cdr. N.D. Pixley, RANR).
The Newcastle section was made up of the following transports; Age (Australian, 4734 GRT, built 1936), Carlisle (Australian, 1861 GRT, built 1919), Goulburn (Australian, 2367 GRT, built 1920), Mary Livanos (Greek, 4771 GRT, built 1938), Tai Yin (Norwegian, 6744 GRT, built 1929) and Wear (Australian, 1869 GRT, built 1911).
It was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. N.A. Mackinnon, RAN) which had departed Sydney around 0400K/3, to proceed to Newcastle and then pick up the Newcastle section and escort it to a rendezvous with the Sydney section.
Around 1630K/3, rendezvous was effected but HMAS Bundaberg had to return to Sydney due to one of her engine being defective. Minesweeper HMAS Mildura (Lt. C.J.P. Guille, OBE, RANR(S)) was then ordered to take over. She joined the convoy around 0350K/4.
Later two more transport coming from Port Kembla. These were the following; Colac (Australian, 3341 GRT, built 1920) and Michael L. Embiricos (Greek, 5202 GRT, built 1918).
Around 0800K/6, convoy OC 85 was met and both convoy exchanged escorts so HMAS Stuart and HMAS Mildura left the convoy and FFS Le Triomphant (Cdr. P.A.P. Ortoli) joined.
The convoy arrived at Melbourne later on the 6th.
10 Apr 1943
Convoy CO 87.
This convoy departed from Sydney and Newcastle on 3 April 1943.
The Sydney section was made up of the following transports; Cycle (Australian, 3952 GRT, built 1939), Montoro (British, 4057 GRT, built 1911) and Mundalla (Australian, 3018 GRT, built 1926).
On it's departure from Sydney it was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. N.A. Mackinnon, RAN).
The Newcastle section was made up of the following transports; Adelong (Australian, 3576 GRT, built 1936), Enchunga (Australian, 3362 GRT, built 1922), Michael J. Goulandris (Greek, 6672 GRT, built 1921) and William McArthur (Australian, 2393 GRT, built 1924).
It was escorted by the minesweeper HMAS Bundaberg (Lt.Cdr. N.D. Pixley, RANR).
The two sections merged around 1730K/10. The AA cruiser HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. E.J. van Holthe, RNN) also arrived near the convoy to provide cover during part of her passage to Fremantle.
The transport Iron Knob (Australian, 3349 GRT, built 1922) joined the convoy later coming from Port Kembla.
Around 0740K/13, convoy OC 87 was met and and both convoy exchanged escorts so HMAS Stuart and HMAS Bundaberg parted company and the A/S patrol vessel HMAS Doomba (T/A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Reading, RANR(S)) joined.
The convoy arrived at Melbourne later on 13 April 1943.
12 Apr 1943
Convoy OC 87.
This convoy departed from Melbourne 12 April 1943.
It was made up of the following transports; Carslisle (Australian, 1861 GRT, built 1919), Chios (Greek, 5643 GRT, built 1939), Colac (Australian, 3341 GRT, built 1920), Ilissos (Greek, 4724 GRT, built 1915), Iron Baron (Australian, 4584 GRT, built 1936), Talune (Australian, 2742 GRT, built 1930) and Wear (Australian, 1869 GRT, built 1911).
The auxiliary minelayer HMAS Bungaree (A/Cdr. N.K. Calder, RAN) was also part of the convoy.
On departure from Melbourne the convoy was escorted by the A/S patrol vessel HMAS Doomba (T/A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Reading, RANR(S)).
Around 0740K/13, convoy CO 87 was was met and and escorts were exchanged so HMAS Doomba parted company and the destroyer HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. N.A. Mackinnon, RAN) and minesweeper HMAS Bundaberg (Lt.Cdr. N.D. Pixley, RANR) joined.
At 0858K/15, HMAS Stuart picked up the crew of a crashed Anson aircraft from the sea near Point Perpendicular. As one of the crew was badly injured HMAS Stuart parted company with the convoy in the afternoon to race ahead to Sydney to seek treatment for the injured man.
Around 1300K/15, the Chios and Ilissos parted company and proceeded to Port Kembla, arriving there later the same day.
Around , the auxiliary A/S patrol vessel HMAS Yandra (Lt. J.A. Taplin, RANR(S)) joined the convoy so that HMAS Stuart could proceed ahead to Sydney to land the badly injured airmen. After doing so HMAS Stuart rejoined the convoy.
Around 2215K/15, the Carlisle and Talune were detached to Sydney.
The remainder of the convoy arrived at Newcastle around 0530K/16.
1 May 1943
Convoy CO 92.
This convoy departed Newcastle, NSW, on 1 May 1943.
It was made up of 12 merchant vessels.
On departure from Newcastle the convoy was escorted by the sloop HMAS Moresby (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.H. Brown, RANR(S)), minesweeper HMAS Warrnambool (Lt.Cdr. N.R. Read, RAN) and the auxiliary A/S vessel HMAS Bingera (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Little, RANR(S)).
Later the same day the Sydney section of 9 merchant vessels joined. As did their escort, the minesweepers HMAS Ballarat (T/Lt. D. MacLeman, RANR(S)) and HMAS Bundaberg (Lt.Cdr. N.D. Pixley, RANR).
The convoy now was made up of the following transports; Age (Australian, 4734 GRT, built 1936), Carlisle (Australian, 1861 GRT, built 1919), Corinda (Australian, 3376 GRT, built 1937), Dan Beard (British, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Doris (Greek, 4604 GRT, built 1917), Evi Livanos (Greek, 4839 GRT, built 1937), Iron Warrior (British, 3345 GRT, built 1923), Kooyong (Australian, 2296 GRT, built 1907), Lansing (British, 4422 GRT, built 1890), Maria Mitchell (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Mary Livanos (Greek, 4771 GRT, built 1938), Michael J. Goulandris Greek, 6669 GRT, built 1921), Michael L. Embriricos (Greek, 5202 GRT, built 1918), Mount Robson Park (American, 7132 GRT, built 1942), Murada (Australian, 3345 GRT, built 1921), Pegasus (Swedish, 9583 GRT, built 1930), Rahmani (British, 5463 GRT, built 1928), Tanda (British, 7174 GRT, built 1914), Wear (Australian, 1869 GRT, built 1911), William B. Ogden (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943) and William McArthur (Australian, 2393 GRT, built 1924).
During the night of 2/3 May the destroyer HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) joined as reinforcement for the escort. She had departed Sydney on 2 May 1943.
Around 1230K/3, the merchant vessel Lansing parted company with to convoy to proceed independently to Hobart.
Around 1042K/3, convoy OC 92 was encountered and the escorts, except HrMs Van Galen, changed over from one convoy to the other. The original escort of convoy OC 92 therefore now joined convoy CO 92. This was the A/S patrol vessel HMAS Doomba (T/A/Lt.Cdr. F.J. Reading, RANR(S)).
Convoy CO 92 arrived in Port Phillip on 4 May 1943.