| Navy | The Royal Australian Navy |
| Type | Minesweeper |
| Class | Bathurst |
| Pennant | J 201 |
| Built by | Williamstown Dockyard (Williamstown, Victoria, Australia) |
| Ordered | 5 Jun 1940 |
| Laid down | 16 Oct 1940 |
| Launched | 22 Apr 1941 |
| Commissioned | 16 Jan 1942 |
| Lost | 18 Oct 1944 |
| Loss position | 6° 04'S, 147° 45'E |
| History | On 18 October 1944 HMAS Geelong (Lt. Maxwell Ernest Mathers, RANR ) sank following a collision with the American tanker York (10.488 tons) in position 06°04'S, 147°45'E, north of Langemak, New Guinea. There were no casualties. The survivors were picked up by the York and landed at Langemak. |
Commands listed for HMAS Geelong (J 201)
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. Colin George Hill, RANR(S) | 18 Sep 1941 | 22 Apr 1944 |
| 2 | Lt. Maxwell Ernest Mathers, RANR | 23 Apr 1944 | 18 Oct 1944 |
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Notable events involving Geelong include:
22 Jun 1942
Convoy CO 5.
This convoy departed Newcastle, NSW on 22 June 1942.
This convoy was made up of the following transports; Age (Australian, 4734 GRT, built 1936), Arkaba (Australian, 4212 GRT, built 1924), Beltana (Australian, 3043 GRT, built 1937), Bundaleer (Australian, 4238 GRT, built 1939), City of Lyons (British, 7063 GRT, built 1926), Iron Knob (Australian, 3349 GRT, built 1922), Kowarra (Australian, 2125 GRT, built 1916), Montoro (British, 4057 GRT, built 1911), Time (Australian, 3316 GRT, built 1913) and William McArthur (Australian, 2393 GRT, built 1924).
On departure from Newcastle the convoy was escorted by the minesweeper HMAS Geelong (Lt. C.G. Hill, RANR(S)).
Around two hours after departure the destroyer HMAS Stuart (Cdr. S.H.K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN) joined having departed Sydney earlier in the day.
The convoy arrived at Melbourne on 25 June 1942. (1)
27 Jun 1942
Concoy OC 6.
This convoy departed Melbourne on 27 June 1942.
It was made up of the transports; Age (Australian, 4734 GRT, built 1936), Allara (Australian, 3279 GRT, built 1924), Astoria (Australian, 4454 GRT, built 1926), Barwon (Australian, 4239 GRT, built 1939), Coolana (Australian, 2197 GRT, built 1921), Corio (Australian, 3346 GRT, built 1919), Delane (British, 6054 GRT, built 1938), Dilga (Australian, 3308 GRT, built 1920), George M. Livanos (Greek, 3831 GRT, built 1928), Matthew Flinders (Australian, 2235 GRT, built 1938), Mundalla (Australian, 3018 GRT, built 1926), Oakbank (Australian, 5154 GRT, built 1926), Skagerak (Norwegian, 4244 GRT, built 1936), Theofano Livanos (Greek, 4815 GRT, built 1937), Ulooloo (Australian, 3236 GRT, built 1924) and William McArthur (Australian, 2393 GRT, built 1924).
The depot ship HMAS Ping Wo (T/Lt. A.J. Perry, RANR(S)) was also part of the convoy.
The convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Stuart (Cdr. S.H.K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN) and the minesweeper HMAS Geelong (Lt. C.G. Hill, RANR(S)).
The convoy arrived at Newcastle, NSW on 1 July 1942. (2)
14 Aug 1942
Combined convoy A 4 / B 4.
This convoy departed Moreton Bay on 10 August 1942.
It was made up of the following transports; Anhui (British, 3414 GRT, built 1925), Bantam (Dutch, 3322 GRT, built 1930), Cremer (Dutch, 4608 GRT, built 1926), John Hart (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942) and Pennant (American, 6576 GRT, built 1937).
On departure from Moreton Bay the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Stuart (Cdr. S.H.K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN) and the minesweeper HMAS Geelong (Lt. C.G. Hill, RANR(S)).
HMAS Stuart and HMAS Geelong parted company around 1200K/15, in the Capricorn Channel and the convoy continued on unescorted.
Around 0900K/17, the sloop HMAS Swan (Cdr. G.C. Oldham, RAN) and corvette HMAS Cessnock (A/Lt.Cdr. T.S. Marchington, RANR(S)) joined the convoy coming from Townsville. Also coming from Townsville were two more transports, these were the Daniel Boone (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942) and Maetsuycker (Dutch, 4131 GRT, built 1936) while the Pennant was detached to Townsville.
Around 1530K/19, the mineweeper HMAS Warrnambool (T/Lt. E.J. Barron, RANR(S)) made rendezvous with the convoy in position 12.13'S, 147.42'E and then took the transports of convoy B 4 with her to Port Moresby, these were the Daniel Boone, John Hart and Maetsuyker. They arrived at Port Moresby around 0830K/20. They had been joined earlier on the 20th by the minesweeper Colac (Lt. W.S. Reynolds, RANR).
Convoy A 4, made up of the Anhui, Bantam and Cremer meanwhile continued on to Fall River (Milne Bay) escorted by HMS Swan and HMAS Cessnock.
Convoy A 4 arrived at Fall River around noon on 21 August 1942.
16 Aug 1942
Around 1230K/16, HMAS Stuart (Cdr. S.H.K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN) and HMAS Geelong (Lt. C.G. Hill, RANR(S)) arrived at Brisbane from convoy escort duty. (3)
13 Nov 1942
Around 1200L/13, Task Force 44, made up of the light cruisers HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral V.A.C. Crutchley, VC, DSC, RN), USS Phoenix (Capt. J.R. Redman, USN) and the destroyers USS Bagley (T/Cdr. G.A. Sinclair, USN), USS Mugford (T/Cdr. E.W. Young, USN) and USS Patterson (T/Cdr. W.C. Schultz, USN) arrived at Cid Harbour.
Around 1400L/13, the destroyer USS Selfridge (T/Cdr. C.D. Reynolds, USN, with Capt. C.W. Flynn, USN, commanding Destroyer Squadron 4 on board) joined.
Around 1530L/13, the destroyer USS Helm (T/Cdr. C.E. Carroll, USN) joined.
The following day Task Force 44 fuelled from the chartered tanker Aase Maersk (British, 6184 GRT, built 1930) after she had arrived from Brisbane escorted by HMAS Geelong (A/Lt.Cdr. C.G. Hill, RANR(S)).
Around 1900L/14, the destroyer USS Henley (T/Cdr. E.K. van Swearingen, USN) joined. (4)
26 Feb 1943
Convoy TS 17.
Convoy TS 17.
This convoy departed Townsville on 25 February 1943.
It was made up of the transports; Cleveland Abbe (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), David Bushnell (American, 7181 GRT, built 1942) and Henry Dearborn (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942).
The RFA tanker Bishopsdale (8406 GRT, built 1937) was also part of the convoy.
On departure from Townsville, around 0715K/26, the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. N.A. Mackinnon, RAN).
HMAS Stuart however soon parted company due to suspected turbine trouble and anchored in Cleveland Bay.
The convoy continued unescorted until joined by the minesweeper HMAS Geelong (A/Lt.Cdr. C.G. Hill, RANR(S)) later in the day.
The convoy arrived at Moreton Bay in the morning of the 1st of March. The Bishopdale did not enter and proceeded onwards to Sydney. (5)
18 May 1943
Convoy BT 60.
This convoy departed Caloundra (near Brisbane) for Townsville on 18 May 1943.
This convoy was made up of the transports; Admiral Halstead (American, 3545 GRT, built 1920), Giang Ann (British, 1265 GRT, built 1902), Sarpen (Norwegian, 1864 GRT, built 1912), Van den Bosch (Dutch, 2354 GRT, built 1903) and William M. Meredith (American, 7180 GRT, built 1943).
On departure from Caloundra the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. J. Plunkett-Cole, RAN), minesweeper HMAS Geelong (A/Lt.Cdr. C.G. Hill, RANR(S)), submarine chaser USS SC 748 (Lt.(jg.) M.B. Stone, Jr., USNR) and motor launch HMAS ML 425 (Lt. G.S.H. Champion, RANR(S)).
Around 2359K/19, HMAS Vendetta parted company with the convoy and set course to return to Brisbane.
The convoy arrived at Townsville on 21 May 1943. (6)
11 Oct 1943
Around 2255L/11, the landing ship HMAS Kanimbla (A/Cdr. N.H. Shaw, RAN) departed Sydney to put to sea. She was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. J. Plunkett-Cole, RAN).
They were joined around 0700L/12 by the attack cargo ship USS Algorab (T/Capt. J.R. Lannom, USN) and landing ships HMAS Manoora (A/Capt. C.C. Baldwin, RAN) and HMAS Westralia (Cdr. A.V. Knight, RD, RANR(S)) which also came from Sydney.
Course was then set for Moreton Bay (Brisbane).
Around 2100L/13, the convoy was joined by the minesweepers HMAS Geelong (A/Lt.Cdr. C.G. Hill, RANR(S)) and HMAS Stawell (T/Lt. S.J. Griffith, RANR(S)) as additional escorts.
They arrived in Moreton Bay around 0900L/14. (7)
14 Nov 1943
Convoy QL 29.
This convoy departed Brisbane on 14 November 1943.
It was made up of the following transports; Ban Hong Liong (British, 1671 GRT, built 1908), Cardross (Australian, 2515 GRT, built 1919), Floyd Bennett (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Francis G. Newlands (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Frank Joseph Irwin (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), John Alden (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), John Jacob Astor (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Murada (Australian, 3345 GRT, built 1921), Point San Pedro (American, 3303 GRT, built 1920), Tambua (Australian, 3566 GRT, built 1938) and William Beaumont (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943).
On departure from Brisbane it was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. J. Plunkett-Cole, RAN), minesweepers HMAS Geelong (A/Lt.Cdr. C.G. Hill, RANR(S)), HMAS Lithgow (T/Lt. C.T.G. Haultain, RANR(S)) and the patrol vessel SC-741 (Lt. C.K.S. Latus, USNR).
Around 2000L/15, near Lady Elliot Island, HMAS Vendetta and HMAS Geelong parted company to return to Brisbane. [No details on the other two escorts.]
HMAS Vendetta arrived at Brisbane around 1220L/16.
HMAS Geelong arrived at Brisbane around 1330L/16.
The convoy arrived at Townsville on 17 November 1943.
20 Jul 1944
Convoy BG 102.
This convoy departed Langemak Bay (Cape Crepin) at 1700K/20 for Humboldt Bay (Hollandia).
The convoy was made up of the following transports; Joseph P. Bradley (American, 7191 GRT, built 1943), Norlago (American, 7207 GRT, built 1944) and Sacajawea (American, 7180 GRT, built 1942).
The landing ship LST-456 (T/Lt. G.W. Prue, USN) and gasoline tanker USS Pasquotank (1139 GRT, built 1943) (Lt. A.R. Norris, USNR) were also part of the convoy.
On departure from Langemak Bay the convoy was escorted by the minesweepers HMAS Ararat (T/Lt. N.M. Muzzell, RANR(S)), HMAS Bendigo (T/Lt.Cdr. H.A. Litchfield, RANR(S)), HMAS Glenelg (T/Lt. L. Robson, RANR(S)), HMAS Geelong (Lt. M.E. Mathers, RANR) and YMS-334 (Lt.Cdr. H.T. Loehr, Jr., USNR).
Around 1640K/22, the destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. J.S. Mesley, RAN) joined the convoy. She came from Aitape.
The convoy arrived at Hunboldt Bay around 0800K/23.
23 Jul 1944
Around 1730K/23, a convoy departed Humboldt Bay (Hollandia) for Biak.
This convoy was made up of the transports; Edward Lander (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944) and Stephen M. White (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942).
The gasoline tanker USS Pasquotank (1139 GRT, built 1943) (Lt. A.R. Norris, USNR) was also part of the convoy.
On depature from Humboldt Bay the convoy escorted by the destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. J.S. Mesley, RAN) and the minesweepers HMAS Geelong (Lt. M.E. Mathers, RANR) and HMAS Glenelg (T/Lt. L. Robson, RANR(S)).
Around 0640K/24, HMAS Geelong was detached to Wakde.
The convoy arrived at Biak around 0830K/24. (8)
Sources
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Geelong for June 1942 + War diary Naval Officer in Charge, Sydney for June 1942
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Geelong for June 1942
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Stuart from 7 to 27 August 1942
- Report of proceedings of Task Force 44
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Stuart from 22 January to 3 March 1943 + Report of proceedings of HMAS Geelong for February 1943
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Vendetta for May 1943
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Vendetta for October 1943
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Vendetta for July 1944