HMAS Kiama
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.jpg/300px-Kiama_(AWM_300888).jpg) HMAS Kiama in 1944 |
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| Career (Australia
New Zealand) |
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|---|---|
| Namesake: | Town of Kiama, New South Wales |
| Builder: | Evans Deakin & Co |
| Launched: | 3 July 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 26 January 1944 |
| Decommissioned: | 3 April 1946 (RAN) 19 August 1976 (RNZN) |
| Renamed: | HMNZS Kiama (1952) |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Bathurst class corvette |
| Displacement: | 790 tons (NZ Records post WWII) |
| Length: | 186 ft (57 m) |
| Beam: | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| Draught: | 8.5 ft (2.6 m) |
| Propulsion: | triple expansion engine, 2 shafts, 2,000 horsepower |
| Speed: | 15 knots at 1,750 hp |
| Complement: | 85 (65 officers and ratings NZ Records post WWII) |
| Armament: | 1 x 4-inch gun (2 x 40mm anti-aircraft guns NZ Records post WWII) |
HMAS Kiama (J353) /HMNZS Kiama (M353) was a Bathurst class corvette named for the town of Kiama on the south coast of New South Wales.
She was built by Evans Evans Deakin & Co at Brisbane in Queensland, launched on 3 July 1943 by Mrs. G. Lawson, wife of the Minister for Transport, and commissioned on 26 January 1944.
HMAS Kiama paid off to reserve on 3 April 1946 and was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy on 5 March 1952. She was renamed HMNZS Kiama and remained in New Zealand service until 19 August 1976.
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[edit] Ships history during WWII
The Kiama was one of four Bathurst class minesweepers which were given to new Zealand in 1952 by the Government of Australia. She was built by Evans Deakins of Brisbane, commissioned in January 1944, and began her war-time career on convoy duty with the Royal Australian Navy as HMAS Kiama off the Australian coast.
The Kiama later sailed to Milne Bay in New Guinea, where she again served on convoy and escort duties. During this period she used her for'ard 4 inch gun for shore bombardment in support of the Australian Army.
Kiama's next adventure was at Manus Island where she attacked a Japanese submarine. Although RAN records at the time were non-committal, information gained from the Japanese after the war show that the submarine was in fact sunk with the loss of all hands.
During this period, much of the Kiama's time was spent was spent working with the United States Navy's 7th Fleet and she took part in the landings at Manus, Hollandia, New Britain, and Moratai. Kiama also took part in the salvage and rescue of an American cargo ship which ran aground on Wakdy Reef.
More shore bombardments followed, again in support of the Australian Army, but this time at Bougainville in the Soloman Islands. When the war ended, HMAS Kiama took part in the surrender of the Japanese forces at Rabaul and shortly afterwards at Kabieng.
[edit] Ships Name
The ship's name, KIAMA, comes from the Aboriginal word "Kyamma." The word translates into English as ""Sea Devil," but there appears to be no satisfactory explanation as to why the letter "y" was changed to an "i" in the ship's name. The name should be pronounced as its original spelling would indicate - "Kie-amma" with the "a" short. The ships name became even more fractured during its service with the RNZN, where the word "Kiama" was always pronounced using Maori vowel sounds.
[edit] Ships Legend
Near the small Australian seaside town of Kiama in New South Wales, there is a famous blow-hole and when the sea is rough it is seen at its best. When the blow-hole was in full force the Aboriginals would say that Kiama was angry and they would take steps quickly to appease him.
[edit] RNZN History
During Kiama's service in the Royal New Zealand Navy, she was one of the busiest of the small ships in the Navy. Upon receipt of Kiama, her aft minesweeping gear was removed, as was her 4 inch gun. She was then armed with 2 x 40/60 mm Bofors guns, one for'ard and one aft.
The Kiama was converted into a Training Ship, and two mess-decks were installed aft and these held the overflow of the ships company in the upper flat, whilst the lower flat held about 30 trainees. Midshipmen classes were also trained onboard. Kiama was the last wooden decked ship in the RNZN and also the last New Zealand ship to use hammocks.
Kiama was also part of the 27th Fisheries Protection Squadron at times, and flew the appropriate pennant.
New Zealand singer [Allison Durbin] was considered the ships mascot, and a large signed photograph of Allison hung in the ships for'ard mess deck. It was often touched by sailors as a sign of good luck during during work-up trials and exercises.
As well, HMNZS Kiama took part in many "search and rescue" operations, as well as dropping government scientists and students to many of the off-shore islands that dot the coast of New Zealand. HMNZS Kiama made a historic return voyage to Australia and [Kiama] in 1967/68 and the ships company spoke very fondly of that voyage as the townspeople of Kiama treated them with great kindness.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Sailors pocket handout issued to all new members of HMNZS Kiama's ships company in the RNZN. (Subritzky Collection)
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