HMAS ''Paterson'' (FY. 109) was a wooden auxiliary

minesweeper A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping. History The earliest known usage of ...

operated by the

Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of ...

(RAN) during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. She was built in 1919-20 by T.F. Morrison, Sinclair & Company at Balmain. The ship operated as a coastal steamer and was requisitioned by the RAN in 1941. She was returned to her owners on 26 November 1945 before sinking near

The Entrance, New South Wales The Entrance is a coastal town and suburb in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Central Coast Council local government area. At the , The Entrance had a population of 3,873 people. The town occupies a p ...

on 11 June 1951.

Operational history

The ship initially became part of Minesweeping Group 54 stationed in Melbourne, from November 12, 1941, ''Paterson'' operated in Minesweeping Group 50 in Sydney. From February 12, 1942, it belonged to Minesweeping Group 77 stationed in Newcastle. ''Paterson'' was requisitioned by the RAN for use as an

auxiliary Auxiliary may refer to: * A backup site or system In language * Auxiliary language (disambiguation) * Auxiliary verb In military and law enforcement * Auxiliary police * Auxiliaries, civilians or quasi-military personnel who provide support of ...

and commissioned on 1 May 1941. She was returned to her owners in 1947. She was beached off Norah Head on 17 November 1947, after springing a leak and was later refloated. On 11 June 1951, ''Paterson'' was wrecked after sinking again off The Entrance.

Citations

References

* http://www.navyhistory.org.au/1-may-1941/ 1919 ships Minesweepers of the Royal Australian Navy Shipwrecks of the Central Coast Region Interwar period ships of Australia Coastal trading vessels of Australia Iron and steel steamships of Australia {{australia-mil-ship-stub