HMAS ''HDML 1321'', also known as ''Rushcutter'' was a 58-ton Harbour Defence Motor Launch of 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). Built by Purdon & Featherstone, Battery Point,

Hobart Hobart ( ; Nuennonne/Palawa kani: ''nipaluna'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Home to almost half of all Tasmanians, it is the least-populated Australian state capital city, and second-small ...

, Tasmania and commissioned into the RAN on 11 November 1943, being the first Australian-built HDML to be commissioned and the last HDML in RAN service. She was assigned to Z Special Unit and delivered commandos for the 1945 ill-fated raid on Muschu Island. She was later reclassified as a Seaward Defence Boat and put into reserve after the war. She was recommissioned as HMAS ''Rushcutter'' (ML 1321) in 1953 and used as an unarmed training vessel for the

Royal Australian Naval Reserve The Royal Australian Naval Reserve (RANR) is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Australian Navy in Australia. The current Royal Australian Naval Reserve was formed in June 1973 by merging the former RANR (Seagoing) and the Royal Australian ...

and

Australian Navy Cadets The Australian Navy Cadets (ANC) is a voluntary youth organisation owned and sponsored by the Royal Australian Navy. Together with the Australian Air Force Cadets and Australian Army Cadets, it forms the Australian Defence Force Cadets. It host ...

until 1970. Paid off in August 1971, she was converted to pleasure craft MV ''Rushcutter'' and is now based in Darwin. Rushcutter was moved from its mooring in Cossack Creek to the Small Boat Anchorage between Stokes Hill Wharf and the East Arm Wharf in 2016 while it was being offered for sale. It sank there on 19 October 2016. The hull, without any significant deck or hull structures, was raised and landed in July 2018; the wreck was bought by the conservation group from the owner, Ms Geddes, for a nominal AU$2.MV Rushcutter: World War II boat rescued from watery resting place in Darwin Harbour
Felicity James, ABC News Online, 2018-07-16 In mid July 2018, it was refloated by using buoyancy assistance and pumps, then removed from the water for further preservation.

Citations

References

* * * Butt, Phillipa (2016). Boat used in WWII sinks in Darwin Harbour. NT News. 23 October 2016. http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/boat-used-in-wwii-sinks-in-darwin-harbour/news-story/65c70e2db142f7c05f3edd24a004a4e3 {{DEFAULTSORT:HDML 1321 Patrol vessels of the Royal Australian Navy 1943 ships Ships built in Tasmania