HMAS ''Parramatta'' (U44) was a ''Grimsby'' class sloop 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 during the late 1930s, ''Parramatta'' operated in the Red Sea and Mediterranean during World War II. The sloop was

torpedo A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, and with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, s ...

ed by the on 27 November 1941, and sank with 138 of the 162 aboard.

Construction

''Parramatta'' was laid down on 9 November 1938 at the

Cockatoo Island Dockyard The Cockatoo Island Dockyard was a major dockyard in Sydney, Australia, based on Cockatoo Island. The dockyard was established in 1857 to maintain Royal Navy warships. It later built and repaired military and battle ships, and played a key role ...

at Sydney, New South Wales. She was launched on 10 June 1939 and commissioned into the

(RAN) on 8 April 1940.

Operational history

''Parramatta'' was assigned to the

Red Sea Force Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to Orange (colour), orange and opposite Violet (color), violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the ...

in July 1940, and arrived in Aden at the month's end.Stevens, ''A Critical Vulnerability'', p. 154 The majority of the ship's duties were escorting convoys. The sloop was later transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet.Goldrick, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 118 While in the Mediterranean, ''Parramatta'' was one of several warships used to supply and support the Allied forces besieged at Tobruk, nicknamed the Tobruk Ferry Service. While operating off Tobruk on 24 June 1941, ''Parramatta'', the British sloop , and the petrol carrier ''Pass of Balmaha'' were attacked by over 70 dive bombers. The Australian warship shot down three aircraft during the engagement without receiving major damage, but ''Auckland'' was sunk. ''Parramatta'' later helped recover the 164 survivors.

Loss

Early in the morning of 27 November 1941, ''Parramatta'' was escorting transports resupplying the Allied garrison at Tobruk, when she was hit by a single

from under the command of Hans Heidtmann.Goldrick, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 124 The damage was so significant that the sloop's captain only had time to order 'abandon ship' before ''Parramatta'' rolled to starboard and sank at . Only 24 aboard survived, with 138 killed. The sloop's wartime service was later recognised by the

battle honour A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags ("colours"), uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible. In European military t ...

"Libya 1941".

Notes

References

* * * * * * *

External links