HMAS Westralia (F95)

HMAS ''Westralia'' (F95/C61) was an auxiliary cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Built by Scottish shipbuilder Harland and Wolff and completed in 1929, ''Westralia'' was operated by the Huddart Parker company until 1939, when she was requisitioned for service with the RAN as an Armed Merchant Cruiser (AMC). Fitted with guns and commissioned in early 1940, ''Westralia'' was initially used to escort convoys in the Pacific and Indian oceans. In November 1940, the largest mutiny in RAN history occurred aboard the ship, with 104 men charged.

In 1943, ''Westralia'' was converted into a Landing Ship, Infantry (LSI). The ship was used to transport units of the United States Army and United States Marine Corps, and took part in numerous amphibious landings. After being used to repatriate personnel at the end of the war, ''Westralia'' was decommissioned in 1946. Before she could be returned to her owners, the vessel was requisitioned again, this time for use as a troop transport supporting the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF). ''Westralia'' was not commissioned again, and operated by a merchant navy crew until 1951, when she was returned to Huddart Parker. In 1959, the ship was sold to the Asian and Pacific Shipping Co Ltd for use as a livestock carrier. Initially operated as ''Delfino'', she was renamed ''Woolambi'' in 1960, before being sold for scrap in 1961.

Construction and acquisition

''Westralia'' was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Govan for the Huddart Parker company as a twin screw motor vessel.Royal Australian Navy, ''HMAS Westralia (I)'' Assigned the yard number 843, ''Westralia'' was launched on 25 April 1929, and completed later that year.

''Westralia'' was requisitioned for war service by the Australian government on 2 November 1939 as an armed merchant cruiser (AMC). She was fitted with seven guns and two anti-aircraft guns. The ship was commissioned into the RAN on 17 January 1940, and assigned the pennant number F95.

Operational history

''Westralia''s time as an AMC was spent escorting convoys in the Pacific and Indian oceans, primarily from Australia and New Zealand. In early November, the ship escorted a floating dock from Brisbane to Darwin, then commenced patrols of the Arafura Sea.Frame & Baker, ''Mutiny!'', p. 158 Departing on the morning of 10 December 1941 ''Westralia'' with 445 troops aboard escorted with another 957 troops of Sparrow Force from Darwin to Timor. The ships arrived Koepang without incident on 12 December. The two ships returned to Darwin on 16 December, then were instructed to make for Cairns; ''Westralia'' arrived on 25 December, with 117 soldiers aboard.

The calls to transport troops had come at short notice, and feeding the soldiers had put a significant dent in ''Westralia''s supplies, with the sailors spending most of December on short rations.Frame & Baker, ''Mutiny!'', p. 159 After sailing to Cairns for replenishment (most of the commissaries in Darwin had been drained to supply Australian and Dutch forces securing the Dutch East Indies against a pending Japanese invasion), the sailors had to work all day to disembark the troops, and when the planned evening departure was cancelled because the ship's floatplane could not be reembarked, shore leave was not granted. At midnight, the change of watch did not occur, as the sailors meant to start work did not report for duty.Frame & Baker, ''Mutiny!'', p. 160 At around 01:50, the deck officer noticed around 100 sailors gathered near the anchor winches, blocking them from use. After the sailors disobeyed orders to disperse, ''Westralia''s captain ordered the bridge machine guns trained on the men, then took the ship to Action Stations and noted who did not report for duty. The ship's master-at-arms was ordered to arrest those refusing to report for duty; 104 men were arrested and charged with mutiny (the largest number in RAN history), with the ringleaders confined in cells, and the rest agreeing to resume duties. ''Westralia'' arrived in Darwin on 30 December, then was ordered to Sydney so an inquiry into the incident could be held: the records relating to the legal proceedings and punishments have been lost.

During May 1942, ''Westralia'' was present in Sydney Harbour during the Japanese midget submarine attack.

Between February and May 1943, ''Westralia'' was converted into a Landing Ship, Infantry (LSI). She was recommissioned with the pennant number C61.Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 220 In this role, ''Westralia'' had a capacity of 933 soldiers, and was used primarily to transport units of the United States Army and Marine Corps. The ship was assigned to Port Stephens for use as an accommodation ship while the combined operations training school (later commissioned as ) was developed. The ship took part in landings at Cape Cretin, Hollandia, Leyte Gulf, the Philippines, Borneo.

After the end of the war, ''Westralia'' was one of the ships at Ambon on 22 September 1945 for the surrender and occupation of the island where the 164 survivors of Gull Force prisoners had already been taken off on 10 September. She was later used for the repatriation of Australian troops, before being paid off in September 1946. The ship earned five battle honours for her wartime service: "Pacific 1941–45", "New Guinea 1943–44", "Leyte Gulf 1944", "Lingayen Gulf 1945", and "Borneo 1945".

''Westralia'' sailed from Japan via Rabaul for Brisbane, due about 17 July 1946, and thereafter Sydney where she was to be converted to coastal passenger service. However, as she was being refitted for a return to civilian service, ''Westralia'' was taken up again for use as a troop transport between Sydney and Kure for the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF). She was not commissioned into the RAN in this role, and operated with a merchant navy crew. She ended her time with the BCOF in April 1949, then was chartered as a troop carrier by the British Ministry of Transport, and served in the Mediterranean until March 1950. ''Westralia'' was finally reconverted and returned to her owners on 27 March 1951. ''Westralia'' was sold to the Asian and Pacific Shipping Co Ltd in 1959, serving as a livestock carrier. Initially operated as ''Delfino'', she was renamed ''Woolambi'' in 1960, before being sold for scrap and towed to Japan for breaking up in December 1961.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Westralia
1929 ships
Amphibious warfare vessels of the Royal Australian Navy
Auxiliary cruisers of the Royal Australian Navy
Ships built in Govan
Ships built by Harland and Wolff