HMAS Arunta (I30)

HMAS Arunta during World War II
History
Australia
NamesakeThe Arrernte people
BuilderCockatoo Docks and Engineering Company
Laid down15 November 1939
Launched30 November/1 December 1940
Commissioned30 March 1942
Decommissioned21 December 1956
Motto"Conquer or Die"
Honours and
awards
FateSold for scrap in 1968, sank while under tow in 1969
BadgeShip's badge
General characteristics
Class and typeTribal-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 1,990 tons (at launch)
  • 2,122 tons (1945 refit)
Length
  • 377 ft 1 in (114.94 m) overall
  • 355 ft 6 in (108.36 m) between perpendiculars
Beam36 ft 4.75 in (11.0935 m)
Draught9 ft (2.7 m)
PropulsionParsons geared turbines, twin screws. 44,000 horsepower
Speed36.5 knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph)
Complement
  • 12 officers, 178 sailors (initial)
  • 13 officers, 247 sailors (later)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar:
  • SG1
  • SG4
  • 285P4
  • 253P
Armament
NotesTaken from:[1]

HMAS Arunta (I30/D5/D130) was a Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Named for the Arrernte Aboriginal peoples, the destroyer was laid down in 1939 and commissioned into the RAN in 1942.

Arunta fought during the second half of World War II; initially as a convoy escort and patrol ship, then in the shore bombardment and amphibious landing support roles while attached to the United States 7th Fleet. During the war, she was responsible for sinking Japanese submarine Ro-33 off Port Moresby on 24 August 1942, and earned five battle honours (one of which was later rescinded). After the war's end, Arunta underwent two deployments to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.

The ship underwent a lengthy modernisation from 1949 to 1952, and was reclassified as an anti-submarine destroyer. After conversion, Arunta served in Korean waters after the Korean War armistice, and was one of the first Australian warships assigned to the Far East Strategic Reserve.

Arunta was paid off into operational reserve at the end of 1956, where she remained for twelve years. In 1968, the destroyer was sold for scrap, but was never broken up, instead sinking while under tow off Broken Bay on 13 February 1969.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cassells17.8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).