HMAS Latrobe (J234/M234), named for the town of Latrobe, Tasmania

Latrobe, Tasmania

Latrobe is a town in northern Tasmania, Australia, situated on the Mersey River. It lies 8 km south-east of Devonport on the Bass Highway. It is main centre of the Latrobe Council. At the 2006 census, Latrobe had a population of 2,843....

, was one of 60 Bathurst class corvettes

Bathurst class corvette

The Bathurst class corvettes were a class of general purpose vessels produced in Australia during World War II. Originally classified as minesweepers, but widely referred to as corvettes, the Bathurst class vessels fulfilled a broad anti-submarine, anti-mine, and convoy escort role.Sixty Bathurst...

 constructed during World War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by the Royal Australian Navy

Royal Australian Navy

The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...

 (RAN).

Construction

Latrobe was laid down by Mort's Dock and Engineering Company at Balmain, New South Wales

Balmain, New South Wales

Balmain is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Balmain is located slightly west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt....

 on 27 January 1942. As the ship was built in a dock it was floated clear on 19 June 1942, with the ceremony officiated by the Reverend A. G. Rix. The ship was commissioned into the RAN on 6 November 1942.

Latrobe’s dimensions differed from the Bathurst class design: she was shorter (180 in 10 in (55.12 m) compared to 186 ft (56.7 m)) and had a slightly wider beam (31 in 2 in (9.5 m) compared to 31 ft (9.4 m)).

Operational history

After entering active service, Latrobe initially served as a convoy escort ship, first between Queensland and New Guinea, then between Darwin and Thursday Island. On 12 February 1943, the corvette unsuccessfully attacked a Japanese submarine. In July, a Darwin-bound convoy escorted by Latrobe was attacked twice by Japanese aircraft, and in December, a lone Japanese bomber attempted to attack the corvette.

In June 1944, Latrobe was reassigned to New Guinea operations, and arrived on 17 June. She spent seven omnths operating as a convoy escort and anti-submarine patrol ship, before sailing to Adelaide in January 1945 for a two-month refit. Latrobe returned to New Guinea in late April, and served in numerous roles until the end of World War II, including escort, patrol, minesweeping, and shore bombardment.

The corvette received four battle honour

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 , uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible....

s for her wartime service: "Darwin 1943", "Pacific 1943-45", "New Guinea 1943-44", and "Borneo 1945".

After the end of the war, Latrobe was involved in the evacuation of Allied prisoners-of-war, and the transportation of occupation forces. She returned to Australia in December 1945, towing two small craft to Sydney before proceeding to Melbourne. In early 1946, the corvette was attached to Flinders Naval Depot for use as a training ship until the end of 1952.

Decommissioning and fate

Latrobe paid off on 13 March 1953. She was placed in reserve on 17 September 1953, where she remained until she was sold for breaking up as scrap to the Hong Kong Rolling Mills on 18 May 1956.