![Dec. 17, 1946: the 'loaned' destroyer HMAS QUICKMATCH arrives in cloudy Melbourne - Allan C. Green [1878-1954] SLV. | by Kookaburra2011](http://live.staticflickr.com/2486/3992993323_96afebc83c.jpg)
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Dec. 17, 1946: the 'loaned' destroyer HMAS QUICKMATCH arrives in cloudy Melbourne - Allan C. Green [1878-1954] SLV.
791. On a loan arrangement with the British Admiralty, the destroyer HMAS QUICKMATCH was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy on her completion in Sept. 1942 by CMDR R. Rhoades RAN [ex-HMAS VENDETTA], with an Australian company. This was two months after HMAS QUIBERON came into the RAN on the same arrangement - and both followed the five N Class destroyers that had come into the RAN in the same way.
It should be understood that these were manning arrangements only, and entered into for Britain's strategic cause, and the benefit of the Royal Navy. While they contributed bravely to the wider Allied cause, these seven loan destroyers were assigned throughout the war to British Fleets, in generally distant places, and played no role, say, in 1942-43. in what became known as the battle for Australia, or, until 1945, in the Pacific War. At no time were they at the disposal of the Australian Government, or deployed, ever, directly in Australia's defence.
It is the reason why, in post-WWII years, their service - often valiant enough - had little sense of 'connectedness' to Australia, and remained far less well known than those under RAN command, the ships that were at tzhe fall of Singapore and Java, the Battle of the Coral Sea, the fierce battles around New Guinea and the Solomons, the Philippines, and ultimate recovery of the Southwest Pacific.
At the end,with the war over, the five N Class ships went back to England with British crews, while QUICKMATCH, QUIBERON, and three of their British Pacific Fleet sister ships remained in Australia - no longer really wanted or needed - were left in Australia, still on 'loan' until 1950, when they were presented to the RAN for conversion to Type 15 frigates.
The wartime manning arrangements, of course, were just part of the nature of global war.
In the period this photograph was taken, QUICKMATCH has returned from Occupation duties in Japan, to which she will return. She is a unit of the RAN's 10th destroyer flotilla.
Photo: Allan C. Green [1878-1954] Green Collection, State Library of Victoria. Copyright expired - this usage permitted.
Dec. 17, 1946: the 'loaned' destroyer HMAS QUICKMATCH arrives in cloudy Melbourne - Allan C. Green [1878-1954] SLV.
791. On a loan arrangement with the British Admiralty, the destroyer HMAS QUICKMATCH was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy on her completion in Sept. 1942 by CMDR R. Rhoades RAN [ex-HMAS VENDETTA], with an Australian company. This was two months after HMAS QUIBERON came into the RAN on the same arrangement - and both followed the five N Class destroyers that had come into the RAN in the same way.
It should be understood that these were manning arrangements only, and entered into for Britain's strategic cause, and the benefit of the Royal Navy. While they contributed bravely to the wider Allied cause, these seven loan destroyers were assigned throughout the war to British Fleets, in generally distant places, and played no role, say, in 1942-43. in what became known as the battle for Australia, or, until 1945, in the Pacific War. At no time were they at the disposal of the Australian Government, or deployed, ever, directly in Australia's defence.
It is the reason why, in post-WWII years, their service - often valiant enough - had little sense of 'connectedness' to Australia, and remained far less well known than those under RAN command, the ships that were at tzhe fall of Singapore and Java, the Battle of the Coral Sea, the fierce battles around New Guinea and the Solomons, the Philippines, and ultimate recovery of the Southwest Pacific.
At the end,with the war over, the five N Class ships went back to England with British crews, while QUICKMATCH, QUIBERON, and three of their British Pacific Fleet sister ships remained in Australia - no longer really wanted or needed - were left in Australia, still on 'loan' until 1950, when they were presented to the RAN for conversion to Type 15 frigates.
The wartime manning arrangements, of course, were just part of the nature of global war.
In the period this photograph was taken, QUICKMATCH has returned from Occupation duties in Japan, to which she will return. She is a unit of the RAN's 10th destroyer flotilla.
Photo: Allan C. Green [1878-1954] Green Collection, State Library of Victoria. Copyright expired - this usage permitted.