Kookaburra2011
ERIC HOGBEN COLLECTION 79: corvette HMAS KIAMA.
5737. Another individual entry in the Eric Hogben Collection as sent to us, HMAS KIAMA was built by Evans Deakin and Co. Ltd in Brisbane and completed in Oct. 1943. Initially based at Milne Bay she engaged in convoy escorts around New Guinea, but was in Sydney on Christmas Day 1944 when crew were recalled from leave as she, HMAS QUICKMATCH and other units went to the assistance of the U.S. ship ROBERT J. WALKER, torpedoed and sinking 160 miles south of the city.
Returning to New Guinea she participated in bombardments of Buka Island in May and June 1945, and was present at Rabaul on Sept. 6 that year when the surrender of Japanese forces there was signed on HMS GLORY.
Paid off on April 3, 1946, in May 1952 KIAMA was one of four RAN corvettes gifted to the Royal New Zealand Navy. She finally paid off for disposal there on Aug. 19, 1976.
Photo: collection of the late Eric Hogben, courtesy of Geoff Eastwood, Sydney.
ERIC HOGBEN COLLECTION 79: corvette HMAS KIAMA.
5737. Another individual entry in the Eric Hogben Collection as sent to us, HMAS KIAMA was built by Evans Deakin and Co. Ltd in Brisbane and completed in Oct. 1943. Initially based at Milne Bay she engaged in convoy escorts around New Guinea, but was in Sydney on Christmas Day 1944 when crew were recalled from leave as she, HMAS QUICKMATCH and other units went to the assistance of the U.S. ship ROBERT J. WALKER, torpedoed and sinking 160 miles south of the city.
Returning to New Guinea she participated in bombardments of Buka Island in May and June 1945, and was present at Rabaul on Sept. 6 that year when the surrender of Japanese forces there was signed on HMS GLORY.
Paid off on April 3, 1946, in May 1952 KIAMA was one of four RAN corvettes gifted to the Royal New Zealand Navy. She finally paid off for disposal there on Aug. 19, 1976.
Photo: collection of the late Eric Hogben, courtesy of Geoff Eastwood, Sydney.