'Nambucca II' - 'HMAS Nambucca' - 'USS YDG-5' (1936 - 1946)

Image replaced December 2018

 

This image shows Nambucca II prior to compulsory requisition by the Royal Australian Navy in 1939.

 

There have been a number of vessels named Nambucca.

 

Nambucca 1898 (1898 – 1905). Single screw steamer built of wood by David Drake of Bald Rock, Balmain. She operated out of the Nambucca River until 1902 before being sold to New Zealand operators. She was wrecked in January 1905 whilst on a voyage from Blenheim to Wellington.

 

Nambucca 1915 . The Nambucca was built by William Lloyd Holmes & Co, McMahons Point, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Owned by Jack Cox, she was used on the Nambucca River as a milk/cream boat to collect milk containers from dairy farmers along the river for delivery to the Nambucca Dairy Co., Ltd., (NORCO) butter factory. She was sold to interests in Sydney and converted into a ferry named Promote. She currently operates on the Hawkesbury River as a tourist ferry. Details are in the following album. Nambucca 1915

 

Nambucca I (1922 -1934). Twin screw steamer built of wood by Ernest Wright of Tuncurry for the North Coast Steam Navigation Company. She came to grief at the entrance to the Nambucca River in 1931 but was refloated. She was wrecked in May 1934 after running aground. Details are in the following album. Nambucca I

 

Nambucca II (1936 – 1946). Twin Screw steamer built of wood by Ernest Wright of Tuncurry for the North Coast Steam Navigation Company. A much larger vessel than Nambucca I. In later life she was acquired by the R.A.N. and became HMAS Nambucca and finally USS YDG-5. She was burned to the waterline in Okinawa in 1946. Details are in the following album. Nambucca II

 

There were two vessels called Nambucca, both built by Ernest Wright of Tuncurry. To differentiate the two vessels local people called the original Nambucca that was launched in 1922 and wrecked in 1934 as Nambucca I. The vessel featured here was known as Nambucca II. It should be noted that there was an earlier steamer, also known as Nambucca, built by Drake of Balmain in 1898. It was wrecked in New Zealand on 15th January 1902

 

The twin screw steamer S.S. Nambucca II was designed by Mr. James Scott, of Sydney, and built at the John Wright and Co. Ltd. shipyards by Ernest Wright, Tuncurry, for the North Coast Steam Navigation Co., Ltd. In later life she became the HMAS Nambucca and finally USS YDG-5.

 

The launch of the Nambucca II was a major event for the Wright shipyards as there had been no vessels constructed for 14 years. The launching ceremony was performed by Miss Joyce Wright (daughter of the builder) when a traditional bottle of wine, wrapped in Wright tartan, was broken over the bow. Appreciation was expressed of the thoughtfulness of one of the District's pioneers, Mrs. Granny Mayers, who, from the flowers in her garden, made a large, natural wreath. This was hung on the flared bow of the vessel with an appropriate expression of goodwill to all concerned, as well as for the safety of those who sail in the new Nambucca.

 

She left the slips on the high tide at 4:30pm on Saturday 30th May 1936. Details of this impressive vessel are:

 

Registration: 30468

Displacement: 489 tons

Length: 164 feet overall

Beam: 34ft 6in

Depth: 9ft 6in.

 

In design the steamer was considered as modern as a hardwood vessel could be made. She had the flared bows of a latter day motor cruiser, and as clean a run aft as any of the small steam vessels engaged in the coastal trade. The rounded stern was also a distinctive feature.

 

Building operations on the vessel began in May, 1935. More than 400 tons of selected hardwood and 20 tons of steel and iron work were built into the hull. Less than 12 months previously, ironbark, red mahogany, brush box, teatree, and turpentine timbers that formed her frames and scantlings were standing in tree form in the adjacent forests. One superb red mahogany stick more than 100 feet in length was cut at the back of Gloucester and brought to the shipyards. Shelf pieces were cut from that faultless log. Other 90ft ironbark trees were used in the kelsons and rider kelsons. All were fashioned with axe and adze handled by experts, many of whom had not done a day's work at their trade for more than 10 years.

 

After the launch, Nambucca II was towed to Morts Dock in Sydney for fitting. The finished vessel has fitted with twin engines developing 420 horse power and powerful winch gear for handling heavy timber cargo. She was expected to do a point or two better than 10 knots.

 

After the launch, the Nambucca II was towed to Mort's Dock in Sydney for fitting. The finished vessel was fitted equipped with twin engines developing 420 horse power in total and powerful winch gear for handling heavy timber cargo. She was expected to do a point or two better than 10 knots.

 

The fate of the S.S. Kinchela now becomes important to the Nambucca II. She was owned by the North Coast Steam Navigation Company. She ran aground on the spit at Port Macquarie, New South Wales in March 1933 and was hulked in 1936. Part of her machinery was removed and fitted in the Nambucca II.

 

On 6th October 1936 Nambucca II undertook formal time trials. Mr. Ernest Wright, who built the vessel in his shipyards at Tuncurry, witnessed the trials and was pleased with the speed of the vessel, as well as her appearance.

 

"No wooden steamer built on the coastline in my time was ever fitted out and finished in the fashion of the Nambucca. She will do all that is asked of her." he said.

 

She traded regularly along the NSW North Coast until late 1939. Nambucca was requisitioned by the RAN on 7th November 1939 and converted to an auxiliary minesweeper, and commissioned on 10th January 1940 as HMAS Nambucca. An image of HMAS Nambucca is available through the Australian War Museum HMAS NAMBUCCA - Aust War memorial

 

She formed part of Mine-sweeping Group 50 based in Sydney, undertaking mine-sweeping activities around Wilson's Promontory and Cape Otway. In 1942 she was stationed in Adelaide and assisted in mine-sweeping activities around Kangaroo Island.

 

She was transferred to the United States Navy on 19th April 1943. After conversion to a degaussing vessel by Evans Deakin and Company, Brisbane, she was commissioned on 31st July 1944 as USS YDG-5. She was inspected at Okinawa in November 1945 by USS BLACK HAWK (AD-9) which reported that she required major machinery repairs, her main propulsion plant was obsolete, her capabilities as a degaussing barge were limited, her wooden hull was old and in need of recaulking, and she was not safe for sea under her own power. The Board's recommendation to strip locally and dispose of was approved by SecNav on 19 Dec 45. She was declared a total loss as of 30th Dec 1945, decommissioned on 7th February 46, and destroyed by fire on 8th February 1946. This coincided with the year of the death of Ernest Wright (23rd January 1946) and was indeed a sad end for such a well regarded ship from the Wright Shipyard - only 10 years of age.

 

Image Source - Dallas Collection - made available by Graeme Andrews

 

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