View source for HMAS Arunta (I30)

{{short description|Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy}}
{{other ships|HMAS Arunta}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2011}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMAS Arunta SLV AllanGreen 1.jpg
|Ship caption=HMAS ''Arunta'' during World War II
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=Australia
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Australia|naval-1913}}
|Ship namesake=The [[Arrernte people|Arrernte]] people
|Ship builder=Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company
|Ship laid down=15 November 1939
|Ship launched=30 November/1 December 1940
|Ship commissioned=30 March 1942
|Ship decommissioned=21 December 1956
|Ship motto="Conquer or Die"
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=*'''Battle honours'''
* [[South West Pacific theatre of World War II|Pacific]] 1942–45
* [[New Guinea campaign|New Guinea]] 1942–44
* [[Battle of Leyte Gulf|Leyte Gulf]] 1944
* [[Invasion of Lingayen Gulf|Lingayen Gulf]] 1945
* [[Borneo campaign (1945)|Borneo]] 1945
|Ship fate=Sold for scrap in 1968, sank while under tow in 1969
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=[[File:HMAS arunta crest.png|Ship's badge]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Ship class={{sclass2|Tribal|destroyer (1936)|0}} [[destroyer]]
|Ship displacement=*1,990 tons (at launch)
* 2,122 tons (1945 refit)
|Ship length=*{{convert|377|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}} overall
* {{convert|355|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} between perpendiculars
|Ship beam={{convert|36|ft|4.75|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|9|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=Parsons geared turbines, twin screws. 44,000 horsepower
|Ship speed={{convert|36.5|kn}}
|Ship complement=*12 officers, 178 sailors (initial)
* 13 officers, 247 sailors (later)
|Ship sensors=*'''Radar:'''
* SG1
* SG4
* 285P4
* 253P
|Ship armament=*'''At launch:'''
* 6 × [[QF 4.7-inch Mk IX & XII naval gun|QF 4.7-inch (120-mm) Mk XII guns]] (3 twin turrets)
* 2 × [[QF 4 inch Mk XVI naval gun|QF {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on|sigfig=4}} Mk XVI anti-aircraft guns]] (1 twin turret)
* 6 × [[20 mm Oerlikon|{{convert|20|mm|in|adj=on}} Oerlikon]] anti-aircraft guns
* 1 × [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder (40-mm) quadruple pom pom]]
* 1 × 4-tube [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|mm|adj=on}} torpedo]] launcher (4 torpedoes)
* 2 × [[depth charge]] throwers (46 charges)
* '''1945 refit:'''
* All Oerlikons removed
* 6 × [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|{{convert|40|mm|in|adj=on}} Bofors]] anti-aircraft guns installed
* '''1949 modernisation:'''
* 2 × 4.7-in guns (1 turret) removed
* All depth charge throwers removed
* Quadruple pom pom removed
* 2 × 40 mm Bofors (1 twin mounting) installed
* 1 × [[Squid (weapon)|Squid anti-submarine mortar]] installed
|Ship notes=Taken from:<ref name=Cassells17.8/>
}}
|}
'''HMAS ''Arunta'' (I30/D5/D130)''' was a {{sclass2|Tribal|destroyer (1936)|0}} destroyer of the [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN). Named for the [[Arrernte people|Arrernte]] [[Australian Aborigines|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 {{Jsub|Ro-33||2}} 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.

== Description ==
At launch, the destroyer was fitted with six {{convert|4.7|in|mm|adj=on}} guns in three twin turrets, two {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on}} guns in a twin turret, six single [[20 mm Oerlikon|{{convert|20|mm|in|adj=on}} Oerlikon]] anti-aircraft guns, a [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder quadruple pom pom]], a 4-tube {{convert|21|in|mm|adj=on}} torpedo launcher (with a payload of four torpedoes), and two depth charge throwers (with a magazine of 46 charges).<ref name=Cassells17.8/> ''Arunta''{{'}}s radar suite consisted of an SG1, an SG4, a [[Type 285 radar|285P4]], and a 253P.<ref name=Cassells18/>{{Clarify|Which radar did what?|date=September 2009}}

In September 1945, all six Oerlikons were replaced with single [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|{{convert|40|mm|in|adj=on}} Bofors]] anti-aircraft guns.<ref name=Cassells17.8/>

During a modernisation starting in 1949, the aft 4.7-inch gun turret and the depth charge throwers were removed, with the freed-up deck space used to install a [[Squid (weapon)|Squid anti-submarine mortar]].<ref name=Cassells18/><ref name=Donohue153>Donohue, ''From Empire Defence to the Long Haul'', p. 153</ref> The quadruple pom pom was exchanged for two 40&nbsp;mm Bofors in a twin mounting.<ref name=Cassells18/> The radar suite was upgraded, requiring that the tripod radar mast be replaced with a stronger lattice structure.<ref name=Donohue153/>

==Construction and career==
''Arunta'', named for the [[Arrernte people|Arrernte]] [[Australian Aborigines|Aborigines]], was ordered by the Naval Board January 1939 and laid down by the [[Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company]] Limited at the [[Cockatoo Island Dockyard]], Sydney in [[New South Wales]] on 15 November 1939.<ref name=Cassells17.8>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 17–18</ref>{{sfn|Gill|1957|p=128}} She was the first of three [[Tribal-class destroyer (1936)|Australian Tribal class]] destroyers.<ref name=Cassells20/>

The destroyer was launched on 30 November 1940 by [[Zara, Countess of Gowrie|Lady Zara Gowrie]], wife of the serving [[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]], but became stuck halfway down the [[slipway]], requiring the launching ceremony to be completed the next day.<ref>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', pgs 18, 238</ref> Completed at a cost of [[Australian pound|AU£500,000]], ''Arunta'' was commissioned into the RAN on 30 March 1942, exactly a month before work on the ship was completed.<ref name=Cassells18>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 18</ref>

===World War II===
''Arunta'' commenced her operational career on 17 May 1942, by conducting anti-submarine patrols off New South Wales.<ref name=Cassells20>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 20</ref> Those included a specific search based on sightings and attack by gunfire on the Russian vessel ''Wellen'' on 16 May in which ''Arunta'', {{USS|Perkins|DD-377|6}} and {{HNLMS|Tromp|1937|6}} searched without success for the submarine.{{sfn|Gill|1968|p=62}} On 18 May, in company with ''Tromp'', ''Arunta'' escorted convoy "ZK.8" out of Sydney composed of the Dutch ships {{MS|Bantam|1939|2}},<ref group=note>MS ''Bantam'' ({{GRT|9,312}}) and not smaller {{SS|Bantam|1930|6}} ({{GRT|3,322}}) also operating in the region.</ref> {{SS|Bontekoe|1922|2}}, {{SS|Van Heemskerk|1909|2}}<ref group=note>The {{GRT|2,996}} [[Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij]] freighter of 1909 not to be confused with {{HNLMS|Jacob van Heemskerck|1939}}.</ref> and {{MS|Van Heutsz|1926|2}} bound for [[Port Moresby]] with 4,735 troops of the Australian 14th Brigade.{{sfn|Gill|1968|p=63}}

A month later, the destroyer was assigned to convoy escort duties along the Australian coast, and again began escorting convoys to [[New Guinea]] in early August.<ref name=Cassells20/> In this role she first saw action when she attacked and sank the Japanese [[Kaichū type submarine|''Kaichū'' type]] submarine {{Jsub|Ro-33||2}} off [[Port Moresby]] on 24 August 1942, killing all 42 men aboard.<ref>Jenkins, ''Battle Surface'', p. 265</ref>

On 4 September 1942 ''Arunta'' departed [[Port Moresby]] to join the cargo ship {{MV|Anshun|1930|6}} and the Dutch steamer {{SS|'s&nbsp;Jacob|1907|2}} escorted by and {{HMAS|Swan|U74|6}} that had departed from [[Townsville]] as convoy "Q2" bound for [[Milne Bay]] with supplies for the garrison there.{{sfn|Gill|1968|p=171}} ''Anshun'' and ''Arunta'' entered the bay on the morning of 6 September where the freighter berthed at the pontoon jetty at Gili Gili to begin unloading with intentions to put to sea for safety during the night but orders were given by local authorities to continue unloading under her cargo lights through the night while ''Arunta'' departed to join '' 's Jacob'' and ''Swan'' holding at sea to the south.{{sfn|Gill|1968|p=172}} ''Anshun'' was sunk that night when she came under fire from the Japanese cruiser [[Japanese cruiser Tenryū|''Tenryū'']] and destroyer [[Japanese destroyer Arashi|''Arashi'']] during the [[battle of Milne Bay]].{{sfn|Gill|1968|pp=172, 260}}

In January 1943, ''Arunta'' took part in the evacuation of Allied guerrillas from [[Timor]] before returning to convoy escort duty.<ref name=SPC>''HMAS Arunta (I)'', Sea Power Centre</ref> The destroyer was relieved from convoy duty in May 1943, and underwent a brief refit before joining [[Task Force 74]] (TF74).<ref name=Cassells20/>

''Arunta'' participated in the [[Operation Chronicle]] landings, then detached from TF74 in July and returned to Australian waters for patrol and convoy escort duties and a refit, before rejoining the task force at Brisbane on 29 October 1943. By 5 November the task force, composed of {{HMAS|Australia|D84|6}}, {{HMAS|Shropshire||6}}, {{USS|Ralph Talbot|DD-390|6}}, {{HMAS|Warramunga|I44|6}}, ''Arunta'' and {{USS|Helm|DD-388|6}}, was in [[Milne Bay]].{{sfn|Gill|1968|p=330}}

[[File:HMAS Arunta I30 July 1943.jpg|thumb|left|HMAS ''Arunta'' in July 1943]]
In late November, ''Arunta'' fired on Japanese ammunition dumps in New Guinea, before providing support for troop landings at [[Battle of Arawe|Arawe]], [[Battle of Cape Gloucester|Cape Gloucester]], and [[Landing at Saidor|Saidor]] during December 1943 and January 1944.<ref name=Cassells20/> In March, the destroyer transported the [[7th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|United States 7th Cavalry]] to the Admiralty Islands, before supporting their [[Admiralty Islands campaign#Landing|landing at Hayne Harbour]].<ref name=Cassells20/> From April to September, ''Arunta'' provided bombardment support for troop landings at [[Battle of Hollandia|Hollandia]], [[Battle of Wakde|Wakde]] (where she captured a Japanese soldier), [[Battle of Biak|Biak]], [[Battle of Noemfoor|Noemfoor]], [[Battle of Sansapor|Cape Sansapor]], and [[Battle of Morotai|Morotai]].<ref name=Cassells20/> On 13 October, ''Arunta'' formed part of the Allied fleet bound for [[Leyte Gulf]] in the [[Philippines]], and was part of the Allied ambush of a Japanese fleet on 25 October; the [[Battle of Surigao Strait]].<ref name=SPC/> During January 1945, ''Arunta'' supported the [[Invasion of Lingayen Gulf|landings at Lingayen Gulf]]; during the approach a near-miss by a Japanese [[kamikaze]] aircraft killed two sailors.<ref name=Cassells20/> Between 13 and 15 February ''Arunta'' and her sister ship {{HMAS|Warramunga|I44|2}} sortied from Lingayen Gulf to a point about {{convert|300|mi|km}} west of Manila in preparation to rescue the crews of any United States aircraft which were downed while attacking two Japanese battleships and their escorts which were [[Operation Kita|returning to Japan from Singapore]], but this proved uneventful as the planned attacks were frustrated by bad weather.{{sfn|Gill|1968|p=599}}

Following a refit from March to April, ''Arunta'' supported the [[6th Division (Australia)|Australian 6th Division]] on 10–11 May during their [[Aitape-Wewak campaign|landing at Wewak]], then provided shore bombardment to aid the 9th Division's [[Operation Oboe Six|landing at Brunei Bay]] on 10 June.<ref name=Cassells20/> Later in June, she shelled positions in Luton and Balikpapan, the latter as a precursor to the [[Battle of Balikpapan (1945)|Allied landing]] on 1 July.<ref name=Cassells20/> ''Arunta'' then returned to Sydney for a refit at Cockatoo Island, and was docked when World War II ended.<ref name=Cassells20/>

For her wartime service, ''Arunta'' earned the [[battle honour]]s "Pacific 1942–45", "New Guinea 1942–44", "Leyte Gulf 1944", "Lingayen Gulf 1945", and "Borneo 1945".<ref name=newhonours>{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |title=Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613184920/http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |archive-date=13 June 2011 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref><ref name=honourslist>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |title=Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614064156/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2011 |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref> The ship also carried the honour "[[Guadalcanal Campaign|Guadalcanal]] 1942", but it was later determined that she did not qualify.<ref name=Cassells234>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 234</ref> It was later found that the destroyer did not qualify for the Guadalcanal honour, and that her service in the Pacific Theatre started in 1942, requiring the modification of these honours.<ref name=Cassells234/> ''Arunta'' operated with task forces of the [[United States 7th Fleet]] for most of her wartime career: according to Cassells, the destroyer was one of the most well-known RAN ships among United States forces.<ref name=Cassells20/>

===Post-war===
Following her refit, which concluded in October 1945, ''Arunta'' was sent to Japan to serve with the [[British Pacific Fleet]] (BPF) as part of the [[British Commonwealth Occupation Force]].<ref name=Cassells20/> She remained in Japanese waters until March 1946, and returned in mid-December after a cruise through Papua New Guinea and the Philippines for a second deployment with the BPF, which lasted until early April 1947.<ref name=Cassells20/> In June 1948, ''Arunta'' visited several [[Melanesia]]n islands.<ref name=Cassells20/> At the end of 1949, the destroyer prepared for a modernisation refit, which started in 1950.<ref name=Cassells20/> The refit involved upgrading or replacing several of the destroyer's weapons and sensor systems.<ref name=Donohue153/> Although the modernisation was intended to take less than six months, it took two years, by which time their modifications had already become obsolete.<ref name=Donohue171>Donohue, ''From Empire Defense to the Long Haul'', p. 171</ref>

[[File:HMAS Arunta (AWM 300196).jpg|thumb|left|''Arunta'' in November 1952, shortly after re-entering service]]
On 11 November 1952, ''Arunta'' was reclassified as an anti-submarine destroyer, and re-entered service.<ref name=Cassells21>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 21</ref> She spent all of 1953 in Australian waters, and in January 1954 sailed to Korea to support the United Nations enforcement of the June 1953 armistice which ended the [[Korean War]].<ref name=Cassells21/> ''Arunta'' returned to Australia in August, and remained there until May 1955, when she joined a flotilla of RAN and [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] vessels sailing to Malaya for exercises with the BPF.<ref name=Cassells21/> Instead of returning home in late June, ''Arunta'' and ''Warramunga'' were refitted at Singapore before becoming the first Australian ships to serve with the [[Far East Strategic Reserve]], which they operated with until December.<ref name=Cassells21/> ''Arunta'' was deployed to northern Australia for a cruise during March and April 1956, and visited Norfolk Island and the Pitcairn Islands in June, before arriving in Sydney on 14 June for preparations to be decommissioned.

==Decommissioning and fate==
After being prepared for placement in operational reserve, ''Arunta'' paid off to reserve on 21 December 1956.<ref name=Cassells21/> During her career, she had sailed {{convert|357273|nmi}}.<ref name=SPC/> The destroyer was maintained until 1 November 1968, when she was sold to the China Steel Corporation of [[Taipei]] for breaking up as scrap metal.<ref name=Cassells21/>

''Arunta'' was taken under tow by the Japanese tug ''Tokyo Maru'' on 12 February 1969.<ref name=Cassells21/> On 13 February, the ship began to take on water; although there were attempts to stop the flooding, it was decided that recovery would be impossible, and ''Arunta'' was allowed to capsize and sink off [[Broken Bay]].<ref name=Cassells21/><ref>{{cite book |last=Gillett |first=Ross |title=Australian Ships |year=1989 |publisher=Child & Associates |location=Frenchs Forest, NSW |isbn=0-86777-107-0 |page=129}}</ref>

== Footnotes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last=Cassells |first=Vic |title=The Destroyers: Their Battles and Their Badges |year=2000 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=East Roseville, NSW |isbn=0-7318-0893-2 |oclc=46829686}}
* {{cite book |last=Donohue |first=Hector |title=From Empire Defence to the Long Haul: post-war defence policy and its impact on naval force structure planning 1945–1955 |series=Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs |volume=1 |date=October 1996 |publisher=Sea Power Centre |location=Canberra |isbn=0-642-25907-0 |issn=1327-5658 |oclc=36817771}}
* {{cite book |last=Gill |first=G. Hermon |title=Royal Australian Navy 1939–1942 | series =Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 2 – Navy |volume =1 |year=1957 |publisher=Australian War Memorial |location=Canberra |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070207/}}
* {{cite book |last=Gill |first=G. Hermon |title=Royal Australian Navy 1942–1945 | series =Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 2 – Navy |volume =2 |year=1968 |publisher=Australian War Memorial |location=Canberra|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070208/ }}
* {{cite web |title=HMAS Arunta (I) |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-arunta-i |access-date=5 August 2012 |publisher=Sea Power Centre, Royal Australian Navy}}
* {{cite book |last=Jenkins |first=David |title=Battle Surface! Japan's Submarine War Against Australia 1942–44 |year=1992 |publisher=Random House Australia |location=Milsons Point, NSW |isbn=0-09-182638-1 |oclc=0091826381}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last=Brice|first=Martin H.|title=The Tribals|publisher=Ian Allan|year=1971|location=London|isbn=0-7110-0245-2}}
* {{cite book|last=English|first=John|title=Afridi to Nizam: British Fleet Destroyers 1937–43|publisher=World Ship Society|location=Gravesend, Kent|year=2001|oclc= 49841510 |id= {{Listed Invalid ISBN|0-905617-95-0}}}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|HMAS Arunta (I30)}}

{{Tribal class destroyer (1936)}}
{{Navbox shipwrecks of New South Wales}}
{{1969 shipwrecks}}

{{coord|33|50|S|151|19|E|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arunta (I30)}}
[[Category:Tribal-class destroyers (1936) of the Royal Australian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in New South Wales]]
[[Category:1940 ships]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of Australia]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1969]]