HMAS Coonawarra
Encyclopedia
HMAS Coonawarra is a Royal Australian Navy
base located in the city of Darwin
and is home to twelve fleet units of the Royal Australian Navy.
During World War I
Darwin
port had been used as a coaling station for naval ships, but it was not considered a naval base. Later, during the 1930s, the RAN
constructed oil fuel tanks on the harbour front, holding about 90,000 tons of oil. All were destroyed in the Japanese attack on Darwin on 19 February 1942.
The first naval depot at Darwin was established in January 1935. This was a naval reserve depot, commanded by Lieutenant Commander H.P. Jarrett. At this time, Darwin was part of the Naval Reserve District of Queensland. In 1937, the Naval District of the Northern Territory was separated from the Queensland District, and the first District Naval Officer, Lieutenant Commander J.H. Walker, was appointed. In 1939, under the recommendation of the Committee of Imperial Defence
, a high-powered radio transmitter was constructed. The period leading up to World War II
saw a build up of personnel, the establishment of fuelling facilities, a boom depot and later the Navy paid for improvements to Darwin's water supply in order to provide an adequate supply of water for visiting naval ships.
At the outbreak of World War II
, the Naval depot in Darwin was named HMAS Penguin, and on 1 August 1940 was formally commissioned as HMAS Melville
. Throughout World War II
, the Wireless Transmitting Station provided essential communications service in support of Allied Operations in the South West Pacific regions. The base suffered significant damage during the Japanese bombing raids on the city.
After World War II
, the base continued to be known as HMAS Melville. The development of Darwin during the 1950s and 1960s saw the size of Melville shrink, the problem was intensified by the continued growth of naval personnel in Darwin. It was decided to decommission Melville and relocate the RAN's Darwin base to naval Wireless Transmitting Station Coonawarra. Although the base was transferred over and commissioned at HMAS Coonawarra on 16 March 1970, facilities at Melville remained operational until their destruction by Cyclone Tracy
on 25 December 1974.
Over recent years Coonawarra has been expanded into a modern naval facility.
Balikpapan class
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...
base located in the city of Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
and is home to twelve fleet units of the Royal Australian Navy.
History
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
port had been used as a coaling station for naval ships, but it was not considered a naval base. Later, during the 1930s, the RAN
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...
constructed oil fuel tanks on the harbour front, holding about 90,000 tons of oil. All were destroyed in the Japanese attack on Darwin on 19 February 1942.
The first naval depot at Darwin was established in January 1935. This was a naval reserve depot, commanded by Lieutenant Commander H.P. Jarrett. At this time, Darwin was part of the Naval Reserve District of Queensland. In 1937, the Naval District of the Northern Territory was separated from the Queensland District, and the first District Naval Officer, Lieutenant Commander J.H. Walker, was appointed. In 1939, under the recommendation of the Committee of Imperial Defence
Committee of Imperial Defence
The Committee of Imperial Defence was an important ad hoc part of the government of the United Kingdom and the British Empire from just after the Second Boer War until the start of World War II...
, a high-powered radio transmitter was constructed. The period leading up to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
saw a build up of personnel, the establishment of fuelling facilities, a boom depot and later the Navy paid for improvements to Darwin's water supply in order to provide an adequate supply of water for visiting naval ships.
At the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Naval depot in Darwin was named HMAS Penguin, and on 1 August 1940 was formally commissioned as HMAS Melville
HMAS Melville (naval base)
HMAS Melville was a naval base of the Royal Australia Navy at Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. First established as a naval reserve depot in January 1935, commanded by Lieutenant Commander H.P. Jarrett of the Naval Reserve District of Queensland. In 1937 Lieutenant Commander J.H...
. Throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Wireless Transmitting Station provided essential communications service in support of Allied Operations in the South West Pacific regions. The base suffered significant damage during the Japanese bombing raids on the city.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the base continued to be known as HMAS Melville. The development of Darwin during the 1950s and 1960s saw the size of Melville shrink, the problem was intensified by the continued growth of naval personnel in Darwin. It was decided to decommission Melville and relocate the RAN's Darwin base to naval Wireless Transmitting Station Coonawarra. Although the base was transferred over and commissioned at HMAS Coonawarra on 16 March 1970, facilities at Melville remained operational until their destruction by Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, 1974...
on 25 December 1974.
Over recent years Coonawarra has been expanded into a modern naval facility.
Facilities
The wharf can accommodate six vessels, berthed three abreast. Services such as fuel, electrical power, compressed air, sewerage out, oily waste suction, and defuelling is available at the berthing points. The facility has the capability to dock a vessel with a draught of up to two metres at any tide, is capable of lifting or lowering a vessel up to 750 tonnes at a rate of 420 millimetres (16.5 in) per minute, and is designed to withstand cyclones.Ships Stationed
Armidale class- HMAS ArmidaleHMAS Armidale (ACPB 83)HMAS Armidale , named for the city of Armidale, New South Wales, is the lead ship of the Armidale class of patrol boats serving in the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:...
- HMAS LarrakiaHMAS Larrakia (ACPB 84)HMAS Larrakia is an Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:The Armidale class patrol boats are long, with a beam of , a maximum draft of , and a displacement of 270 tons...
- HMAS BathurstHMAS Bathurst (ACPB 85)HMAS Bathurst , named for the city of Bathurst, New South Wales, is an Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:...
- HMAS AlbanyHMAS Albany (ACPB 86)HMAS Albany , named for the city of Albany, Western Australia, is an Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:...
- HMAS PirieHMAS Pirie (ACPB 87)HMAS Pirie , named for the city of Port Pirie, South Australia, is an Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:...
- HMAS MaitlandHMAS Maitland (ACPB 88)HMAS Maitland , named for the city of Maitland, New South Wales, is an Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:...
- HMAS AraratHMAS Ararat (ACPB 89)HMAS Ararat , named for the town of Ararat, Victoria, is an Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:...
- HMAS BroomeHMAS Broome (ACPB 90)HMAS Broome , named for the city of Broome, Western Australia, is an Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:...
- HMAS MaryboroughHMAS Maryborough (ACPB 95)HMAS Maryborough , named after the city of Maryborough, Queensland, is one of fourteen Armidale class patrol boats operated by the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:...
- HMAS GlenelgHMAS Glenelg (ACPB 96)HMAS Glenelg , named for the city of Glenelg, South Australia is an Australian Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:...
Balikpapan class
- HMAS Balikpapan
- HMAS Betano