HMAS Parramatta (U44) was a Grimsby class

Grimsby class sloop

With the realisation that war was approaching, 13 Grimsby class sloops were laid down in the mid to late 1930s. Of these eight were built in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy, four in Australia for the Royal Australian Navy and one for India...

 sloop of the Royal Australian Navy

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...

 (RAN). Built during the late 1930s, Parramatta operated in the Red Sea and Mediterranean during World War II. The sloop was torpedoed by U-559 on 27 November 1941, and sank with 138 of the 162 aboard.

Construction

She was laid down on 9 November 1938 at the Cockatoo Island Dockyard at Sydney, New South Wales. She was launched on 10 June 1939 and commissioned into the RAN on 8 April 1940.

Operational history

Shortly after commissioning, Parramatta commenced duty as a convoy escort.

Parramatta was assigned to the Red Sea Force in July 1940, and arrived in Aden at the month's end. The sloop was later transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet

Mediterranean Fleet

Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...

.

While in the Mediterranean, Parramatta was one of several warships used to supply and support the Allied forces besieged at Tobruk

Siege of Tobruk

The siege of Tobruk was a confrontation that lasted 240 days between Axis and Allied forces in North Africa during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War...

, nicknamed the Tobruk Ferry Service

Tobruk Ferry Service

The Tobruk Ferry Service was the name given to the force of Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy ships involved in the supply of Allied forces involved in the Siege of Tobruk...

. While operating off Tobruk on 24 June 1941, Parramatta, the British sloop , and the petrol carrier Pass of Balmaha were attacked by over 70 dive bombers. The Australian warship shot down three aircraft during the engagement without receiving major damage, but Auckland was sunk. Parramatta later helped recover the 164 survivors.

Loss

On 27 November 1941, Parramatta was escorting transports resupplying the Allied garrison at Tobruk, when she was hit by a single torpedo from U-559. The damage was so significant that the sloop's captain only had time to order 'abandon ship' before Parramatta rolled to starboard and sank at 32°20′N 24°35′E. Only 24 aboard survived, with 138 killed.

The sloop's wartime service was later recognised by the battle honour

Battle honour

A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags , uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible....

"Libya 1941".

Further reading

• Sea Power Centre Australia - HMAS Parramatta (II)
• The Price of Admiralty, Paul McGuire, Lieutenant RANVR and Frances M. McGuire, Oxford United Press, 1944.