HMAS GEELONG, (minesweeper), was sunk in a collision with the US tanker YORK, off Langemak, New Guinea. CAPT H. Birkland of the YORK reported in his log:- ‘We struck the HMAS GEELONG on the port quarter. [The minesweeper’s stern was severed abaft the minesweeping hatch.] They signalled they were listing badly and sinking, and asked for immediate assistance. I launched two lifeboats and they proceeded towards GEELONG, and picked up two boatloads each of survivors. We were standing by about a quarter of a mile away. We succeeded to get the whole crew on board our vessel. At 9.51 p.m. the GEELONG sank. Our running lights were on medium bright. GEELONG had no navigation lights on’.
HMAS GASCOYNE, (frigate), buoyed shoals in San Pedro Bay, Leyte, while under fire from enemy shore batteries.