- Author
- Murray, D.S., Rear Admiral
- Subjects
- None noted
- Tags
- None noted.
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- June 1976 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
Korean War – Royal Australian Navy Participation – 25th June 1950 – 27th July 1953
Ships (periods of service and Commanding Officers)
Periods of service quoted represent the dates of departure from and return to Australian waters respectively.
Ranks quoted are as at the period of Korean service.
Decorations include those awarded for service in the Korean War.
HMAS Sydney – Aircraft Carrier 14,000 tons.
31st August 1951-22nd February 1952.
Captain David H. Harries, CB, RAN.
Unit: Task Force 95, US 7th Fleet (Rear-Admiral G.C. Dyer, USN).
HMAS ANZAC – Destroyer 2,440 tons.
6th August-17th October 1951.
Commander John Plunkett-Cole, RAN.
6th September 1952-26th June 1953.
Captain Galfrey G. O. Gatacre, DSO, DSC & Bar, RAN.
HMAS Bataan – Destroyer 1,900 tons.
10th June 1950-6th June 1951.
Commander William B. M. Marks, DSC, RAN.
17th January-25th September 1952.
Commander Warwick S. Bracegirdle, DSC & 2 Bars, RAN.
HMAS Tobruk – Destroyer 2,440 tons.
31st August 1951-23rd February 1952.
Commander Richard I. Peek, OBE, DSC, RAN.
3rd June 1953-12th February 1954.
Commander Ian H. McDonald, RAN.
HMAS Warramunga – Destroyer 1,870 tons.
14th August 1950-29th August 1951.
Captain Otto H. Becher, DSO, DSC & Bar, RAN.
17th January-8th August 1952.
Commander James M. Ramsay, DSC, RAN.
HMAS Culgoa – Frigate 1,550 tons.
14th March-26th June 1953.
Lieutenant-Commander Domara A. H. Clarke, DSC, RAN.
HMAS Condamine – Frigate 1,550 tons.
4th July 1952-l0th April 1953.
Lieutenant-Commander Robert C..Savage, DSC, RAN.
HMAS Murchison – Frigate 1,550 tons.
9th May 1951-17th February 1952.
Lieutenant-Commander Alan N. Dollard, DSC, RAN.
HMAS Shoalhaven – Frigate 1,550 tons.
27th June-22nd September 1950.
Commander Ian H. McDonald, RAN.
(departure and return
to Home Waters)OfficersSailorsTotal
| Miles Steamed | Strengths (complements of ships employed) | ||||
| HMAS ANZAC | 78,000 | 21 | 292 | 313 | |
| HMAS Bataan | 98,000 | 11 | 272 | 284 | |
| HMAS Condamine | 31,000 | 8 | 175 | 183 | |
| HMAS Culgoa | 16,000 | 8 | 175 | 183 | |
| HMAS Murchison | 36,000 | 8 | 175 | 183 | |
| HMAS Shoalhaven | 3,000 | 8 | 175 | 183 | |
| HMAS Sydney | 40,000 | 145 | 1,256 | 1,401 | |
| HMAS Tobruk | 39,000 | 14 | 282 | 296 | |
| HMAS Warramunga | 112,000 | 21 | 273 | 294 | |
| Total | 463,000 | 244 | 3,076 | 3,320 | |
Air Squadrons (HMAS Sydney)
RAN Air Squadron 805 (Lieutenant-Commander Walter G. Bowles, DSC, RAN).
RAN Air Squadron 808 (Lieutenant-Commander John L. Appleby, RN).
RAN Air Squadron 817 (Lieutenant-Commander Ronald B. Lunberg, RN).
Operational Air Sorties Flown – 2,366.
11 Aircraft lost; 77 Aircraft damaged.
Number of Flying Days 42.8.
Daily Sortie Rate 55.2.
Ammunition expended
HMAS Sydney
1,000lb bombs – 18
500lb bombs – 784
20mm cannon – 269,249
Rocket projectiles – 6,359
| 4.7″ | 4.5″ | 4″ | 40mm | 2pdr | |
| HMAS ANZAC | 3,291 | 15,027 | |||
| HMAS Bataan | 3,462 | 549 | 8,891 | 3,240 | |
| HMAS Condamine | 2,341 | 1,001 | |||
| HMAS Culgoa | 528 | 1,650 | |||
| HMAS Murchison | 5,634 | 6,630 | |||
| HMAS Shoalhaven | 176 | ||||
| HMAS Tobruk | 2,285 | 8,541 | |||
| HMAS Warramunga | 6,053 | 931 | 8,501 | 6,681 |
Casualties
Killed 1
Missing Presumed Dead 2
Wounded 6
This article was originally printed in the Naval Historical Review – June 1976 Edition
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