| Navy | The Royal Australian Navy |
| Type | Destroyer |
| Class | Tribal |
| Pennant | I 91 |
| Built by | Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Co. Ltd. (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) |
| Ordered | 20 Dec 1939 |
| Laid down | 18 Feb 1942 |
| Launched | 15 Jan 1944 |
| Commissioned | 25 May 1945 |
| End service | 18 Oct 1954 |
| History | HMAS Bataan was ordered as HMAS Kurnai on the 20th December 1939. HMAS Bataan was the only Tribal class destroyer not to be named after a people or nation of the British Empire. The Canadian ships took their names from native Indians while the Australians named theirs after Aboriginal tribes. As a gesture to the United States for naming one of their ships USS Canberra, the Australian navy named this Tribal Bataan in honour of General Douglas MacArthur. Under MacArthur's command, American and Philipino troops defended the Bataan Peninsula (Philipines) for three months before having to withdraw. The ship started service late in the war, being commissioned on 25th May 1945. Her first assignment was to join Task Force 74 in Subic Bay, Philippines. In company with HMAS Warramunga, they were preparing for the final assault on Japan when the war ended. She became part of the naval force that was present in Tokyo at the official Japanese surrender on 2nd September 1945. The next task for Bataan was the rescue of prisoners of war and internees from official and unofficial camps prior to their embarkation to a hospital ship. There were other missions of mercy so she stayed in Japanese waters until November. In June 1950, Bataan's peacetime routine of exercises, visits, and refits was interrupted by the outbreak of the Korean War. The Australian government placed her at the disposal of the United Nations and by 5th July, she joined the task force operating in the Yellow Sea. For most of the time, Bataan was employed on routine escort and anti-submarine duties although she did carry out some bombardments. After a refit in Sydney Australia in June 1951, she and Warramunga were back in Korean waters by early 1952. Off Tacdong-Man, five 76mm shells hit the destroyer. Four missed their mark but the fifth destroyed the Captain's cabin. Luckily, there were no casualties. On the 19th and 31st May 1952, Bataan participated in two separate Round Up Operations. Republic of Korea forces would land on a peninsula and deal with all of the equipment and enemy soldiers which got in their way. Ships, cruising off shore, would provide bombardment in support of their action. By July, Bataan joined Warramunga, HMCS Nootka and HMCS Iroquois in the Yellow Sea to provide screening for aircraft carriers and shore bombardments mainly around Haeju-man. The destroyer remained in service with the Royal Australian Navy after the Korean War. On 18 October 1954 she was decommissioned and laid up in reserve awaiting conversion to an anti-submarine escort similar to HMAS Arunta. The conversion was cancelled in 1957 and she was placed on the disposal list. On 2nd May 1958 Bataan was sold to Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha Ltd, Tokyo, Japan to be broken up for scrap. |
| Former name | HMAS Kurnai |
Commands listed for HMAS Bataan (I 91)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Cdr. Henry Mackay Burrell, RAN | 16 Apr 1945 | 6 Oct 1946 |
You can help improve our commands section
Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this vessel.
Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve this ships page.
Notable events involving Bataan include:
16 Jul 1945
HMAS Hobart (Capt. R.S. Dowling, RAN, with Commodore J.A. Collins, CB, RAN, on board), HMAS Warramunga (Cdr. M.J. Clark, DSC, RAN) and HMAS Bataan (Cdr. H.M. Burrell, RAN) departed Manus for Manila.
Apperently they arrived at Manila on the 18th as on that day Commodore Collins took over command of Task Unit 74.1 from Commodore Commodore H.B. Farncomb, DSO, MVO, RAN.
HMAS Hobart, HMAS Bataan and USS Killen (T/Cdr. J.L. Semmes, USN) arrived at Subic Bay around 1000I/22. USS Killen had joined them as additional escort around 0715I/22.
HMAS Warramunga arrived at Subic Bay the following day. (1)
24 Jul 1945
On 24 July 1945, Task Force 74, under T/Rear-Admiral R.F. Good, USN, departed Subic Bay for exercises.
Task Force 74 was made up of the following Task Units; 74.1 under Commodore J.A. Collins, CB, RAN, was made up of the heavy cruiser HMAS Shropshire (Capt. C.A.G. Nichols, MVO, DSO, RN, flying the broad pendant of Commodore J.A. Collins, CB, RAN), light cruiser HMAS Hobart (Capt. R.S. Dowling, RAN) and the destroyers USS Albert W. Grant (T/Cdr. G.S. Higginbotham, USN, with COMDESDIV 112, T/Capt. B.J. Mullaney, USN on board), USS Killen (T/Cdr. J.L. Semmes, USN), HMAS Warramunga (Cdr. M.J. Clark, DSC, RAN) and HMAS Bataan (Cdr. H.M. Burrell, RAN). 74.2 under T/Rear-Admiral R.F. Good, USN, was made up of the heavy cruisers USS San Francisco (T/Capt. J.E. Whelchel, USN, flying the flag of T/Rear-Admiral R.F. Good, USN), USS Tuscaloosa (T/Capt. J.G. Atkins, USN), USS New Orleans (T/Capt. J.E. Hurff, USN) and the destroyers USS Haraden (Lt.Cdr. L.J. O'Brien, Jr., USN, with COMDESRON 51, T/Capt. H.J. Martin, USN), USS Stevens (T/Cdr. G.W. Pressey, USN), USS Hart (T/Cdr. W.D. Coleman, USN), USS Metcalf (T/Cdr. D.L. Martineau, USN), USS Shields (T/Lt.Cdr. G.T. McDaniel, Jr., USN, also COMDESDIV 115) and USS Wiley (T/Cdr. B.P. Field, Jr., USN). 74.3 under T/Capt. H.L. Challenger, USN, was made up of the light cruisers USS Phoenix (T/Capt. H.L. Challenger, USN), USS Nashville (T/Capt. A. MacOndray, Jr., USN) and the destroyers USS Charrette (T/Lt.Cdr. G.P. Joyce, USN, with COMDESDIV 102, T/Capt. W.H. Watson, Jr., USN), USS Conner (T/Lt.Cdr. W.A. Sissons, USN), USS Bell (T/Cdr. B.H. Shupper, USN) and USS Burns (T/Cdr. J.T. Bullen, Jr., USN).
At 0730I/24, the destroyers commenced leaving Subic Bay in the following order; HMAS Bataan, USS Killen, USS Haradan, USS Albert W. Grant, USS Hart, USS Charrette, USS Bell, USS Burns and USS Conner. From 0743I/24, the cruisers USS San Francisco, USS New Orleans, USS Tuscaloosa, USS Phoenix, USS Nashville and USS Shropshire commenced leaving Subic Bay.
At 0953I/24, the Task Force commenced scheduled AA exercises. These were completed at 1146I/24.
At 1159I/24, the light cruiser HMAS Hobart and the destroyers HMAS Warramunga, USS Wiley and USS Stevens joined the formation. These had departed Subic Bay shortly before 1000I/24.
At 1900I/24, USS Hart and USS Conner were detached for picket duty and did not participate in this night's exercises.
Around 2015I/24, the formation closed the imaginary enemy for a simulated attack. This exercise took about half an hour and included simulated torpedo attacks.
The Task Force then cruised in the general area off Subic Bay throughout the night.
At 0627I/25, USS Conner returned from picket duty and resumed her station in the destroyer screen. At 0655I/25, USS Hart also rejoined. On returning from their picket stations both destroyers acted as target for tracking drills.
Tactical maneuver exercises were carried out durning the morning.
At 1300I/25, schedules AA firing exercises commenced.
At 1706I/25, Destroyer Division 102 left the formation and formed in column in the following order; USS Charrette, USS Bell, USS Conner and USS Burns. At 1807I/25, Destroyer Division 102 formed a scouting line with an interval of 5 miles between ships. At 2002I/25, the division maneuvered to close the range to the remainder of the Task Force and at 2114I/25 they commenced torpedo attacks on the cruisers with a simulated firing of torpedoes at 2131I/25. At 2142I/25 the exercises were completed. USS Charrette and USS Conner took station in the destroyer screen while USS Bell and USS Burns took station as picket destroyers for the night.
At 0603I/26, USS Burns returned from picket duty followed by USS Bell at 0640I/26. Both destroyers took up station in the screen.
At 0936I/26, commenced Force tactical maneuvers which were completed around 1252I/26. At 1152I/26, USS Stevens had been detached to investigate a reported plane crash.
At 1302I/26, scheduled AA firing exercises commenced. At 1413I/26, USS Stevens rejoined. AA exercises were completed at 1500I/26. At 1433I/26, CTF 74 hoisted his flag in USS Tuscaloosa, having transferred from USS San Francisco by means of USS Albert W. Grant.
At 1503I/26, USS Tuscaloosa, USS New Orleans, USS Charrette, USS Conner, USS Bell and USS Burns parted company for Manila Bay where they arrived later the same day. These ships were now known as Task Unit 74.4.
All the other ships proceeded to Subic Bay also arrived there later in the afternoon of the 26th. (2)
29 Jul 1945
Task Force 74 was informed that a Japanese convoy had been reported to the south, in the Gulf of Siam, and that they were to intercept.
Therefore, around 0200I/29, the heavy cruisers USS San Francisco (T/Capt. J.E. Whelchel, USN, flying the flag of T/Rear-Admiral R.F. Good, USN), HMAS Shropshire (Capt. C.A.G. Nichols, MVO, DSO, RN, flying the broad pendant of Commodore J.A. Collins, CB, RAN), light cruisers USS Phoenix (T/Capt. H.L. Challenger, USN), USS Nashville (T/Capt. A. MacOndray, Jr., USN), HMAS Hobart (Capt. R.S. Dowling, RAN) and the destroyers USS Haraden (Lt.Cdr. L.J. O'Brien, Jr., USN, with COMDESRON 51, T/Capt. H.J. Martin, USN), USS Stevens (T/Cdr. G.W. Pressey, USN), USS Hart (T/Cdr. W.D. Coleman, USN), USS Shields (T/Lt.Cdr. G.T. McDaniel, Jr., USN, also COMDESDIV 115), HMAS Warramunga (Cdr. M.J. Clark, DSC, RAN) and HMAS Bataan (Cdr. H.M. Burrell, RAN) departed Subic Bay.
Around 0325I/29, also the heavy cruiser USS New Orleans (T/Capt. J.E. Hurff, USN) and the destroyers USS Bell (T/Cdr. B.H. Shupper, USN) and USS Burns (T/Cdr. J.T. Bullen, Jr., USN) departed Manila Bay to join the other ships of Task Force 74 at sea which they did around 0800I/29.
Around 1015I/29, Task Force 74 reversed course after having been recalled.
Around 1145I/29, USS New Orleans, USS Bell and USS Burns were detached to return to Manila Bay while the other ships returned to Subic Bay. All ships around at their destination around 1730I/29.
31 Jul 1945
Exercises were commenced by ships from Task Force 74.
Around 0630I/31, the destroyers USS Wiley (T/Cdr. B.P. Field, Jr., USN) and USS Hart (T/Cdr. W.D. Coleman, USN) departed Subic Bay for A/S exercises with the submarine USS Carbonero (T/Cdr. C.L. Murphy, USN).
Around 0700I/31, the heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa and the destroyers Shields and Metcalf departed Manila Bay for exercises.
Around 0730I/31, the heavy cruisers USS San Francisco (T/Capt. J.E. Whelchel, USN, flying the flag of T/Rear-Admiral R.F. Good, USN), HMAS Shropshire (Capt. C.A.G. Nichols, MVO, DSO, RN, flying the broad pendant of Commodore J.A. Collins, CB, RAN), light cruisers USS Phoenix (T/Capt. H.L. Challenger, USN), USS Nashville (T/Capt. A. MacOndray, Jr., USN), HMAS Hobart (Capt. R.S. Dowling, RAN) and the destroyers USS Haraden (Lt.Cdr. L.J. O'Brien, Jr., USN, with COMDESRON 51, T/Capt. H.J. Martin, USN), USS Stevens (T/Cdr. G.W. Pressey, USN), USS Shields (T/Cdr. G.B. Madden, USN, also COMDESDIV 115), USS Metcalf (T/Cdr. D.L. Martineau, USN), HMAS Warramunga (Cdr. M.J. Clark, DSC, RAN) and HMAS Bataan (Cdr. H.M. Burrell, RAN) departed Subic Bay for exercises.
Around 0800I/31, the heavy cruiser USS New Orleans (T/Capt. J.E. Hurff, USN) and the destroyers USS Bell (T/Cdr. B.H. Shupper, USN) and USS Burns (T/Cdr. J.T. Bullen, Jr., USN) departed Manila Bay for exercises.
Exercises commenced around 0930I/31.
Around 1515I/31, USS Carbonero proceeded to Subic Bay escorted by USS Hart. USS Hart then rejoined USS Wiley around 1730I/31 and both destroyers then joined the other ships of Task Force 74 for the exercises.
During the night of 31 July / 1 August, USS Stevens and USS Metcalf were detached to serve as picked destroyers. They rejoined shortly after 0700I/1.
On the two above destroyers rejoining, USS Bell and USS Burns detached for A/S exercises with USS Carbonero.
AA exercises were conducted during the morning of 1 August and at noon USS Bell and USS Burns rejoined on completion of their A/S exercises, which were then taken over by USS Stevens and USS Metcalf.
The remainder of the day was spent conducting gunnery and tactical exercises. Around 1645I/1, USS Stevens and USS Metcalf rejoined on completion of their A/S exercises.
Around 2130I/1, USS Bell and USS Hart were detached to take up picket stations for the night. They rejoined around 0700I/2.
Around 1400I/2, USS San Francisco, USS Haraden, USS Stevens and HMAS Bataan parted company to proceed to Manila Bay where they arrived around 1630I/2.
The remainder of Task Force 74 arrived at Subic Bay around the same time.
17 Aug 1945
HMAS Shropshire (Capt. C.A.G. Nichols, MVO, DSO, RN, flying the broad pendant of Commodore J.A. Collins, CB, RAN), HMAS Hobart (Capt. R.S. Dowling, RAN), HMAS Warramunga (Cdr. M.J. Clark, DSC, RAN) and HMAS Bataan (Cdr. H.M. Burrell, RAN) departed Subic Bay for Japan via Leyte and Okinawa.
They arrived in Tokyo Bay on 31 August 1945.
Media links
|
Sources
- War diary Manus naval base for July 1945 + War diary of COMCRUDIV 15 for July 1945
- War diary COMDESDIV 102 for July 1945
As an Amazon Associate uboat.net earns a commission from qualifying purchases.