| Navy | The Royal Australian Navy |
| Type | Minesweeper |
| Class | Bathurst |
| Pennant | J 206 |
| Built by | Morts Dock & Enginering Co. Ltd. (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) |
| Ordered | 12 Jun 1940 |
| Laid down | 19 Aug 1940 |
| Launched | 21 Dec 1940 |
| Commissioned | 14 Jun 1941 |
| End service | 8 Jun 1948 |
| History | Decommissioned into Reserve on 8 June 1948. |
Commands listed for HMAS Lithgow (J 206)
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. Alfred Victor Knight, RD, RANR(S) | Mar 1941 | ??? | |
| 2 | Lt. Stewart Gordon Wissell, RANR | ??? | Dec 1942 | |
| 3 | T/Lt. Charles Theodore Graham Haultain, RANR(S) | 1 Jan 1943 | 8 Oct 1944 | |
| 4 | Lt.Cdr. (emergency) David Logan, RAN | 25 Dec 1944 | 21 Mar 1945 | |
| 5 | Lt. Geoffrey Stanley Hill Champion, RANR(S) | 10 May 1945 | 3 Nov 1945 | |
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Notable events involving Lithgow include:
3 Jan 1942
Convoy VK 1.
[Note, there had been an earlier Convoy VK 1 in 1940/1941.]
This convoy departed Sydney on 3 January 1942.
It was made up of the following transports; Admiral Cole (American, 3545 GRT, built 1920), Asphalion (British, 6274 GRT, built 1924), Gabriella (Australian, 1593 GRT, built 1930), Hopecastle (British, 5178 GRT, built 1937), Kairanga (New Zealand, 2830 GRT, built 1922), Neleus (British, 6685 GRT, built 1911), Silverbeech (British, 5311 GRT, built 1926), Tuscan Star (British, 11449 GRT, built 1930) and Waroonga (British, 11243 GRT, built 1914).
On departure from Sydney, around 1800K/3, the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMAS Adelaide (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN), minesweeper HMAS Lithgow (Cdr. A.V. Knight, RD, RANR(S)) and the auxiliary A/S vessel HMAS Bingera (Lt.Cdr. N.R. Read, RAN).
Around 0600K/4, HMAS Lithgow was detached.
Around 1950K/4, HMAS Bingere was detached.
Around 1105M/8, the auxiliary M/S trawler HMNZS Rata (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) N.L. Mackie, RNR) joined.
Around 1400M/8, the auxiliary M/S trawler HMNZS Muritai (Lt.Cdr. A.B. Gilfillan, RNZNVR) joined.
The convoy arrived at Wellington on 9 / 10 January 1942.
14 Nov 1943
Convoy QL 29.
This convoy departed Brisbane on 14 November 1943.
It was made up of the following transports; Ban Hong Liong (British, 1671 GRT, built 1908), Cardross (Australian, 2515 GRT, built 1919), Floyd Bennett (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Francis G. Newlands (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Frank Joseph Irwin (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), John Alden (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), John Jacob Astor (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Murada (Australian, 3345 GRT, built 1921), Point San Pedro (American, 3303 GRT, built 1920), Tambua (Australian, 3566 GRT, built 1938) and William Beaumont (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943).
On departure from Brisbane it was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. J. Plunkett-Cole, RAN), minesweepers HMAS Geelong (A/Lt.Cdr. C.G. Hill, RANR(S)), HMAS Lithgow (T/Lt. C.T.G. Haultain, RANR(S)) and the patrol vessel SC-741 (Lt. C.K.S. Latus, USNR).
Around 2000L/15, near Lady Elliot Island, HMAS Vendetta and HMAS Geelong parted company to return to Brisbane. [No details on the other two escorts.]
HMAS Vendetta arrived at Brisbane around 1220L/16.
HMAS Geelong arrived at Brisbane around 1330L/16.
The convoy arrived at Townsville on 17 November 1943.
7 Apr 1944
HrMs K XII (Lt. Baron J.H. Mackay, RNN) departed Melbourne for Sydney.
From 7 April to 10 April HrMs K XII was escorted by HMAS Lithgow (T/Lt. C.T.G. Haultain, RANR(S)). From 11 April to 12 April HrMs K XII was escorted by HMAS Kybra (T/Lt. R.V.A. Corbett, RANR(S)) and two motor launches. (1)
14 Jan 1945
Convoy BG 510.
This convoy departed Sorido, Biak around 1900I/14.
It was made up of the following ships; Edwin Markham (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), El Morro (American (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1944) and Ludington (American, 8266 GRT, built 1920).
It was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) and the the minesweepers HMAS Gladstone (T/Lt. J.W. Penney, RANR(S)) and HMAS Lithgow (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) D. Logan, RAN , Senior Officer).
The convoy arrived at Morotai around 0800I/17. (2)
20 Jan 1945
Convoy GB 729.
This convoy departed Morotai around 1600I/20.
It was made up of the following ships; Edwin Markham (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), El Morro (American (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1944) and Stanford Newel (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943).
It was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt. G.S. Gordon, RAN) and the the minesweepers HMAS Gladstone (T/Lt. J.W. Penney, RANR(S)) and HMAS Lithgow (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) D. Logan, RAN , Senior Officer).
At 2148I/22, HMAS Vendetta was detached to search for the crew of an aircraft which had crashed into the sea near the convoy.
The convoy arrived at Biak around 2345I/22.
HMAS Vendetta arrived at Mios Woendi around 0040I/23 having abandoned her search around 2250I/22. (2)
Sources
- File 2.12.37.198 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Vendetta for January 1945