Allied Warships

HMAS Mildura (J 207)

Minesweeper of the Bathurst class


Photo courtesy of Allan C. Green Collection

NavyThe Royal Australian Navy
TypeMinesweeper
ClassBathurst 
PennantJ 207 
Built byMorts Dock & Enginering Co. Ltd. (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) 
Ordered31 Jul 1940 
Laid down23 Sep 1940 
Launched14 Mar 1941 
Commissioned23 Jul 1941 
End service11 Sep 1953 
History

Decommissioned into Reserve on 21 May 1948.
Recommissioned on 20 February 1951.
Decommissioned on 11 September 1953.
Sold to be broken up for scrap to the Brisbane Non-Ferrous Pty Ltd. on 8 September 1965.

 

Commands listed for HMAS Mildura (J 207)

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.

CommanderFromTo
1T/Lt. George Ewart Vaughan Owen, RANR(S)23 Jul 19415 Jan 1942
2Lt. Claude James Poingsdestre Guille, OBE, RANR(S)19 Jan 194221 Jul 1943
3Lt.Cdr. John Midford Little, RANR(S)21 Jul 194321 Nov 1945

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Notable events involving Mildura include:


3 Apr 1943

Convoy CO 85.

This convoy departed from Sydney and Newcastle on 3 April 1943.

The Sydney section was made up of the following transports; Juan de Fuca (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Talune (Australian, 2742 GRT, built 1930) and Thomas Kearns (American, 7194 GRT, built 1943).

On it's departure from Sydney, around 0900K/3, it was escorted by the minesweeper HMAS Bundaberg (Lt.Cdr. N.D. Pixley, RANR).

The Newcastle section was made up of the following transports; Age (Australian, 4734 GRT, built 1936), Carlisle (Australian, 1861 GRT, built 1919), Goulburn (Australian, 2367 GRT, built 1920), Mary Livanos (Greek, 4771 GRT, built 1938), Tai Yin (Norwegian, 6744 GRT, built 1929) and Wear (Australian, 1869 GRT, built 1911).

It was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. N.A. Mackinnon, RAN) which had departed Sydney around 0400K/3, to proceed to Newcastle and then pick up the Newcastle section and escort it to a rendezvous with the Sydney section.

Around 1630K/3, rendezvous was effected but HMAS Bundaberg had to return to Sydney due to one of her engine being defective. Minesweeper HMAS Mildura (Lt. C.J.P. Guille, OBE, RANR(S)) was then ordered to take over. She joined the convoy around 0350K/4.

Later two more transport coming from Port Kembla. These were the following; Colac (Australian, 3341 GRT, built 1920) and Michael L. Embiricos (Greek, 5202 GRT, built 1918).

Around 0800K/6, convoy OC 85 was met and both convoy exchanged escorts so HMAS Stuart and HMAS Mildura left the convoy and FFS Le Triomphant (Cdr. P.A.P. Ortoli) joined.

The convoy arrived at Melbourne later on the 6th.

5 Apr 1943

Convoy OC 85.

This convoy departed from Melbourne 5 April 1943.

It was made up of the following transports; Mernoo (Australian, 2417 GRT, built 1926), Mungana (Australian, 3351 GRT, built 1920) and Rahmani (British, 5463 GRT, built 1928).

On departure from Melbourne the convoy was escorted by the destroyer FFS Le Triomphant (Cdr. P.A.P. Ortoli).

Around 0800K/6, convoy CO 85 was met and both convoy exchanged escorts so FFS Le triomphant parted company and the destroyer HMAS Stuart (Lt.Cdr. N.A. Mackinnon, RAN) and minesweeper HMAS Mildura (Lt. C.J.P. Guille, OBE, RANR(S)) joined.

The convoy arrived at Sydney on 8 April 1943.

2 Sep 1944
HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. L.E. Tozer, RAN) and HMAS Mildura (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Little, RANR(S)) conducted exercises off Fremantle with the submarines Bonefish (T/Cdr. L.L. Edge, USN) and Hammerhead (T/Cdr. J.C. Martin, USN). (1)

14 Sep 1944
During 14 and 15 September 1944, HMS Spiteful (Lt.Cdr. F.H. Sherwood, DSC, RCNVR), conducted gunnery and attack exercises off Fremantle with HMAS Mildura (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Little, RANR(S)), these included night exercises. (2)

20 Sep 1944
During 20 and 21 September 1944, HMS Sea Rover (Lt. J.P. Angell, RN), conducted exercises off Fremantle. These included night exercises.

Several practice attacks were made on HMAS Mildura (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Little, RANR(S)). (3)

22 Sep 1944
HMS Storm (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E.P. Young, DSC, RNVR) ended her 7th war patrol (6th in the Far East) at Fremantle, Australia. She was escorted in by HMAS Mildura (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Little, RANR(S)). (4)

9 Nov 1944
During 9 and 10 November 1944, HMS Sea Rover (Lt. J.P. Angell, RN), HMS Spiteful (Lt.Cdr. F.H. Sherwood, DSC, RCNVR) and HMS Sturdy (Lt. W.St.G. Anderson, DSC, RNR) conducted exercises off Fremantle. These also included night exercises.

Convoy attack exercises were carried out during which HMAS Bunbury (Lt. J.F. Bleckman, RANR(S)), HMAS Inverell (Lt. A.I. Chapman, RANR(S)), HMAS Launceston (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E.J. Barron, RANR(S)), HMAS Mildura (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Little, RANR(S)) and HMAS Warrnambool (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) E.J.B. Wight, RAN) served as the targets. (5)

4 Dec 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Fremantle, Australia. She was escorted in by HMAS Mildura (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Little, RANR(S)).

At Fremantle she was refitted by a relief crew from Submarine Division 262 and USS Anthedon. She was also docked twice for repairs.

Sources

  1. Report of proceedings of HMAS Adelaide for September 1944
  2. ADM 173/18800
  3. ADM 173/18677
  4. ADM 199/1870
  5. ADM 173/18679

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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