HMAS Marlean

HMAS Marlean (Q20) was a channel patrol boat operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during World War II.[1] She was one of thirteen similar vessels, known to Sydney siders as the 'Hollywood Fleet'.[1]

HMAS Marlean on Sydney Harbour
History
Australia
Name: Marlean
Builder: J. Williams & Sons, Bayview
Completed: 1938 and launched 1939
History
Australia
Name: HMAS Marlean
Honours and
awards:
Fate: Destroyed by fire and explosion in 1944
General characteristics

Prior to the War, she was a private vessel built by J. Williams & Sons in 1938 and launched in 1939.[1]

She was requisitioned and later commissioned by the RAN on 30 November 1941 under the command of Warrant Officer L P Smith RANR(S). Marlean was armed with .303 Vickers machine guns fore and aft and depth charge racks on the stern.[1]

During the Battle of Sydney Harbour on 31 May and 1 June 1942, following the first explosions, Marlean proceeded to the western end of the boom net to assist the protection of the harbour.  Following the Battle of Sydney Harbour (often referred to as the Attack on Sydney Harbour), HMAS Marlean continued patrol duties at Sydney, Port Kembla, and Newcastle.[1]

On 14 April 1944, the command of Marlean was transferred to the Naval Auxiliary Patrol (NAP) unit of the RAN.[1]

Marlean was awarded a Battle Honour for her wartime service, "Darwin 1942".[2][3] However, there is no evidence that confirms she served in Darwin during World War II.[1]

Fate

Marlean was consumed by fire and the explosion of a depth charge at Obelisk Bay, Sydney Harbour on 12 November 1944.[1]

Notes
  1. "Lolita and the Hollywood Fleet". www.lolitaandthehollywoodfleet.com. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  2. "Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours". Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  3. "Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours" (PDF). Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.

References
  • Blunt, William; Lolita and the Hollywood Fleet, First Edition, May 2020. ISBN 978 0 6488420 0 2
  • Wilson, Michael; Royal Australian Navy 21st Century Warships, Naval auxiliaries 1911 to 1999 including Defence Maritime Services, Profile No. 4 - Revised Edition, Topmill Pty Ltd, Marrickville. ISBN 978-1-876270-72-8


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.