South Brisbane Dry Dock (Graving Dock), near South Bank Parklands, Brisbane, QLD, used during WW2

SOUTH BRISBANE DRY DOCK (GRAVING DOCK)
NEAR SOUTH BANK PARKLANDS,
BRISBANE, QLD
USED DURING WW2

The existence of a dry dock in Brisbane was one of the main factors in the US Navy's decision to establish a large Submarine Base at Capricorn Wharf at New Farm. The dock played a vital role in the maintenance and repair of many submarines as well as other Naval vessels.

Between April 1942 and December 1944, 51 US Navy submarines made 85 dockings at the South Brisbane Dry Dock. Many of these were to allow routine maintenance but some were required to carry out urgent repairs after damage in action against the Japanese.

Brisbane based submarine USS Growler was on patrol in the Solomons in early 1943. On 7 February 1943, USS Growler made a surface attack on a Japanese Naval vessel. The Japanese vessel opened fire and killed two of those on the bridge and wounded three others. The Japanese vessel then rammed the USS Growler. The Captain, Commander Howard Gilmore, who was one of the wounded, ordered the bridge to be cleared. The two other wounded men were dragged below. Commander Gilmore issued his final order "Take her down". He remained on the bridge and lost his life in order to save his boat. He was posthumously awarded the first submariner Medal of Honor.

USS Growler returned to Brisbane with the Executive Officer assuming command of the submarine. USS Growler had 18 feet of its bow bent at right angles. Evans Deakins & Co. at Rocklea manufactured a new bow for USS Growler which was fitted at the South Brisbane Dry Dock. USS Growler left the dry dock on 1 May 1943 with a nickel kangaroos painted on the new bow of the submarine. After this incident, USS Growler was known as the "Kangaroo Express". She was eventually lost in action in November 1944.

Many other submarines that were based at Capricorn Wharf had minor and/or major repairs carried out at the South Brisbane Dry Dock. The dry dock now houses the Queensland Maritime Museum.

At the Submarine Base at New Farm, The USS Growler's main hull
is pointed towards the CSR Sugar Refinery across the Brisbane River but
her battered bow is pointing towards Hawthorne

A new bow for USS Growler which had been
manufactured by Evans Deakins being lifted into place.

S-40	29 Apr 42
S-39	2 May 42
S-37	12 May 42 10 Aug 42
S-47	27 May 42 14 Aug 42 19 Feb 43
S-44	30 May 42 9 Sep 42
S-42	2 Jun 42 23 Sep 42 22 Nov 44 23 Dec 44
S-43	22 Jun 42 24 Oct 42 14 Feb 43?
S-46	1 Jul 42 27 Aug 42
S-41	10 Jul 42
S-45	26 Jul 42 7 Feb 45
Sculpin	30 Oct 42
Sailfish	5 Nov 42
Amberjack	9 Nov 42
Plunger	15 Nov 42
Snapper	2 Jan 43
Grampus	3 Feb 43
Grayback	7 Feb 43
Growler	23 Feb 43 3 Apr 43 15 Apr 43
Guardfish	2 Mar 43 27 Nov 43 9 Dec 43 17 Dec 43
Gato	11 Mar 43
Albacore	13 Mar 43 29 Sep 43 14 Dec 43
Tuna	4 May 43 12 Aug 43 17 Dec 43
Greenling	11 May 43
Scamp	17 May 43 12 Dec 43
Silversides	16 Jul 43 20 Mar 44
Grouper	19 Aug 43
Peto	22 Aug 43 30 Aug 43 11 Nov 43 16 Jan 44
Puffer	23 Aug 43
Balao	26 Sep 43 20 Jan 44
Blackfish	7 Oct 43 22 Feb 44
Drum	21 Oct 43
S-31	4 Nov 43
S-38	25 Jan 44
Darter	8 Mar 44 21 Aug 44
Cero	10 Mar 44 27 Aug 44
Tunny	24 Apr 44
Bashaw	16 May 44 9 Oct 44
Sea Horse	29 May 44
Mingo	31 May 44
Dace	4 Jun 44 24 Aug 44
Blue Gill	14 Jun 44
Flying Fish	14 Jul 44
Flounder	24 Jul 44 6 Oct 44
Sea Wolf	1 Sep 44
Permit	5 Sep 44
Pollack	24 Sep 44
Guavina	11 Oct 44
Gar	17 Oct 44
Stingray	20 Oct 44
Gabilan	7 Dec 44
Pintado	10 Jan 45

The South Brisbane Dry Dock is now the home for
the WW2 Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Diamantina

I need your help

Copyright

Disclaimer

Please e-mail me
any information or photographs

"Australia @ War"
8GB USB Memory Stick