HMAS KANGAROO
IN AUSTRALIAN WATERS
DURING WW2

HMAS Kangaroo

HMAS Kangaroo was built at Cockatoo Island in Sydney in 1940. HMAS Kangaroo immediately moved to Darwin to assist with the construction of the largest boom defence in the world with a length of 3 1/2 miles. It commenced Boom Defence duties in Darwin Harbour on 13 January 1941. Her master was Lieutenant Cecil Frank Young (RAN).

On 19 February 1942, the Japanese carried out the first air raid on Darwin. HMAS Kangaroo was damaged and had one sailor, Norman Richard Moore (S3584), killed during the raid. He was a cook.

HMAS Kangaroo was repaired and returned to duties on 5 June 1942. She continued her Boom Defence duties in Darwin Harbour until 14 March 1944. She made a trip to the Solomons in 1944. In addition to its work as a Boom Working Vessel BWV, HMAS Kangaroo also salvaged the lightship Penguin and also rescued a policeman's wife from the flooded waters of the Daly River.

HMAS Kangaroo travelled to Timor at the end of the war for the Japanese Surrender Ceremony in September 1945. She stayed in Darwin until late 1945 and helped to dismantle the boom defence.

HMAS Kangaroo was paid off on 15 January 1946. HMAS Kangaroo left Darwin on 11 September 1946 in a convoy of seven ships. Three civilian ships were part of the convoy for navigational purposes. HMAS travelled to Sydney via Townsville and Brisbane. She moved to Sydney for a refit and was recommissioned again for Naval duties. She served with the 20th Minesweeping Flotilla in New Guinea and the Solomons in 1948. After that she served in Australian and New Guinea waters on miscellaneous duties until 1955.

She was paid off to Reserve in Sydney on 15 December 1955. HMAS Kangaroo was later used as a net layer and as an accommodation ship for base staff. She was sold to Hurley & Dewhurst Pty Ltd of Sydney on 28 August 1967. Her stripped down hull was lying in Homebush Bay, Sydney alongside the derelict tug "Bustler" for many years.

REFERENCE BOOKS

"Wrecks in Darwin Waters"
by Tom Lewis

"For Those in Peril - A comprehensive listing of the Ships and Men of the RAN who have paid the Supreme Sacrifice in the Wars of the 20th Century"
by Vic Cassells

Roll of Honour - Northern Territory Library

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Dianne Fitton and John Richards for their assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 18 February 2002

This page last updated 29 March 2022