HMAS MAITLAND
NEWCASTLE, NSW
DURING WW2

HMAS Maitland, a shore based Naval Depot, was was established in Newcastle, New South Wales on 1 August 1940.

In December 1941, HMAS Maitland was in charge of the following two groups:-

• Group 77 Minesweepers AMA FY.81 HMAS Bermagui and AMA HMAS Narani

• Examination Service carried out by HMAS Adele

HMAS Maitland apparently comprised three components:-

• the training ship Tobruk

• Newcastle Customs House and

• the military establishment on Shepherd's Hill

The military establishment at Shepherd's Hill was used for coastal surveillance and wireless operations and was an important part of our coastal defences. HMAS Maitland worked very closely with Fort Scratchley.

NAA Plan showing location of HMAS Maitland
 just slightly north west of Fort Scratchley

At about 2.15 am on 8 June 1942, Japanese submarine I-21 under the command of Captain Kanji Matsumura, shelled Newcastle. HMAS Maitland and its attached vessels were involved in responding to this Japanese attack on Newcastle.

HMAS Maitland was decommissioned on 21 September 1946.

REFERENCES

Royal Australian Navy A - Z  Ships, Aircraft and Shore Establishments
by J.H. Straczek

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This page first produced 16 June 2007

This page last updated 15 January 2020