- Yes - In the Tech Tree.
- Yes - Event/BP.
- Yes - Premium.
- No - I would not like to see HMAS Alatna in game.
Description:
Built as a 62’ fast supply and medical launch for the Australian army for use within the Pacific campaign in the Second World War, she would be one of three of her class to serve within the Services Reconnaissance Department (SRD), and the only one modified to better suit their needs.
This suggestion is for her 1945 major refit.
History:
Building was started by Halvorsen & Sons Ltd at Ryde, NSW in mid 1943, being finished and commissioning on the 2nd of February 1944 directly into the RAN for use within the SRD. She would leave Darwin on the 10th of March 1944, arriving in the Timor Sea where she would scout small inlets and bays for use as supply dumps for future operations.
However she proved unreliable for these operations, mostly due to her leaky plywood construction, and poor engine quality, so she was laid up from April-June 1944. She would continue small operations until Mid-March 1945 where she would undergo a large refit. This included replacing the Radio sets, repair and replacement of hull segments, and the replacement of the Greys 8cyl Diesel engines with a single 275hp diesel (exact type is unknown). This both improved her reliability, (the main factor in her SRD problems), but also her speed, being able to reach 20kt instead of 15kt standard to the 62’ Launches.
After this refit she would sail in convoy for the Dutch East Indies, arriving at Morotai on the 29th August 1945, she would sail around small islands around this area, assisting with the evacuation with former POWs. She notably visited Manado, Balikpapan, and Makassar.
At the end of 1945, HMAS Alatna was seen as not particularly useful, and so she was transferred to the British Borneo Civil Administration, she was to be towed by HMAS Cessnock for her movement to Labuan, with the tow being transferred to HMAS Quickmatch at Tawitawi Island on the 30th of December.
As Quickmatch was in the Balabac Strait on the morning of the 1st of January 1946, the American merchantman SS Marine Runner was sighted astern, however she acted erratically and crossed her stern, unaware of the Alatna in tow, ramming and sinking Alatna without stopping. Boats from Quickmatch were deployed to pull survivors from the water, and seven men were rescued. However Able Seaman Raymond Dodgson was listed and missing and presumed Drowned.
An enquiry showed that the SS Marine Runner had not seen the Alatna, then posted no lookouts after the turn to cross the Quickmatch’s stern.
General Characteristics.
| Name: HMAS Alatna | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country: Australia | |||||
| Type: Motor Launch (SRD) | |||||
| Class name: 62’ Launch | |||||
| Year of commission: 1944 | |||||
| Refit: 1944 | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Dimensions: | |||||
| Length: 62ft (18.8m) o/a | |||||
| Beam: 14.6ft (4.45m) | |||||
| Draught: 3ft (0.9m) | |||||
| Displacement: 28t | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Propulsion: | |||||
| Powerplant: 1x 275 hp diesel engine | |||||
| Speed: 20kt | |||||
| Endurance: unknown | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Armament & sensors: | |||||
| Compliment: Eight | |||||
| Primary armament: 3x2 .303 Vickers | |||||
| Secondary armament: - nil | |||||
| Tertiary armament: - nil | |||||
| Sensors: - nil |
Sources
https://navyhistory.au/halvorsens-boat-building-during-ww2/3/
Works – Harold Halvorsen – People – collections.sea.museum/
https://navyhistory.au/wp-content/uploads/Issue-13-October-2017.pdf
Loss of HMAS Altana - New Years Day 1946 - Naval Historical Society of Australia
https://seapower.navy.gov.au/history/units/hmas-alatna
M.Turner, H.Donohue (2018). Australian Minesweepers at War, (p.169)
Gillett, R. (1983). Australian and New Zealand Warships 1914-1945 (p.185)