HMAS Parramatta (U44)

For other ships of the same name, see HMAS Parramatta.

300px HMAS Parramatta
Career (Australia (RAN))
Namesake:	Parramatta River
Builder:	Cockatoo Island Dockyard
Laid down:	9 November 1938
Launched:	10 June 1939
Commissioned:	8 April 1940
Honours and awards:	Battle honours:' Libya 1941
Fate:	Torpedoed and sunk on 27 November 1941 by U-559
General characteristics
Class and type:	Grimsby class sloop
Displacement:	1,060 tons (standard), 1,515 tons (full load)
Length:	266 ft (81 m)
Beam:	36 ft (11 m)
Draught:	7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
Propulsion:	Parsons, steam turbines, 2 shafts. 2,000 shp
Speed:	16.5 knots (30.6 km/h)
Complement:	135
Armament:	3 x QF 4-inch (101.6 mm) Mk XVI Anti-aircraft guns 4 x 3 pounder guns, 1 x MG, 2 x Depth Charge Throwers, 2 x twin tubes for 21 inch torpedoes

HMAS Parramatta (U44), the second ship to bear that name, was a Grimsby class sloop of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) that served during World War II.

She was laid down on 9 November 1938 at the Cockatoo Island Dockyard at Sydney, New South Wales. She was commissioned into the RAN on 8 April 1940 and soon commenced duty as a convoy escort.

Commanded by Commander. J.H. Walker, Parramatta was escorting transports resupplying the Allied garrison at Tobruk, when she was torpedoed and sunk on 27 November 1941 by U-559 in position 32.20N, 24.35E. There were 24 survivors, but 138 men, including all officers, lost their lives.

References

• Sea Power Centre Australia - HMAS Parramatta (II)
• Warships of Australia, Ross Gillett, Illustrations Colin Graham, Rigby Limited, 1977, ISBN 0-7270-0472-7
• The Price of Admiralty, Paul McGuire, Lieutenant RANVR and Frances M. McGuire, Oxford United Press, 1944.