HMAS Launceston (J179)

HMAS Launceston (J179/B246/A120), named for the city of Launceston, Tasmania, was one of 60 Bathurst class corvettes constructed during World War II and one of 20 built for the Admiralty but manned by personnel of and commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Construction
Launceston was laid down by Evans Deakin & Co at Brisbane, Queensland on 23 December 1940. She was launched on 30 June 1941 by the wife of William Forgan Smith, then Premier of Queensland, and was commissioned into the RAN on 9 April 1942.

RAN service
After entering service, Launceston was initially assigned to convoy escort duties in Australian waters before sailing to Colombo in September 1942 to join the British Eastern Fleet. The corvette as used to escort convoys across the Indian Ocean. On 11 February 1944, Launceston, sister ship HMAS Ipswich and the Indian sloop HMIS Jumna destroyed Japanese submarine RO-110. Convoy duties continued until September 1944, when the corvette returned to Fremantle for refit. After refit, Launceston operated from Fremantle as an anti-submarine patrol ship until February 1945, when she was sent to Manus Island to join the British Pacific Fleet. As part of the Pacific Fleet, the corvette was involved in the Battle of Okinawa.

Following the end of World War II, Launceston was based in Hong Kong as a minesweeper and anty-piracy patrol ship, before returning to Australia in late 1945. Official visits were made to cities in Tasmania, including the corvette's namesake city, before the corvette sailed to Sydney.

The corvette received four battle honours for her wartime service: "Pacific 1942-45", "Indian Ocean 1942-44", "East Indies 1944", and "Okinawa 1945".

Turkish service
After the war's end, Launceston was marked for transfer to the Turkish Navy. The corvette was placed in reserve in mid-April 1946, then was recommissioned into the Royal Navy on 21 May as HMS Launceston for the transfer. The corvette, along with sister ships Pirie and Gawler sailed for Colombo, where they were commissioned into the Turkish Navy.

Launceston was initially named TCG Ayancik, but was later renamed TCG Hamit Naci. The ship was withdrawn from service in 1965.