HMAS Kiama

HMAS Kiama (J353), named for the coastal town of Kiama, New South Wales, was one of 60 Bathurst class corvettes constructed during World War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

After World War II, the corvette was one of four sold to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). She served as HMNZS Kiama (M353) from 1952 until 1976, when the corvette was paid off and marked for disposal.

Construction
Kiama was constructed by Evans Deakin & Co, at Brisbane, Queensland. She was laid down on 2 November 1942, and launched on 3 July 1943 by Mrs. G. Lawson, wife of the Minister for Transport. Kiama was commissioned into the RAN on 26 January 1944.

World War II
Kiama’s first deployment was in March 1944 to Milne Bay in New Guinea. From her arrival until September 1944, the corvette's main duty was to escort convoys along the New Guinea coastline, although a reassignment for the duration of June saw Kiama perform anti-submarine patrols in the Solomon Sea. In September, Kiama was used to transport soldiers between New Guinea and New Britain. On conclusion, she resumed her convoy escort role until the end of 1944, when she departed for Sydney. During her eight months in New Guinea waters, Kiama travelled over 30000 nmi, was at sea for more than 3,000 hours, performed shore bombardments in support of Australian operations, and sank a Japanese submarine off the coast of Manus Island.

The corvette arrived in Sydney on 21 December 1944. On 25 December, the crew was recalled from leave to go to the assistance of the liberty ship SS Robert J. Walker, which had been torpedoed by German submarine U-862. Kiama, along with HMA Ships Quickmatch and Yandra, and USS PC597 were dispatched to the last known location of the ship and began to search the area for the liberty ship's crew and the attacking submarine; finding the 67 survivors of the attack at 05:45 on 26 December but failing to locate U862. Kiama was assigned to anti-submarine patrols near Sydney for the final days of the year, before sailing to Adelaide for a month-long refit on 3 January 1945.

Post-refit, Kiama was assigned to Fremantle for two months of anti-submarine warfare exercises with United States, before returning to New Guinea on 7 May 1945. In May and June, the corvette performed several coastal bombardments in the Bougainville area. In July, Kiama transported Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester from New Guinea to the Solomon Islands, then spent the rest of the month moving troops and military cargo between these two locations. From 5 to 24 August, the corvette was based in Brisbane, before returning to New Guinea waters. Kiama spent the rest of 1945 as a troop and supply transport, minesweeper, and general duties vessel. When the war ended, Kiama took part in the Japanese surrenders at Rabaul and Kabieng.

Kiama returned to Sydney on 29 January 1946, and was decommissioned into Reserve on 3 April 1946. During her wartime service, the ship had been at sea for 6,369 hours, and had sailed a distance of 60822 nmi. She earned two battle honours: "Pacific 1944-45" and "New Guinea 1944".

Transfer to RNZN
On 5 March 1952, Kiama and three other Bathurst class corvettes (HMA Ships Echuca, Inverell, and Stawell) were transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). Kiama was commissioned into the RNZN, receiving the prefix HMNZS. Upon acquisition by New Zealand, the corvette was converted into a training ship. Kiama’s 4-inch gun and aft minesweeping equipment were removed, and replaced with two 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns. Two additional messdecks were installed aft; one to hold crew displaced by the modifications, the other to accommodate 30 trainees. Kiama was the last wooden-decked ship in the RNZN, and the last RNZN ship to use hammocks.

New Zealand singer Allison Durbin was adopted as the ship's mascot, with a large signed photograph of Allison hung in the ship's forward mess deck.

Kiama was on occasion assigned to the 27th Fisheries Protection Squadron. Other duties included search-and-rescue operations and transportation of scientific teams to small island along New Zealand's coastline.

In late 1967, Kiama sailed to Australia to visit her namesake town. She returned to New Zealand in early 1968.

Kiama was paid off for disposal on 19 August 1976.