Waterhen HMAS
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:01 pm
The HMAS Waterhen was an ex Royal Navy "W' class destroyer launched in 1918. After the First World War she was assigned to the 5th Flotilla (Atlantic Fleet which in 1925 became the 1st Mediterranean Flotilla).
The Waterhen was one of 5 destroyers transferred on loan to the Royal Australian Navy in 1933 to replace the ageing Anzac and S class destroyers. After the outbreak of the war all 5 destroyers were offered by the Royal Australian Navy to the Admiralty for service in the Mediterranean and became the 10th Flotilla (19th Division).
The 5 Australian Destroyers served with distinction during the withdrawal of Crete and the debacle which followed. During 1941 they became regular habitues of the "Tobruck Run" escorting the nightly supply-runs from Alexandria to Tobruck. It was on one such run that the Waterhen was badly hit by German and Italian bombers off Sollum on the 29 June 1941 and sank
the following day.
Gibraltar Philatelic.
Gibraltar SG694ms
The Waterhen was one of 5 destroyers transferred on loan to the Royal Australian Navy in 1933 to replace the ageing Anzac and S class destroyers. After the outbreak of the war all 5 destroyers were offered by the Royal Australian Navy to the Admiralty for service in the Mediterranean and became the 10th Flotilla (19th Division).
The 5 Australian Destroyers served with distinction during the withdrawal of Crete and the debacle which followed. During 1941 they became regular habitues of the "Tobruck Run" escorting the nightly supply-runs from Alexandria to Tobruck. It was on one such run that the Waterhen was badly hit by German and Italian bombers off Sollum on the 29 June 1941 and sank
the following day.
Gibraltar Philatelic.
Gibraltar SG694ms