HMAS DELORAINE

Date1941-1948

Object number00051918

NameShip's crest

MediumMetal.

DimensionsOverall: 170 x 128 x 20 mm, 333 g

ClassificationsCommemorative artefacts

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from the Menlove family

Terms

DescriptionLieutenant Commander Desmond Menlove commanded the corvette HMAS DELORAINE during WWII. The DELORAINE sank the first Japanese submarine during WWII.HistoryDesmond Aubrey Menlove was born in 1906 in Temora, New South Wales. He entered Naval College in 1920 and was appointed Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy Reserves (Sea Going) in August 1932. When war was declared in 1939 he mobilised with the Royal Australian Navy and was soon promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, in August 1940. On 22 November 1941 HMAS DELORAINE was commissioned in Sydney under the command of Desmond Menlove. HMAS DELORAINE was one of sixty Australian Minesweepers (commonly known as corvettes) built during World War II in Australian shipyards as part of the Commonwealth Government's wartime shipbuilding programme. Twenty were built on Admiralty order but manned and commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy. Thirty-six (including DELORAINE) were built for the Royal Australian Navy and four for the Royal Indian Navy. On 26 December 1941 HMAS DELORAINE sailed from Sydney for Darwin to begin its active operational career with a period of anti-submarine patrol duty in the Arafura Sea. It arrived at Darwin on 7 January 1942 and began duty protecting the harbour approaches. Japanese submarines were suspected of being in the area and at noon on 20 January DELORAINE, then at sea off Darwin, received a signal 'proceed forthwith to position 12°08´South, 130°10´ East, for submarine sighted 0630 today Tuesday'. At 14 ½ knots she proceeded as ordered. Earlier the same day a Japanese submarine had been detected and attacked by the American destroyer USS EDSALL, but it was not known if she had succeeded in inflicting damage. It was hoped DELORAINE would regain contact on the given course. At 1:35 pm a torpedo was seen approaching, the ship swung sharply and it passed ten feet astern. Immediately a good echo contact was obtained and within a matter of minutes the minesweeper dropped a pattern of six depth charges. Large patches of oil and great air bubbles burst to the surface. The attack continued and after DELORAINE had expended all of her charges, she was joined by her two sister ships HMAS KATOOMBA and HMAS LITHGOW, before departing to reload with depth charges from HMAS VIGILANT. Returning to rejoin KATOOMBA in the early hours of the following morning, DELORAINE obtained a second contact and dropped a further series of charges over the position. Post war investigation of Japanese records showed that the first attack had been successful, and DELORAINE, KATOOMBA, LITHGOW and EDSALL were officially credited with destroying the Japanese submarine I-124. It was the first enemy submarine sunk in Australian waters. On 28 June 1977 the Minister for Administrative Services signed a declaration under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976, that the remains of I-124 are an historic shipwreck. SignificanceThis material forms part of a large collection of photgraphs and other records of Desmond Menlove's career in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve as well as his career in merchant shipping. Desmond Menlove was famous for his role in sinking the first Japanese submarine in World War II, as Lieutenant Commander of HMAS DELORAINE. He also commanded HMAS KAPUNDA and HMAS LATROBE during World War II.