Souvenir pennant from HMAS ARUNTA

Datec 1950

Object number00014520

NamePennant

MediumTransfers on felt

DimensionsOverall: 285 x 610 mm, 0.05 kg

ClassificationsCommemorative artefacts

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Don Caporn

Terms

DescriptionThis landscape format triangular navy blue felt souvenir pennant shows the heraldic crest of HMAS ARUNTA - an Australian aboriginal squatting "pointing the bone" - surmounted by the naval crown and with 'RAN' within scroll work at its base. It also lists locations in The Philippines where HMAS ARUNTA saw action during WWII - Milne Bay, Goodenough Island, Timor, Woodlark Island, Trobriand Island, Gasmata, Arawe, Cape Gloucester, Saidor, Admiralty Islands, Hollandia, Wakde Island, Biak, Noemfoor, Aitape and Sansapor.HistoryIn the war years 1939 to 1945 Sydney's Cockatoo Island Dockyard constructed three Tribal class destroyers, named ARUNTA, WARRAMUNGA and BATAAN. ARUNTA was launched on 30 November 1940, and served in most of the South-West Pacific campaigns earning the following battle honours: Pacific 1942-45, New Guinea 1942-44, Leyte Gulf 1944, Lingayen Gulf 1945, and Borneo 1945. ARUNTA commissioned on 30 April 1942 and soon commenced operational duties as a convoy escort between east coast Australia and New Guinea. In 1943 ARUNTA assisted in the evacuation of guerrilla troops from Timor and later joined the RAN/USN Task Force 74. Other duties included escorts, patrols, troop landings and evacuations, and bombardment tasks during the amphibious campaigns in New Guinea, Bougainville and New Britain. In October 1944 ARUNTA took part in the reconquest of the Philippines, including bombardments at Leyte Gulf and the Battle of Surigao Strait. Further involvement in the Philippines campaign occurred in 1945, including supporting the landings of Australian troops at Wewak, Brunei Bay and Balikpapan. After the war ARUNTA served in Japanese waters as part of the occupation force. ARUNTA returned to Cockatoo dockyard in 1950 for a modernisation refit and then served in Korean waters, as well as part of FESR (Far Eastern Strategic Reserve) and finally a deployment to northern Australian waters for fishery patrols. On 21 October 1956 she paid off into Operational Reserve, finally being sold for scrap in November 1968. On 13 February 1969 ARUNTA sank 65 miles off the NSW coast while under tow to Formosa. ARUNTA is named for the Arrernte people of central Australia; and its motto is Conquer or Die. HMAS ARUNTA (II) is an ANZAC class frigate launched in 1996. SignificancePennants such as this offer a tangible memento of a ship's service.