HMAS Allenwood

Allenwood c. 1941, prior to entering naval service
History
Australia
Name	Allenwood
Owner	Allen Taylor and Co. Ltd
Builder	Ernest Wright, Tuncurry, New South Wales
Launched	1920
Fate	Beached upon Birdie Beach, Munmorah National Park, New South Wales and broken up in situ.
Australia
Name	Allenwood
Acquired	27 July 1941
Commissioned	16 September 1941
Decommissioned	31 November 1944
Fate	Returned to owners on 1 October 1946
General characteristics
Tonnage	398 Gross register tonnage
Length	147 ft (45 m)
Beam	35 ft (11 m)
Depth	8.2 ft (2 m)
Armament	1 × 12-pounder gun 1 × 20mm Oerlikon cannon 1 × .303-inch Vickers machine gun

HMAS Allenwood (FY18) was an auxiliary minesweeper operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during World War II. She was launched in 1920 by Ernst Wright at Tuncurry, New South Wales, Australia as Allenwood for Allen Taylor and Co. Ltd. The ship operated along the east coast of Australia, and was requisitioned by the RAN on 27 July 1941. She was returned to her owners in 1946 before being wrecked near Norah Head on 14 September 1951.

Operational history

Allenwood operated along the east coast of Australia in the coastal trade for Allen Taylor and Co. Ltd. On 16 September 1941, Allenwood was requisitioned by the RAN on 27 July 1941 for use as an auxiliary and fitted out. She was commissioned on 16 September 1941. During the war, Allenwood was based in Sydney. She was decommissioned into reserve on 31 November 1944 and returned to the owner, Allen Taylor & Co Ltd on 1 October 1946.

Fate

Allenwood aground

On 14 September 1951, under the command of Captain Boutrup, Allenwood ran aground on a sandbank at Birdie Beach, Munmorah National Park, north of Norah Head, New South Wales33.202186°S 151.613235°E / -33.202186; 151.613235, in foggy conditions. The vessel could not be removed from the sandbank and was sold for £601 and dismantled in situ.

References

• Gillett, Ross. Australian New Zealand warships, 1914–1945, Doubleday, Sydney, ISBN 0-86824-095-8