RAFA Kurumba
Subsequent name: Angeliki Evangelos
Official Number: 139178
Class: Oiler
Pennant No: X36 / X55 / X64
Signal Letters GVRN in 1919
Laid down: 14 August 1914
Builder: Swan Hunter WR, Wallsend on Tyne,
Launched: 14 September 1916
Into Service: 7 December 1916
Out of service: 11 March 1919
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: She had a very short life with the Admiralty before being taken over by the Australian Navy where she was not all that successful either
14 September 1916 launched by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend as Yard Nr: 973 named KURUMBA to the order of the Australian Commonwealth Government
23 September 1916 Engineer Lieutenant William Richardson RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
18 November 1916 Lieutenant John Henry Jones RNR appointed in command
26 November 1916 under took builders trials
7 December 1916 completed at a cost of £141,000. Served as an RFA until 1919
18 January 1917 entered in the ships log book – 2nd Officer Magnus Cromarty cautioned severely and warned respecting his sobriety on 14 January 1917
28 January 1917 in collision with ss Unio suffering slight damage – no further details available
ss Unio
5 March 1917 copy of minute from C in C Rosyth to Flag Captain and Fleet Coaling Officer – 2nd Officer of RFA Kurumba – “In view of the definite statement of the Senior Medical Officer, RN Hospital, Granton, a notation that this officer was drunk on shore on 17 February 1917 is to be made in the log book of the RFA Kurumba and he is to be cautioned that any further misconduct on his part will be severely dealt with.
9 March 1917 entered in the ships log book – In accordance with directions from C in C Rosyth per his minute on 5 March 1917 it is hereby noted that Mr Magnus Cromarty, 2nd Officer, was drunk on shore on 17 February 1917 and was personally cautioned on this date in my presence on HMS Columbine by the Fleet Coaling Officer – Commander Duncan RN and informed that any further misconduct on his part would be severely dealt with.
10 November 1917 Fireman Walter Gardner MMR 640188 logged as deserted
11 November 1917 Lieutenant Ernest G Enright RNR appointed in command until 15 April 1918
Lieutenant Ernest G Enright RNR
13 February 1918 in collision with USS Los Angeles – further details currently unknown
15 April 1918 Lieutenant John Henry Jones RNR appointed in command until 10 April 1919 when he was transferred to RFA PERTHSHIRE
Lieutenant John H Jones RNR
3 September 1918 Fireman George Evans MMR 902043 logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on 21 March 1918
Fireman George Evans MMR 902043
9 October 1918 2nd Officer Henry C Horlock MMR appeared before a court martial charged with (a) wilful disobedience of lawful command and (b) improperly leave his ship. The charges were adjudged proved. He was adjudged to be dismissed his ship and to be severely reprimanded. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were pleased to annul sentence on the ground that it was not proved that the act which formed the subject of the first charge was an act to the prejudice of good order and naval discipline.
27 November 1918 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS TALBOT refuelling her also alongside HMS TORCH refuelling her with 64 tons of FFO
HMS TALBOT
9 December 1918 Fireman Albert Jones MMR 852697 and Trimmer Francis Keys MMR 951348 both logged as deserting the ship. Both had signed on on the 14 August 1918.
15 February 1919 Engineer Lieutenant William Joseph Martin Richardson RNR discharged dead. He had signed on on 1 October 1916. He is remembered on a screen wall in the City of London & Tower Hamlets Cemetery
Courtesy of and © The War Graves Photographic Project
11 March 1919 RFA Kurumba was handed over to the Royal Australian Navy and sailed for Australia in the middle of April 1919 from South Shields. Captain P Gibson being appointed as Master
10 June 1919 arrived at Singapore and sailed on 12 June 1919 for Australia via Tarakai
16 July 1919 arrived at Sydney, NSW, Australia
17 July 1919 the Sydney Daily Telegraph reported –
26 September 1919 Captain Frederick C Plater RD RAFA (Acting Lieutenant Commander RANR) appointed as Master and Warrant Engineer Clarence K Brown RANR appointed as 1st Engineer. The ship sailed from Cockatoo Island for trials this day. She returned to her berth later the same day
1 October 1919 sailed from Sydney, NSW to Queensland ports
9 November 1919 berthed at Darwin
25 November 1919 arrived at Sydney, NSW
12 February 1920 sailed Sydney, NSW for Brisbane
26 February 1920 the Australian Government advertised in the Government Gazette –
22 March 1920 arrived at Sydney, NSW from Townsville
12 April 1920 while at Sea Scullion Stephen Gray discharged dead having disappered
30 May 1920 arrived at Sydney, NSW
6 September 1920 arrived at Sydney, NSW
30 October 1920 arrived at Sydney, NSW
11 December 1920 arrived at Sydney, NSW
21 December 1920 the ship’s Master was promoted to substantive Lieutenant Commander RANR by the Royal Australian Navy
31 December 1920 the Auditor General of Australia reported that Captain Gibson had been given certain advances in cash by the High Commissioner for Australia in the UK but on examination by the Naval Office the accounts totalling £4,576/3/7d furnished in support of his expenditure, showed evidence of fraud. The net amount improperly vouched for was approximated £1,500. The Navy Office considered that a large number of claims were not actually paid by the Master being supported by forged vouchers. The Commonwealth Crown Solicitor expressed the opinion that if a prosecution for forgery were instituted it would probably be successful, but that it would cost £500 to extradite Captain Gibson who had returned to the United Kingdom. The Naval representative London had been instructed to accept without prejudice an amount of £500 offered by Captain Gibson’s solicitor. It was also stated that the latter would be prepared to consider payment of a further amount when Captain Gibson’s explanation had been considered by the Navy Department. Advise of the settlement of the matter was awaited by the Auditor-General at the time of the preparing of his report
31 March 1921 arrived at Sydney, NSW
17 June 1921 sailed Sydney, NSW for Borneo
20 July 1921 arrived at Sydney, NSW
29 July 1921 arrived at Sydney, NSW
4 September 1921 arrived at Sydney, NSW
30 November 1921 moved from Garden Island, Sydney NSW to No: 13 buoy
19 December 1921 reported as being in reserve with eleven other ships of the Royal Australian Navy fleet
5 May 1922 Lieutenant Commander Frederick C Plater RD RANR appointed in command and Engineer Lieutenant RANR (Temporary) David Pemberton appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 May 1922 Australian Merchant Navy crew replaced with RAN sailors due to the Merchant Navy Crew’s Union demanding too much pay for their members. Ship commissioned as a Royal Australian Naval vessel this day.
23 May 1922 berthed at Townsville to load 200 tons of coal for her bunkers before sailing to Borneo to load oil cargo
21 December 1922 the Australian Gazette published details of four officers appointed to the ship
22 February 1923 entered refit at Cockatoo Dockyard
12 April 1923 arrived at Sydney, NSW
2 May 1923 berthed at Balik Papan to load
20 May 1923 arrived at Sydney, NSW
21 May 1923 at Sydney, NSW loaded 630 tons of bunker coal
25 May 1923 the Sydney Daily Telegraph reported –
8 June 1923 Warrant Engineer Clarence K Brown RANR appointed as Chief Engineer
9 June 1923 a further union dispute over the supply of a new cook to the ship delayed her sailing for one week
11 June 1923 union dispute settled – she sailed Melbourne for Sydney, NSW with a cook provided by the Cooks Union
17 June 1923 arrived at Sydney, NSW
18 June 1923 at Sydney, NSW loaded 595 tons of bunker coal
23 June 1923 sailed Sydney, NSW for Borneo to load
8 July 1923 arrived at Balik Papan
26 July 1923 arrived at Sydney, NSW
8 August 1923 Commander Frederick C Plater RD RANR appointed as Master. The Master had been promoted substantive Commander RANR by the Royal Australian Navy on the 1 July 1923
8 August 1924 at Sydney, NSW loaded 630 tons of bunker coal
27 April 1924 at Sydney, NSW loaded 240 tons of bunker coal
22 May 1925 sailed Sydney NSW for Tarakan to load
27 August 1925 at Sydney, NSW loaded 208 tons of bunker coal
2 September 1925 at Melbourne loaded 4,248 tons of FFO as cargo
4 September 1925 arrived at Sydney, NSW from Melbourne.
13 October 1925 broke her moorings at Garden Island, Sydney Harbour during stormy weather and drifted towards Point Piper. Tugs returned her to Garden Island. Her hull suffered minor paint damage
2 February 1926 arrived at Sydney, NSW
6 March 1926 at Port Melbourne loaded 4,194 tons of FFO as cargo
17 March 1926 at Port Melbourne loaded 4,214 tons of FFO as cargo
20 May 1926 position of 4th Engineer Officer vacant – position advertised in the Sydney Morning Herald
19 September 1926 arrived at Sydney, NSW from Melbourne
24 September 1926 reports that after signing off her crew the ship was to be laid up, as circulated in the Australian press this day, appear to be somewhat premature
17 February 1927 loaded 201 tons of bunker coal and 4,189 tons of FFO as cargo
22 February 1927 berthed at Sydney from Melbourne
20 April 1927 berthed at Melbourne to refuel HMS Renown
23 April 1927 sailed Melbourne for Sydney NSW
3 November 1927 Storekeeper Alfred Henry Stevens and Lamp Trimmer Robert Forbes both discharged dead after the sinking of the Sydney Harbour ferry Greycliffe
The RAFA Ensign
3 January 1928 at Sydney, NSW loaded 695 tons of bunker coal
6 January 1928 sailed Syndey NSW for Tarakan to refuel Royal Australian Naval ships. It was reported that she had been lying idle off Garden Island for some months
2 March 1928 passed Thursday Island
12 March 1928 sailed Sydney, NSW for Melbourne
21 April 1928 arrived at Brisbane
2 May 1928 sailed Sydney, NSW for Balik Papan
11 May 1928 stood by a grounded ship ss Hyacinthus on Thursday Island, Australia until the ship managed to float itself clear.
4 June 1928 arrived at Sydney, NSW to paid off into reserve at Cockatoo Island
14 June 1929 while in reserve converted to oil burning boilers
12 May 1931 Commonwealth Naval Orders reported that RAFA Kurumba’s radio call sign was to be VJLY
9 May 1932 while in reserve brought forward for refit
October 1933 Ship Keeper while in reserve at Sydney – Percy V Hugo RD (Retired Captain RANR (S))
28 December 1938 while in reserve brought forward for refit at Garden Island, Sydney
4 September 1939 brought forward from reserve – Captain Alfred H Turnley RAFA appointed in command
19 September 1939 sailed Sydney NSW to Darwin arriving 29 September 1939
7 October 1939 sailed Darwin to Freemantle
16 October 1939 at Freemantle berthed alongside HMAS SYDNEY to refuel her
25 October 1939 at Freemantle berthed alongside HMAS SYDNEY to refuel her
RAFA Kurumba alongside believed in 1939
RAFA Kurumba alongside behind the railway wagon at Fremantle
RAFA Kurumba’s crew sunbathing
(three images kindly donated by Eric Heath)
5 December 1939 refuelled HMAS SYDNEY alongside
6 December 1939 Captain Alfred Herbert Turnley RD RAFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR Rtd) discharged dead. He was killed in a motor vehicle accident in Melbourne
8 December 1939 the Sydney Morning Herald reported the death of Captain Turnley thus –
10 December 1939 refuelled HMAS SYDNEY alongside
23 January 1940 sailed Freemantle to Sydney arrived 3 February 1940
February 1940 Lieutenant Commander Andrew V Bunyan RANR appointed Acting in Command
2 March 1940 arrived at Sydney
7 March 1940 sailed Sydney to Melbourne arriving 9 March 1940
9 March 1940 sailed Melbourne to Fremantle arriving 16 March 1940
April 1940 Captain Jack T Mawrey RAFA (Lieutenant (Temp) RANR) appointed as Master
19 July 1940 sailed Freemantle to Sydney, NSW arriving 12 August 1940
12 August 1940 sailed Sydney, NSW to Melbourne arriving 14 August 1940
16 August 1940 to Freemantle arriving 21 August 1940
16 April 1941 sailed Freemantle with troops onboard
20 July 1941 sailed Melbourne to Sydney, NSW arriving 23 July 1941
30 July 1941 sailed Sydney, NSW to Freemantle arriving 9 August 1941
7 February 1942 sailed Freemantle to Melbourne arriving 14 February 1942
16 February 1942 sailed Melbourne to Sydney, NSW arrived 19 February 1942
March 1942 used by the United States Navy
31 March 1942 sailed Sydney, NSW to Brisbane arriving 3 April 1942
30 April 1942 sailed Brisbane to Hervey Bay with HMAS BINGERA
1 May 1942 Task Force 44 sailed from Sydney – HMAS AUSTRALIA and HMAS HOBART- they refueled from Kurumba at Hervey Bay on 2 May 1942 before joining US Force and took part in the Battle of the Coral Sea
2 May 1942 at Hervey Bay HMAS AUSTRALIA and USS Whipple (DD217) along side and refuelled
3 May 1942 streamed paravanes and returned to Brisbane with HMAS BINGERA
4 May 1942 sailed from Brisbane under escort
11 May 1942 Task Group 17.3 returning to Australia and refueled from Kurumba at Cid Harbour
14 May 1942 returned to Brisbane
30 May 1942 sailed Brisbane to Townsville arriving on 2 June 1942
2June 1942 at Townsville with HMAS SWAN alongside to refuel
9 June 1942 at Townsville with HMAS’s CESSNOCK and BENDIGO alongside to refuel
HMAS BENDIGO
10 June 1942 at Townsville with HMAS COLAC alongside to refuel
12 June 1942 sailed Townsville under escort to Brisbane arriving 14 June 1942
9 July 1942 off Pile Light, Brisbane with HMAS HOBART and USS BAGLEY (DD386) alongside to refuel
14 July 1942 at Brisbane with HMAS HOBART berthed alongside
15 July 1942 sailed Brisbane to Townsville arriving 17 July 1942
18 July 1942 anchored in Townsville Roads with HMAS DELORAINE alongside to refuel
HMAS DELORAINE
19 July 1942 at Townsville with HMAS CESSNOCK alongside to refuel. HMAS CESSNOCK slipped the following day
23 July 1942 at Townsville with HMAS KATOOMBA alongsideside to be refuelled. Then sailed gtom Townsville to Brisbane arriving 25 July 1942
6 August 1942 sailed Brisbane in escorted convoy A1 to Cid Harbour arriving on 12 August 1942
25 August 1942 sailed Townsville to Brisbane arriving 27 August 1942
1 September 1942 at Cleveland Bay with HMAS KATOOMBA alongside to be refuelled
5 September 1942 sailed Townsville in convoy PQ3/1 to Port Moresby arriving on 8 September 1942
9 September 1942 sailed Port Moresby escorted by HMAS BENDIGO
14 September 1942 arrived at Brisbane sailing on 17 September 1942
17 September 1942 sailed Caloundra in unescorted convoy PQ3 to Sydney, NSW arriving 19 September 1942
20 September 1942 sailed Sydney, NSW in unescorted convoy GP15 to Brisbane
29 September 1942 sailed Sydney, NSW in convoy GP15/1 – on 1 October 1942 joined convoy BT18/1 to Darwin
7 October 1942 arrived at Thursday Island
8 October 1942 sailed Thursday Island under escort to Darwin arriving 11 Ocober 1942
12 October 1942 sailed Darwin to Thursday Island arriving 16 October 1942
16 October 1942 sailed Thursday Island (after 1 hour in port) to Townsville and then to Brisbane arriving 21 October 1942
25 October 1942 off the Pile Light, Brisbane with HMAS HOBART alongside to refuel – supplied 249 tons of FFO
HMAS HOBART
26 October 1942 sailed Brisbane in unescorted Convoy BT11 to Townsville arriving 30 October 1942
31 October 1942 in the Outer Harbour of Townsville with HMAS BROOME alongside to refuel
1 November 1942 at Cleveland Bay with HMAS BENDIGO alongside being refuelled
3 November 1942 sailed Townsville to Brisbane arriving 5 November 1942
7 November 1942 sailed Brisbane to Sydney, NSW arriving 10 November 1942
13 November 1942 sailed Brisbane in unescorted Convoy BT 18 to Townsville arriving 16 November 1942
22 November 1942 sailed from Townsville to Port Moresby in Convoy K arriving on 25 November 1942 escorted by HMAS’s LITHGOW and WARREGO
27 November 1942 sailed Port Moresby
29 November 1942 arrived at Milne Bay escorted by HMAS LITHGOW and then refuelled her alongside
30 November 1942 at Milne Bay HMAS BALLARAT secured alongside to refuel
10 December 1942 at Gili Gili, Milne Bay HMAS BROOME secured alongside to refuel
12 December 1942 at Milne Bay HMAS COLAC secured alongside to refuel
15 December 1942 at Gili Gili, Milne Bay HMAS’s BALLARAT and COLAC secured alongside to refuel
20 December 1942 at Gili Gili, Milne Bay HMAS’s BALLARAT and COLAC and HMAS BROOME secured alongside to refuel
22 December 1942 being escorted to Brisbane via Townville by HMAS LITHGOW
13 February 1943 sailed Caloundra in unescorted convoy PG37A to Sydney, NSW arriving 15 February 1943
17 February 1943 sailed Sydney NSW in convoy GP39/1 to Townsville arriving 22 February 1943
24 February 1943 sailed Townsville in convoy TN41 to Port Moresby arriving 26 February 1943 with HMAS BOWEN as escort
28 February 1943 sailed Port Moresby to Townsville escorted by HMAS BOWEN
2 March 1943 sailed Townsville in escorted convoy TS18/1 to Brisbane arriving 5 March 1943
6 March 1943 sailed Caloundra in unescorted convoy PG37A to Syndey NSW arriving 8 March 1943 during which her starboard tail shaft fractured
17 March 1943 sailed Sydney in convoy GP39/1 to Brisbane arriving 19 March 1943
19 March 1943 being escorted by HMAS LITHGOW
20 March 1943 sailed Caloundra in unescorted convoy BT46/1 to Townsville arriving 22 March 1943
26 March 1943 at Thursday Island alongside HMAS ECHULA refuelling her
27 March 1943 sailed Thursday Island in escorted Convoy TD 16 to Darwin arriving 31 March 1943
1 April 1943 sailed Darwin in unescorted Convoy DT 16 to Thursday Island arriving 5 April 1943
11 April 1943 arrived at Brisbane
16 April 1943 sailed Caloundra in unescorted Convoy PG 45 to Sydney, NSW arriving 19 April 1943
21 April 1943 sailed Sydney in Convoy GP 47/1
22 April 1943 sailed Caloundra in unescorted Convoy BT 54/1 to Townsville
25 April 1943 sailed Moreton Bay, near Brisbane to Townsville, north Queensland in a convoy of 5 ships under escort of US Navy submarine chasers and within the Great Barrier Reef arriving 27 April 1943
28 April 1943 sailed Townsville in Convoy TN82 to Port Moresby escorted by USS SC738 arriving 1 May 1943
5 May 1943 HMAS SWAN alongside being refuelled
8 May 1943 sailed Townsville in escorted Convoy TS 29/1 to Brisbane arriving 12 May 1943
3 June 1943 sailed Caloundra in Convoy PG 53 to Sydney arriving 6 June 1943. While on passage her starboard tail shaft fractured. Vessel initially stopped then made way at very slow speed (3kts) escorted by HMAS BUNDABERG. Eventually towed to port
22 June 1943 sailed Sydney in Convoy GP 56/1 to Brisbane arriving 25 June 1943
25 June 1943 sailed Caloundra in escorted Convoy BV 71 to Townsville arriving and sailed 29 June 1943
2 July 1943 berthed Thursday Island (souce Admiralty War Diary)
3 July 1943 sailed from Thursday Island
6 July 1943 berthed at Darwin
7 July 1943 sailed from Darwin
11 July 1943 departed Thursday Island for Townsville (details from Commander Service Force, Seventh US Fleet, War Diary)
13 July 1943 arrived at Townsville
14 July 1943 sailed from Townsville
15 July 1943 arrived at Gladstone
21 July 1943 sailed Gladstone in unescorted Convoy LQ 3 to Caloundra arriving 23 July 1943
23 July 1943 arrived at Brisbane
12 August 1943 sailed Caloundra in escorted Convoy QL 6A to Townsville arriving 15 August 1943
26 August 1943 sailed from Townsville
28 August 1943 berthed at Gladstone
30 August 1943 sailed from Gladstone
31 August 1943 when on passage to Brisbane being escorted by HMAS STUART
4 September 1943 sailed Caloundra in escorted Convoy QL 9B to Townsville arriving 8 September 1943 with defects
12 September 1943 sailed Thursday Island in escorted Convoy TD32 to Darwin arriving 16 September 1943
17 September 1943 sailed Darwin in unescorted Convoy DT32 to Thursday Island arriving 21 September 1943
3 October 1943 sailed Moreton Bay escorted by HMAS GEELONG as far as Lady Elliott Island
14 October 1943 at Cleveland Bay with HMAS AUSTRALIA and USS Bagley (DD386) alongside to refuel
19 October 1943 sailed Townsville
21 October 1943 sailed Gladstone in unescorted Convoy LQ 22 to Brisbane arriving 22 October 1943
30 October 1943 sailed Caloundra in escorted Convoy QL 25 to Townsville when towing ML 429
4 November 1943 sailed Townsville in escorted Convoy TN175 to Port Moresby
20 November 1943 berthed at Dawin (details from Commander Service Force, Seventh US Fleet, War Diary)
17 November 1943 escorted by HMAS FREMANTLE sailed from Port Kennedy to Darwin arriving 20 November 1943
24 November 1943 at Darwin slipped and sailed to Thursday Island still being escorted by HMAS FREMANTLE
28 November 1943 sailed Thursday Island for Townsville
2 December 1943 berthed at Townsville
7 December 1943 sailed Gladstone in unescorted Convoy LQ 35 to Brisbane
25 December 1943 arrived at Townsville from Milne Bay (details from Commander Service Force, Seventh US Fleet, War Diary)
29 December 1943 at Gili Anchorage, New Guinea with USS Fulton (AS11) alongside to refuel – received 404,809 gallons of diesel oil
1 January 1944 at Gamadodo, Milne Bay, New Guinea with USS San Pablo (AVP30) alongside to refuel
21 February 1944 at Milne Bay, New Guinea with USS Hilo (AGP2) alongside to refuel
22 February 1944 and 23 February 1944 berthed at Milne Bay, New Guinea alongside USS Fulton (AS11) and refuelled her with 459,636 gallons of diesel
29 February 1944 arrived at Port Moresby (details from Commander Service Force, Seventh US Fleet, War Diary)
1 March 1944 at Port Moresby refuelled HMAS BARRARAT and then sailed escorted by HMAS BARRARAT to Cairns. Returned to Port Moresby when HMAS BARRARAT received orders that she was needed to search for a submarine reported sighted 12 miles off Port Moresby
4 March 1944 at Port Moresby refuelled HMAS BARRARAT and then sailed escorted by her to Euston Reef. HMAS BARRARAT then deployed on patrols at the entrance to Grafton Passage. Kurumba sailed independently to Cairns
30 June 1944 at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Able Seaman Francis George Allen discharged dead – natural causes. He is buried at Brisbane Cemetery, Queensland
27 August 1944 arrived at Townsville (details from Commander Service Force, Seventh US Fleet, War Diary)
2 September 1944 sailed Thursday Island in escorted Convoy TD71 to Darwin arriving 5 September 1944
9 September 1944 sailed Darwin in unescorted convoy DT80 to Thursday Island arriving 12 September 1944
14 September 1944 sailed Thursday Island (details from Commander Service Force, Seventh US Fleet, War Diary)
11 October 1944 sailed from the US Seventh Fleet Naval Base at Hollanidia (details from Commander Service Force, Seventh US Fleet, War Diary)
12 October 1944 and 13 October 1944 at Mios Woendi Anchorage, Padaido Island Group, Schouten Islands with USS Orion (AS18) to refuel – she received 264,357 gallons of diesel fuel oil. US Army Tug LT1 also alongside on 12 October 1944 to be refuelled
14 October 1944 at Mios Woendi Anchorage, Padaido Island Group, Schouten Islands with USS Susquehanna (AOG5) alongside to refuel – received 71,498 gallons of diesel oil
7 November 1944 and 8 November 1944 at Hollandia, Netherlands New Guinea with USS Salamonie (AO26) alongside to undertake a pump over – received 12,723 barrels of diesel oil
USS Salamonie (AO26)
10 November 1944 Able Seaman Gordon James Cree discharged dead having drowned. He is buried in Lae War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea in grave FF A 14
15 November 1944 at Humbolt Bay, Hollandia with USS Suamico (AO49) alongside to refuel – 7,940 barrels of diesel oil received
17 November 1944 at Tanah Merah Bay, New Guniea with USS Kephart (DE207) alongside to refuel
24 November 1944 berthed at Milne Bay, New Guinea. Sailed 9 December 1944 to Hollandia arriving 13 December 1944
26 December 1944 sailed Hollandia to Antape arriving 27 December 1944
14 January 1945 arrived at US Navalbase Hollandia
20 January 1945 at San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, Philippines with USS Sage (AM111) alongside to refuel – received 48,000 gallons
23 January 1945 at Leyte Gulf, Philippines with USS Jessie Rutherford (DE347) alongside to refuel – received 300 gallons of diesel oil. Also USS Hilo (AGP2) alongside to refuel – received 42,000 gallons of diesel oil
27 January 1945 and 28 January 1945 at San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, Philippines with USS Coolbaugh (DE217) alongside to refuel
5 February 1945 at San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, Philippines with USS PC-1603 alongside to refuel
8 February 1945 at San Pedro Bay, Leyte with USS Sage (AM111) alongside to refuel – received 26,720 gallons of fuel oil and USS Pursuit (AM108) also alongside to refuel – received 30,140 gallons of diesel oil
9 February 1945 at San Pedro Bay, Leyte with USS APC-2 to refuel
16 February 1945 sailed Leyte in escorted convoy IG9 to Hollandia arriving 22 February 1945
22 February 1945 arrived at the US Naval Base at Hollandia
23 February 1945 at Hollandia with USS Hilo (AGP2) alongside to be refuelled – received 42,000 gallons of diesel oil
USS Hilo (AGP2)
20 March 1945 at Brisbane after running aground and being refloated HMAS Vendetta berthed alongside Kurumba at SBSR Wharf
April 1945 Captain Jack B Davies RAFA (Temporary Lieutenant RANR (S)) appointed as Master
26 April 1945 sailed Hollandia in escorted convoy GI23 to Manila arriving 3 May 1945
26 May 1945 at San Pedro Bay with USS LSM217 alongsde to refuel
18 June 1945 arrived at Zamboanga together with an oiler Silver Cloud to await and refuel ships of Commander Task Group 78.3
23 June 1945 sailed Zamboanga to Iloilo to await and refuel ships of Commander Task Group 78.3
5 August 1945 at San Pedro Bay, Philippines with USS Hilo (AGP2) alongside being refuelled
26 August 1945 and 27 August 1945 at Basilan Strait, Zamboanga, Mindanao, Phillipines with USS Shikellamy (AOG47) alongside
28 August 1945 at Zamboanga, Mindanao, Phillipines with USS Wachapregue (AGP8) alongside being refuelled with diesel oil – 63,312 gallons supplied
23 September 1945 relieved at the Naval Base at Zamboanga by the USS Shikellamy (AOG47) as the base diesel oil fueller (Source US Naval War Diary OIC Naval Base Zamboanga)
12 October 1945 arrived at Balik Papan. HMAS BARCOO berthed alongside to refuel
13 October 1945 off Balikpapan HMAS HAWKESBURY berthed alongside to refuel – received 260 tons of FFO – then sailed to Macassar
HMAS HAWKESBURY
1 November 1945 berthed at Brisbane. Sailed – hove to at 23°40S 15°24E steering engine broken endeavouring to return. Signalled for assistance
6 January 1946 at Brisbane when under tow by tugs Fearless and Forceful to be docked at the Cairncross Dry dock broke adrift from the tow near the Victoria Bridge. The ships stern swung with tide and collided with HMS BARTHORPE, the deep sea tug Rock Glen and the tanker Empire Crest. All four ships suffered damage
13 March 1946 sailed Cairns to Port Moresby arriving 15 March 1946
16 March 1946 sailed Port Moresby to Rabaul arriving 20 March 1946
20 March 1946 at Rabaul with HMAS ARUNTA alongside
3 April 1946 at Simpson Harbour, Rabaul assisting HMAS ECHUEA remove a damaged sweep cable
5 April 1946 to 9 April 1946 berthed with HMAS DELORAINE alongside at Simpson Harbour, Rabaul during operation Kilduke – clearing mines
3 May 1946 at Simpson Harbour, Rabaul refuelled HMAS DELORAINE alongside
14 May 1946 sailed Rabaul to Port Moresby
21 May 1946 sailed Thursday Island to Brisbane arriving 28 May 1946
29 June 1946 sailed Brisbane to Sydney
29 July 1946 destored and paid off into reserve (again) in Australia
15 March 1947 offered for sale by tender in the newspapers The Argus and the Sydney Morning Herald. The ship was ‘as is’ and could be inspected at Brisbane
80th Anniversary Cover of the de commissioning of HMAS Kurumba
January 1948 sold to Artemis Maritime Co Inc, Panama and renamed Angeliki
1 February 1948 sailed Brisbane to Colombo, Ceylon
1955 sold to Pappas Eleftheriades and renamed Evangelos
tanker Evangelos ex RFA/RAFA Kurumba
February 1965 laid up at Piraeus
28 January 1966 arrived at Castellon for breaking up.
Notes:
In the early 1920’s plans were announced for her conversion into a seaplane carrier but these never materialised as it would have taken her away from her prime role in fleet support. A similar plan was envisaged for the collier HMAS BILOELA