Description
Description: RAN Tally Band – HMAS – Macquarie – circa 1950s
Maker’s Name: N/A
Condition: Very Good
Comments: Royal Australian Navy – Tally Band – HMAS Macquarie – circa 1950s.
MAS Macquarie (K532/F532) was a River class frigate constructed during World War II and serving in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Macquarie was laid down by Morts Dock and Engineering Company at Balmain, New South Wales. She was launched on 3 March 1945, and commissioned into the RAN on 7 December 1945.
Macquarie was one of eight River class frigates constructed in Australia for service in the RAN. She was named after the Macquarie River in New South Wales. Although constructed as part of the Australian wartime shipbuilding program, Macquarie did not enter service until after the end of World War II.
Following working up trials, Macquarie sailed from Sydney to New Guinea on 31 January 1946, to commence a three month deployment. During this deployment she was involved in the salvage of Japanese tanker Naruto. She returned to Sydney in April, but sailed in June to Indonesia, where she was involved in war crimes trials and grave registration. On her return to Australia in October, she was decommissioned into reserve, on 19 December 1946.
Macquarie was recommissioned on 15 August 1952. Her first deployment was in support of the first British atomic test, Operation Hurricane.
Macquarie was paid off for a second time on 17 March 1954. She was sold for scrap on 5 July 1962.
Loose threads on tally else a very scarce 1950s period RAN Tally.