HMAS Kiama HMAS " Kiama " ( J353 ) , named for the coastal town of Kiama , New South Wales , was one of 60 " Bathurst " class corvettes constructed during World War II , and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by the Royal Australian Navy ( RAN ) . After World War II , the corvette was one of four sold to the Royal New Zealand Navy ( RNZN ) . She served as HMNZS " Kiama " ( M353 ) from 1952 until 1976 , when the corvette was paid off and marked for disposal . Construction . " Kiama " was constructed by Evans Deakin & Co , at Brisbane , Queensland . She was laid down on 2 November 1942 , and launched on 3 July 1943 by Mrs . G . Lawson , wife of the Minister for Transport . " Kiama " was commissioned into the RAN on 26 January 1944 . Operational history . World War II . " Kiama " ’ s first deployment was in March 1944 to Milne Bay in New Guinea . From her arrival until September 1944 , the corvette ' s main duty was to escort convoys along the New Guinea coastline , although a reassignment for the duration of June saw " Kiama " perform anti - submarine patrols in the Solomon Sea . In September , " Kiama " was used to transport soldiers between New Guinea and New Britain . On conclusion , she resumed her convoy escort role until the end of 1944 , when she departed for Sydney . During her eight months in New Guinea waters , " Kiama " travelled over , was at sea for more than 3 , 000 hours , performed shore bombardments in support of Australian operations , and sank a Japanese submarine off the coast of Manus Island . The corvette arrived in Sydney on 21 December 1944 . On 25 December , the crew was recalled from leave to go to the assistance of the liberty ship SS " Robert J . Walker " , which had been torpedoed by German submarine " U - 862 " . " Kiama " , along with HMA Ships " Quickmatch " and " Yandra " , and USS " PC597 " were dispatched to the last known location of the ship and began to search the area for the liberty ship ' s crew and the attacking submarine ; finding the 67 survivors of the attack at 05 : 45 on 26 December but failing to locate " U862 " . " Kiama " was assigned to anti - submarine patrols near Sydney for the final days of the year , before sailing to Adelaide for a month - long refit on 3 January 1945 . Post - refit , " Kiama " was assigned to Fremantle for two months of anti - submarine warfare exercises with United States , before returning to New Guinea on 7 May 1945 . In May and June , the corvette performed several coastal bombardments in the Bougainville area . In July , " Kiama " transported Prince Henry , Duke of Gloucester from New Guinea to the Solomon Islands , then spent the rest of the month moving troops and military cargo between these two locations . From 5 to 24 August , the corvette was based in Brisbane , before returning to New Guinea waters . " Kiama " spent the rest of 1945 as a troop and supply transport , minesweeper , and general duties vessel . When the war ended , " Kiama " took part in the Japanese surrenders at Rabaul and Kabieng . " Kiama " returned to Sydney on 29 January 1946 , and was decommissioned into Reserve on 3 April 1946 . During her wartime service , the ship had been at sea for 6 , 369 hours , and had sailed a distance of . She earned two battle honour s : " Pacific 1944 - 45 " and " New Guinea 1944 " . Transfer to RNZN . On 5 March 1952 , " Kiama " and three other " Bathurst " class corvettes ( HMA Ships " Echuca " , " Inverell " , and " Stawell " ) were transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy ( RNZN ) . " Kiama " was commissioned into the RNZN , receiving the prefix HMNZS . Upon acquisition by New Zealand , the corvette was converted into a training ship . " Kiama " ’ s 4 - inch gun and aft minesweeping equipment were removed , and replaced with two 40 mm Bofors anti - aircraft guns . Two additional messdecks were installed aft ; one to hold crew displaced by the modifications , the other to accommodate 30 trainees . " Kiama " was the last wooden - decked ship in the RNZN , and the last RNZN ship to use hammocks . New Zealand singer Allison Durbin was adopted as the ship ' s mascot , with a large signed photograph of Allison hung in the ship ' s forward mess deck . " Kiama " was on occasion assigned to the 27th Fisheries Protection Squadron . Other duties included search - and - rescue operations and transportation of scientific teams to small island along New Zealand ' s coastline . In late 1967 , " Kiama " sailed to Australia to visit her namesake town . She returned to New Zealand in early 1968 . " Kiama " was paid off for disposal on 19 August 1976 .