HMAS Potrero

History
Australia
Name	Potrero
Builder	Lars Halvorsen, Neutral Bay
Yard number	188
Launched	1937
History
Australia
Name	HMAS Potrero (FY36)
General characteristics
Class and type	Ketch
Tonnage	78 gross tonnage, 46 net tonnage
Length	70 ft (21 m)

HMAS Potrero was an auxiliary vessel operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during World War II. She was launched in 1937 by Lars Halvorsen, Neutral Bay, Sydney, Australia.

Operational history

During the war, HMAS Potrero operated along the New Guinea coastline. On 29 August, 1942 MV Malaita was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine RO-33, while returning to Cairns after delivering troops and supplies to Port Moresby. Although listing 10 degrees to starboard, Malaita remained afloat, and was taken in tow by MV Matafele and HMAS Potrero. Their escort, the destroyer HMAS Arunta, picked up an asdic contact on the RO-33, and delivered a series of depth charge attacks that sank it.

References

• Gill, G. Herman (1968). Royal Australian Navy, 1942–1945. Australia in the War of 1939–1945 Series 2 – Navy. Vol. Volume 2. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 225200976. Retrieved 27 June 2017. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help)