HMAS Mavie was a 19-ton auxiliary patrol boat operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during World War II.

Mavie (later HMAS Mavie) and other luggers resting in harbour during the 1939 storm season
History
Australia
NameMavie
Launched1903
Acquired12 December 1941
Commissioned31 December 1941
Honors and
awards
FateSunk 19 February 1942; scrapped 1959–1960
General characteristics
TypePatrol boat
Displacement19 tons
Length38 ft 6 in (11.73 m)
Beam11 ft 11 in (3.63 m)
Complement4

The wooden lugger Mavie was built at Fremantle, Western Australia in 1903. It was 38 feet 6 inches (11.73 m) long, with a beam of 11 feet 11 inches (3.63 m).

On 12 December 1941, Mavie was seized from its Japanese owner, Jiro Muramats, as he was a citizen of a country at war with Australia. It was requisitioned by the RAN, and was renamed and commissioned for service at Darwin as the channel patrol boat HMAS Mavie, on 31 December 1941.

Mavie was attacked by Japanese aircraft in the air raids on Darwin on 19 February 1942, near the Stokes Hill Wharf in Darwin Harbour. Mavie was sunk by a near miss, although the crew of four survived. Mavie was salvaged in 1959–60 when the Fujita Salvage Company salvaged the cargo ship Neptuna, which had also been sunk in the raid.

Following a reorganisation of the RAN battle honours system, Mavie's service and loss was retroactively recognised with the honour "Darwin 1942".[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ "Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours". Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  2. ^ "Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours" (PDF). Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  • Wrecks in Darwin Waters, Tom Lewis, Wahroonga, NSW : Turton & Armstrong, 1992
  • For Those in Peril – A comprehensive listing of the Ships and Men of the RAN who have paid the Supreme Sacrifice in the Wars of the 20th Century, Vic Cassells, Kenthurst, NSW: Kangaroo Press, 1995