MV Pagrus, Examination Vessel Townsville, and Name Ship for Shore Establishment HMAS Magnetic

MV PAGRUS
EXAMINATION VESSEL TOWNSVILLE
NAME SHIP FOR SHORE ESTABLISHMENT HMAS MAGNETIC

MV Pagrus was built in Sydney in 1926. MV Pagrus was 43 feet 3 inches in length with a beam of 11 feet 9 inches. Her draught was 4 feet 3 inches and displaced just 21 tons gross. Her top speed was 7 knots. MV Pagrus had been purchased by Mr N. Farquhar and Ernie Poultney in about 1940 from the Papua Oil Development Company of Port Moresby.

MV Pagrus was requisitioned on 22 December 1941 and became the name ship for the Shore Establishment HMAS Magnetic in Townsville as she was the tender vessel to HMAS Magnetic. So MV Pagrus became known as HMAS Magnetic which meant there were two HMAS Magnetics, one a ship and one a shore establishment.

HMAS Magnetic (ex MV Pagrus) served as a channel patrol boat and Examination Vessel for the Royal Australian Navy's Port War Signalling Station RAN 22 in Townsville until September 1943.

MV Pagrus was sold in 1947.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank John Perryman for his assistance with this web page.

REFERENCES

"Royal Australian Navy, A- Z Ships, Aircraft and Shore Establishments" by J.H. Straczek

"Through Reef and Island Studded Northern Waters"
Recorder (Port Pirie, SA) 7 December 1940

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products