HMAS Allenwood (FY18) was an auxiliary minesweeper

Minesweeper (ship)

A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...

 operated by the Royal Australian Navy

Royal Australian Navy

The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...

 (RAN) during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. She was launched in 1920 by Ernst Wright at Tuncurry, New South Wales

Tuncurry, New South Wales

Tuncurry is a coastal town in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, in the Great Lakes Council LGA, about north north east of Sydney. It is immediately adjacent to its twin town of Forster, which is the larger of the two towns....

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

 as Allenwood for Allen Taylor and Co. Ltd. The ship operated along the east coast of Australia, and was requisitioned by the RAN on 27 July 1941. She was returned to her owners in 1946 before being wrecked near Norah Head

Norah Head, New South Wales

Norah Head, originally known as Bungaree Noragh Point, is a headland on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia, south of Newcastle and north of Sydney. The nearest town is Toukley. The place is home to a lighthouse with scenic views, which is also considered a venue for weddings...

 on 14 September 1951.

Operational history

Allenwood operated along the east coast of Australia in the coastal trade for Allen Taylor and Co. Ltd. On 16 September 1941, Allenwood was requisitioned by the RAN on 27 July 1941 for use as an auxiliary

Auxiliaries

An auxiliary force is a group affiliated with, but not part of, a military or police organization. In some cases, auxiliaries are armed forces operating in the same manner as regular soldiers...

 and fitted out. She was commissioned on 16 September 1941. During the war, Allenwood was based in Sydney. She was decommissioned into reserve on 31 November 1944 and returned to the owner, Allen Taylor & Co Ltd on 1 October 1946.

Fate

On 14 September 1951, under the command of Captain Boutrup, Allenwood ran aground on a sandbank at Bird Island Beach, north of Norah Head, New South Wales

Norah Head, New South Wales

Norah Head, originally known as Bungaree Noragh Point, is a headland on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia, south of Newcastle and north of Sydney. The nearest town is Toukley. The place is home to a lighthouse with scenic views, which is also considered a venue for weddings...

, in foggy conditions. The vessel could not be removed from the sandbank and was sold for £601 and dismantled insitu.