HMAS Waterhen (D22)

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HMAS Waterhen
Career (United Kingdom)
Name:	HMS Waterhen
Operator:	Royal Navy
Builder:	Palmers Shipbuilding and Engineering Company at Jarrow-on-Tyne
Laid down:	3 July 1917
Launched:	23 March 1918
Completed:	17 July 1918
Decommissioned:	11 October 1933
Motto:	Always ready
Fate:	Transferred to Australia
Career (Commonwealth of Australia)
Name:	HMAS Waterhen
Operator:	Royal Australian Navy
Commissioned:	11 October 1933
Decommissioned:	9 October 1934
Recommissioned:	14 April 1936
Decommissioned:	1 June 1938
Recommissioned:	1 September 1939
Nickname:	The Chook [1]
Fate:	Sunk by dive bombers on 30 June 1941 at 32.15N, 25.20E
General characteristics
Class and type:	W class destroyer

HMS Waterhen (D22/I22) was a W class destroyer laid down by Palmers Shipbuilding and Engineering Company at Jarrow-on-Tyne on 3 July 1917, launched on 23 March 1918, completed on 17 July 1918 and commissioned into the Royal Navy. She was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy at Portsmouth on 11 October 1933 and commissioned as HMAS Waterhen.^[2]

HMAS Waterhen departed for Australia on 17 October 1933 and arrived in Sydney on 21 December 1933. She was paid off into reserve on 9 October 1934 but recommissioned on 14 April 1936 and served on the Australia Station, was decommissioned on 1 June 1938 and again re-commissioned on 1 September 1939 upon the outbreak of World War II.

Waterhen served in the Mediterranean as part of the famous Scrap Iron Flotilla. She was involved in the evacuation of Greece in April 1941.

HMAS Waterhen was severely damaged during an attack by 12 German and 7 Italian dive bombers off Sollum in North Africa on 29 June 1941. HMS Defender took her in tow but, at 0150 on 30 June 1941, Waterhen rolled over and sank. She was the first ship of the Royal Australian Navy to be lost by enemy action in World War II.^[1]

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