HMAS Gawler (J188)

HMAS Gawler (J188) was a Bathurst-class corvette of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during World War II. Named after the town of Gawler, South Australia, the ship was laid down by Morts Dock & Engineering Co in Sydney on 23 June 1941, launched on 21 February 1942, and commissioned on 26 June 1942.

During the war, Gawler primarily served on convoy escort duties in Australian waters and the South West Pacific. She provided protection to merchant shipping and troop transports against enemy submarines and surface raiders. Her operational areas included the waters around New Guinea, where she supported Allied operations against Japanese forces.

Following the end of World War II, Gawler was paid off into reserve on 25 October 1945. She was subsequently sold for scrap in 1961. The ship's service represents the broader contribution of the Bathurst-class corvettes to the RAN's war effort.