Warrnambool was present during the first air raid on Darwin, rescued survivors, transported troops, supported operations around the Aru Islands and Timor, and recovered personnel from grounded HMAS Voyager. She spent much of the war on escort and anti-submarine patrols and later attended Japanese surrender ceremonies. During clearance work near the Great Barrier Reef on 13 September 1947, she struck a wartime mine. Four sailors died and twenty-nine were injured. The investigation found no culpable negligence by the crew.
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Warrnambool survived war only to strike a mine in 1947
After convoy, rescue, and campaign service without serious wartime damage, Warrnambool became the RAN's only ship lost to a mine during postwar clearance.