 The ship was one of four LSMs operated by the newly formed 32nd Small Ship Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers and was refitted in Japan before she arrived in Australia on 31 December 1959.From 1960 to 1964 "Harry Chauvel" supported Australian Army exercises and operated in a survey role on two occasions.In May 1964 she sailed for Malaysia and briefly took part in the Indonesian Confrontation in Borneo.