HMAS Ararat (K34/M34), named for the city of Ararat, Victoria, was one of 60 Bathurst-class corvettes constructed during World War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).[3] Ararat is the only ship of the Bathurst class to carry a pennant number with the flag superior ‘K’: to honour Flower-class corvette lead ship HMS Gladiolus, which was sunk in October 1941.