home

fighting ships of the world

AUSTRALIAN NAVY - AUSTRALIA

MINE WARFARE SHIPS

BATHURST minesweepers (1940-1944)

Bendigo 1941

Mildura 1963

Displacement standard, t	650
Displacement full, t	790
Length, m	56.7
Breadth, m	9.50
Draught, m	3.00 deep load
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 VTE, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	1550 - 2000
Max speed, kts	15 - 16
Fuel, t	oil 124 - 153
Armament	earlier: 1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II/V, (1 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII or 1 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV) or 3 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (12 - 40 or up to 82 in ASW role), mechanical minesweeping gear later: 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, (1 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII or 1 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV) or 3 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (12 - 40 or up to 82 in ASW role), mechanical minesweeping gear
Electronic equipment	completed 1940-1943: type 128 sonar completed 1943-1944: type 271, SC radars, type 128 sonar
Complement	80 - 90

Project history: Design of Bathurst class was created in Australia on the basis of Bangor with VTE. At the expense of hull beam increase approximately on 0.7m it was possible to fix the basic lack of a prototype: insufficient stability. Australian ships were better adapted for escort service and often unofficially rated as corvettes. At the same time it was not possible to place the additional equipment for work with acoustic and magnetic minesweeping gear, as well as Bangor class, they were of little use for newest mines countermeasures. In total Australian yards built 59 ships of this class, including 4 for the RIM. From remained 55 ships 20 were built by British order, but they were also a part of the Australian Navy.

In process of class building some changes were made to the design. Earlier ships had 76mm AA or 102mm single-purpose gun and 1 40mm pompom, later ships had 102mm AA gun and sometimes one 40mm Bofors. Machinery was also improved: engine power increased from 1750 to 2000hp, and fuel stowage from 124 to 153t.

Modernizations: 1943-1944, many earlier ships: + type 271 (mostly), SC (some) radars

Naval service: Armidale was sunk by Japanese aircraft (torpedo) 1.12.1942 at Timor. Wallaroo was lost 18.6.1943 as a result of collision with s/s Gilbert Costin off Fremantle. Geelong was lost 18.10.1944 as a result of collision with s/s York between Australia and New Guinea. Castlemaine was preserved as memorial in Williamstown.

Gympie 1946

Bunbury 1946