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fighting ships of the world

AUSTRALIAN NAVY - AUSTRALIA

MINE WARFARE SHIPS

BATHURST minesweepers (1940-1944)

Bendigo 1941

Mildura 1963

Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Ararat K34, 1950- M34   Evans Deakin, Brisbane 7.1942 20.2.1943 6.1943 sold 1.1961
Armidale J240   Morts Dock, Sydney 9.1941 24.1.1942 6.1942 sunk 1.12.1942
Ballarat J184   Williamstown DYd 4.1940 10.12.1940 8.1941 sold 7.1947
Bathurst J158   Cockatoo DYd 2.1940 1.8.1940 12.1940 sold 6.1948
Benalla J323, 1950- M323   Williamstown DYd 3.1942 19.12.1942 4.1943 sold 2.1958
Bendigo J187   Cockatoo DYd 8.1940 1.3.1941 5.1941 sold 5.1947, later purchased by China (洛阳 [Loyang])
Bowen J285, 1950- M285   Walkers, Maryborough 2.1942 11.7.1942 11.1942 sold 5.1956
Broome J191   Evans Deakin, Brisbane 5.1941 6.10.1941 7.1942 to Turkey 8.1946 (Alanya)
Bunbury J241, 1950- M241   Evans Deakin, Brisbane 11.1941 16.5.1942 1.1943 sold 1.1961
Bundaberg J231, 1950- M231   Evans Deakin, Brisbane 6.1941 1.12.1941 9.1942 sold 1.1961
Burnie J198   Morts Dock, Sydney 6.1940 25.10.1940 4.1941 to Netherlands 7.1946 (Ceram)
Cairns J183   Walkers, Maryborough 3.1941 5.7.1941 5.1942 to Netherlands 1.1946 (Ambon)
Castlemaine (ex-Castle Harbour) J244, 1950- M244   Williamstown DYd 2.1941 7.8.1941 7.1942 hulk 1956, preserved 1974
Cessnock J175   Cockatoo DYd 4.1941 17.10.1941 1.1942 sold 4.1947
Colac J242, 1950- M05   Morts Dock, Sydney 4.1941 30.8.1941 1.1942 tank cleaning vessel 1962
Cootamundra J316, 1950- M186   Poole & Steel, Sydney 2.1942 3.12.1942 4.1943 sold 9.1961
Cowra J351, 1950- M351   Poole & Steel, Sydney 8.1942 27.5.1943 10.1943 sold 1.1961
Deloraine J232, 1950- M252   Morts Dock, Sydney 3.1941 26.7.1941 11.1941 sold 8.1956
Dubbo J251, 1950- M251   Morts Dock, Sydney 10.1941 7.3.1942 7.1942 sold 2.1958
Echuca J252, 1950- M252   Williamstown DYd 2.1941 17.1.1942 9.1942 to New Zealand 6.1952 (Echuca)
Fremantle J246, 1950- M246   Evans Deakin, Brisbane 2.1942 18.8.1942 3.1943 sold 1.1961
Gawler (ex-Gambier) J188   Broken Hill, Whyalla 1.1941 4.10.1941 8.1942 to Turkey 8.1946 (Ayvalik)
Geelong J201   Williamstown DYd 10.1940 22.4.1941 1.1942 collision 18.10.1944
Geraldton J178   Poole & Steel, Sydney 3.1941 16.8.1941 4.1942 to Turkey 8.1946 (Antalya)
Gladstone J324, 1950- M324   Walkers, Maryborough 8.1942 26.11.1942 3.1943 sold 6.1956
Glenelg J236, 1950- M236   Cockatoo DYd 3.1942 25.9.1942 11.1942 sold 5.1957
Goulburn J167   Cockatoo DYd 7.1940 16.11.1940 2.1941 sold 10.1947
Gympie J238, 1950- M238   Evans Deakin, Brisbane 8.1941 30.1.1942 11.1942 sold 1.1961
Horsham J235, 1950- M235   Williamstown DYd 6.1941 23.5.1942 11.1942 sold 8.1956
Inverell J233, 1950- M233   Morts Dock, Sydney 12.1941 2.5.1942 9.1942 to New Zealand 4.1952 (Inverell)
Ipswich J186   Evans Deakin, Brisbane 3.1941 11.8.1941 6.1942 to Netherlands 7.1946 (Morotai)
Junee J362, 1950- M362   Poole & Steel, Sydney 2.1943 16.11.1943 4.1944 sold 6.1958
Kalgoorlie J192   Broken Hill, Whyalla 7.1940 7.8.1941 4.1942 to Netherlands 8.1946 (Ternate)
Kapunda J218, 1950- M218   Poole & Steel, Sydney 8.1941 23.6.1942 10.1942 sold 1.1961
Katoomba J204, 1950- M204   Poole & Steel, Sydney 9.1940 16.4.1941 12.1941 sold 5.1957
Kiama J353, 1950- M353   Evans Deakin, Brisbane 11.1942 9.7.1943 1.1944 to New Zealand 5.1952 (Kiama)
Latrobe J234, 1950- M234   Morts Dock, Sydney 1.1942 19.6.1942 11.1942 sold 5.1956
Launceston J179   Evans Deakin, Brisbane 12.1940 30.6.1941 4.1942 to Turkey 8.1946 (Ayancik)
Lismore J145   Morts Dock, Sydney 3.1940 10.8.1940 1.1941 to Netherlands 7.1946 (Batjan)
Lithgow J206, 1950- M206   Morts Dock, Sydney 8.1940 21.12.1940 6.1941 sold 8.1956
Maryborough J195   Walkers, Maryborough 4.1940 17.10.1940 6.1941 sold 5.1947
Mildura J207, 1950- M207   Morts Dock, Sydney 9.1940 14.3.1941 7.1941 sold 9.1965
Parkes J361, 1950- M361   Evans Deakin, Brisbane 3.1943 30.10.1943 5.1944 sold 5.1957
Pirie J189   Broken Hill, Whyalla 5.1941 3.12.1941 10.1942 to Turkey 8.1946 (Amasra)
Rockhampton J203, 1950- M203   Walkers, Maryborough 11.1940 26.6.1941 2.1942 sold 1.1961
Shepparton J248, 1950- M246   Williamstown DYd 11.1941 15.8.1942 2.1943 sold 2.1958
Stawell J348, 1950- M348   Williamstown DYd 6.1942 3.4.1943 8.1943 to New Zealand 5.1952 (Stawell)
Strahan J363, 1950- M363   Newcastle DYd 11.1942 12.7.1943 3.1944 sold 1.1961
Tamworth J181   Walkers, Maryborough 8.1941 14.3.1942 8.1942 to Netherlands 4.1946 (Tamworth)
Toowoomba J157   Walkers, Maryborough 8.1940 26.3.1941 10.1941 to Netherlands 7.1946 (Boeroe)
Townsville J205, 1950- M205   Evans Deakin, Brisbane 11.1940 13.5.1941 12.1941 sold 8.1956
Wagga J315, 1950- M183   Morts Dock, Sydney 3.1942 25.7.1942 12.1942 sold 3.1962
Wallaroo J222   Poole & Steel, Sydney 4.1941 18.2.1942 7.1942 collision 20.6.1943
Warrnambool J202   Morts Dock, Sydney 11.1940 8.5.1941 9.1941 sunk 13.9.1947
Whyalla (ex-Glenelg) J153   Broken Hill, Whyalla 7.1940 12.5.1941 1.1942 sold 5.1947
Wollongong J172   Cockatoo DYd 1.1941 5.7.1941 10.1941 to Netherlands 2.1946 (Banda)

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

 

© Ivan Gogin, 2015