AUSTRALIA
MajOR WARSHIPS
This page provides details on warships from the Commonwealth of Australia. All photographs displayed are copyright Matterson Marine Pty Ltd unless otherwise acknowledged.
Ship
names are prefaced by H.M.A.S. (Her Majesty's Australian Ship).
Major Warships :: Submarines :: Minor Warships :: Support Ships
MAJESTIC CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
| R | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | De-Commissioned | Comments |
| 21 | Melbourne ex HMS Majestic |
Vickers Armstrong | 28-Feb-1945 | 28-Oct-1955 | 30 Jun 1982 | |
| 214 | Sydney ex HMS Terrible |
Devonport Dockyard | 30-Sep-1944 | 16 Dec 1948 | 12 Nov 1973 |
 Sydney |
|
|
|
|
| LENGTH | 211.25m |
| BEAM | 24.29m |
| DISPLACEMENT | 15700 tons / 19500 tons (fl) |
| ARMAMENT | |
| MACHINERY | 2 sets GT; 2 props; 40000 hp |
| SPEED | 24 knots |
| RANGE | 12000 / 14 |
| COMPLEMENT | 1340 |
| AIRCRAFT | |
| COMMENTS | Vengeance loaned to Australia until HMAS Melbourne was commissioned. |
COUNTY CLASS CRUISERS
| Hull No. | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | De-Commissioned | Comments |
| 33 | Canberra | John Brown, Clydebank | 31-May-1927 | 10-Jul-1928 |
9-Aug-1942 |
Lost in battle of Savo Island |
| 83 | Shropshire | William Beardmore & Co., Dailmuir | 5-Jul-1928 | 12-Sep-1929
(RN) 20-Apr-1943 (RAN) |
10-Nov-1949 |
10-Nov-1949 Reserve 16-Jul-1954 Sold for Scrap |
| 84 | Australia | John Brown, Clydebank | 17-Mar-1927 | 24-Apr-1928 |
31-Aug-1954 |
25-Jan-1955 Sold for Scrap |
|
|
|
|
| LENGTH | 630' |
| BEAM | |
| DISPLACEMENT | 9750 tonnes |
| ARMAMENT | 8 / 8" guns (II x 4) 8 / 4" AA guns (II x 4) 16 / 2pdr AA 8 / 0.5" AA |
| MACHINERY | Geared turbines; 4 props; 80000 shp |
| SPEED | 31.5 knots |
| RANGE | |
| CREW | 679 |
| AIRCRAFT | 3 seaplanes |
| COMMENTS |
AMPHION CLASS CRUISERS
| Hull No. | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | De-Commissioned | Comments |
| 29 | Perth ex HMS Amphion |
Portsmouth Dockyard | 27-Jul-1934 | 1936
(RN) 29-Jun-1939 (RAN) |
1-Mar-1942 |
Lost in battle of Java Sea |
| 48 | Sydney ex HMS Phaeton |
Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd. | 22-Sep-1934 | 24-Sep-1935 |
19-Nov-1941 |
Lost in action with German raider Kormoran |
| 63 | Hobart ex HMS Apollo |
Devonport Dockyard | 9-Oct-1934 | 13-Jan-1936
(RN) 28-Sep-1938 (RAN) |
1959 |
1959 Reserve 2-Feb-1962 Sold for Scrap |
|
|
|
|
| LENGTH | 562' |
| BEAM | |
| DISPLACEMENT | 6830 tonnes |
| ARMAMENT | 8 / 6" guns (II x 4) 8 / 4" AA guns (II x 4) 12 / .5" AA (IV x 3) 8 / 21" torpedo tubes (IV x 2) |
| MACHINERY | Geared turbines; 4 props; 72000 shp |
| SPEED | 32.5 knots |
| RANGE | |
| COMPLEMENT | 570 |
| AIRCRAFT | 1 / Seaplane on catapult amidships |
| COMMENTS |
HOBART CLASS AIRWARFARE DESTROYERS
| Hull No. | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | De-Commissioned | Comments |
| *** | Hobart | *** | 2013* |
|
Design by Gibbs & Cox | |
| *** | Brisbane | *** | 2014* |
|
Design by Gibbs & Cox | |
| *** | Sydney | *** | 2015* |
|
Design by Gibbs & Cox |
|
|
||||
| LENGTH | *** |
| BEAM | *** |
| DISPLACEMENT | *** |
| ARMAMENT | *** |
| MACHINERY | *** |
| SPEED | *** |
| RANGE | *** |
| CREW | *** |
| COMMENTS | New build class of destroyers with AEGIS capabilities. |
CHARLES F. ADAMS (PERTH) CLASS DESTROYERS
| Hull No. | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | De-Commissioned | Comments |
| 38 | Perth | Defoe SB, Bay City | 26-Sep-1963 | 17-Jul-1965 |
15-Oct-99 |
2001 - Sunk as artificial reef |
| 39 | Hobart | Defoe SB, Bay City | 9-Jan-1964 | 18-Dec-1965 | 12-May-2000 | 2002 - Sunk as artificial reef |
| 41 | Brisbane | Defoe SB, Bay City | 5-May-1966 | 16-Dec-1967 |
19-Oct-2001 |
2005 - Sunk as artificial reef |
|
|
 Hobart |
 Brisbane |
| LENGTH | 134.18m |
| BEAM | 14.32m |
| DISPLACEMENT | 3472 tons / 4720 tons (fl) |
| ARMAMENT | 1/Mk 13 system for Harpoon SSM and
Standard SM-1A SAM (40 missiles) 2/127mm DP Mk 42 2/Ikara Missile systems (removed in 1990's and replaced with CIWS capability) 2/20mm Mk 15 CIWS (fitted for in place of Ikara, generally only one of the three ships carried the CIWS by rotation) 2/12.7mm (.50 cal) machine gun 6/324mm Mk 32 ASW Torpedo Tubes |
| MACHINERY | 2 sets geared turbines; 2 propellers; 70000 shp |
| SPEED | 35 knots |
| RANGE | 1600/30; 4500/15 |
| CREW | 333 |
| COMMENTS |
DARING CLASS DESTROYERS
| Hull No. | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | De-Commissioned | Comments |
| 04 | Voyager | Cockatoo Dockyard & Eng. Co. |
1-May-1952 |
12-Feb-1957 |
10-Feb-1964 |
Sunk in collision with HMAS Melbourne |
| 08 | Vendetta | Williamstown Naval Dockyard |
3-May-1954 |
26-Nov-1958 |
10-Oct-1979 | Sold for scrap |
| 11 | Vampire | Cockatoo Dockyard & Eng. Co. |
27-Oct-1956 |
23-Jun-1959 |
13-Aug-1986 | Museum Ship, Sydney |
| 154 | Duchess ex HMS Duchess |
Swan Hunter & Co. |
9-Apr-1951 |
23-Oct-1952 RN |
24-Oct-1977 | Sold for scrap |
 Voyager Photo: Clive Fisher |
 Vendetta |
|
 Vampire |
 Duchess RAN Photograph |
| LENGTH | 118.87m |
| BEAM | 13.10m |
| DISPLACEMENT | 2800 tons / 3670 tons (fl) |
| ARMAMENT | 6/114mm DP Mk 6 (IIx3) 6/40mm AA (IIx2,Ix2) 1/Limbo Mk 10 ASW Mortar |
| MACHINERY | Parsons GT; 2 props; 54000 shp |
| SPEED | 30 knots |
| RANGE | 3700 / 20 |
| COMPLEMENT | 321 |
| COMMENTS | DUCHESS loaned to RAN as a replacement for VOYAGER in 1965, purchased in 1971 and converted into a training ship in 1973. VAMPIRE gifted to Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney and is on display along with the submarine ONSLOW. |
BATTLE CLASS DESTROYERS
| Hull No. | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | De-Commissioned | Comments |
| 37 | Tobruk | Cockatoo Dockyard | 20-Dec-1947 | 8-May-1950 | 9-Oct-1960 | 15-Feb-1972 Sold for scrap |
| 59 | Anzac | Williamstown Naval Dockyard | 20-Aug-1948 | 14-Mar-1951 |
4-Oct-1974 |
24-Nov-1975 Sold |
|
|
|
| LENGTH | 379' |
| BEAM | 41' |
| DISPLACEMENT | 2325 tons / 3330 tons (fl) |
| ARMAMENT | 4 / 4.5" guns (II x 2) 12 / 40mm AA (II x 6) 10 / 21" torpedo tubes (V x 2) 1 / Triple Squid Depth Charge Mortar |
| MACHINERY | Parsons Geared turbines; 2 props; 50000 shp |
| SPEED | 31 knots |
| RANGE | |
| CREW | 290 |
| COMMENTS |
TRIBAL CLASS DESTROYERS
| Hull No. | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | De-Commissioned | Comments |
| D 123 ex I 44 |
Warramunga | Cockatoo Dockyard | 7-Feb-1942 | 23-Nov-1942 | 7-Dec-1959 | 7-Dec-1959 Reserve 1962 Sold for Scrap |
| D 130 ex I 30 |
Arunta | Cockatoo Dockyard | 30-Oct-1940 | 30-Mar-1942 | 1957 | 13-Feb-1969 Sunk whilst under tow to breakers |
| D 191 ex I 91 |
Bataan ex Kurnai |
Cockatoo Dockyard | 15-Jan-1944 | 25-May-1945 | 18-Oct-1954 | 18-Oct-1954 Reserve 2-May-1958 Sold for Scrap |
 Arunta Photo Courtesy of The Naval Historical Society of Australia |
 Bataan Photo Courtesy of The Naval Historical Society of Australia |
 Warramunga Photo Courtesy of The Naval Historical Society of Australia |
| LENGTH | 377' |
| BEAM | |
| DISPLACEMENT | 1883 tons / 2559 tons (fl) |
| ARMAMENT | 8 / 4.7" guns (II x 4) 4 / 2 pdr AA (IV x 1) 8 / 0.5" machine guns (II x 4) 4 / 21" torpedo tubes (IV x 1) |
| MACHINERY | Geared turbines; 2 props; 44000 shp |
| SPEED | 36 knots |
| RANGE | |
| CREW | 190 |
| COMMENTS |
Q CLASS DESTROYERS
| Hull No. | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | De-Commissioned | Comments |
| D 17 | Quadrant | Hawthorn Leslie & Co. | 28-Feb-1942 | 26-Nov-1942
(RN) 18-Oct-1945 (RAN) |
16-Aug-1957 |
16-Jul-1953
Converted to FF (F01) 16-Aug-1957 Reserve 15-Feb-1963 Sold for Scrap |
| D 18 | Quality | Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd. | 6-Oct-1941 | 7-Sep-1942
(RN) 28-Nov-1945 (RAN) |
1950's |
10-Apr-1958 Sold for Scrap |
| D 20 | Quiberon | J.S. White & Co., Cowes | 31-Jan-1942 | 6-Jul-1942 |
26-Jun-1964 |
18-Dec-1957
Converted to FF (F03) 26-Jun-1964 Reserve 15-Feb-1972 Sold for Scrap |
| D 21 | Quickmatch | J.S. White & Co., Cowes | 11-Apr-1942 | 14-Sep-1942 |
26-Apr-1963 |
23-Sep-1955
Converted to FF (F04) 26-Apr-1963 Reserve 15-Feb-1972 Sold for Scrap |
| D 270 | Queenborough | Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd. | 16-Jan-1942 | 10-Dec-1942
(RN) 29-Oct-1945 (RAN) |
7-Apr-1972 |
7-Dec-1954 Converted
to FF (F02) 10-Jul-1963 Reserve Jul-1966 Training Ship Apr-1972 Reserve 8-Apr-1975 Sold for Scrap |
|
|
 Quickmatch Photo Courtesy of Reyn Delmenico |
|
| LENGTH | 358' |
| BEAM | |
| DISPLACEMENT | 1705 tons / 2500 tons (fl) |
| ARMAMENT | 4 / 4.7" guns (I x 4) 4 / 2 pdr AA (IV x 1) 6 / 20mm AA (I x 2, II x 2) * / 21" torpedo tubes |
| MACHINERY | 2 sets geared turbines; 2 propellers; 40000 shp |
| SPEED | 37 knots |
| RANGE | |
| CREW | 220 |
| COMMENTS |
N CLASS DESTROYERS
| Hull No. | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | De-Commissioned | Comments |
| G 02 | Nestor | Fairfield Shipbuilding | 9-Jul-1940 | 12-Feb-1941 |
16-Jun-1942 |
Bombed by German
aircraft off Derna Scuttled |
| G 25 | Nepal | Thornycroft, Southampton | 4-Dec-1941 | 29-May-1942 |
22-Oct-1945 |
22-Oct-1945 Returned
to Royal Navy 16-Jan-1956 Sold for Scrap |
| G 38 | Nizam | John Brown | 4-Jul-1940 | 8-Jan-1941 |
17-Oct-1945 |
17-Oct-1945 Returned
to Royal Navy Nov -1955 Sold for Scrap |
| G 49 | Norman | Thornycroft | 30-Oct-1940 | 29-Sep-1941 |
Oct-1945 |
Oct-1945 Returned to
Royal Navy May-1958 Sold for Scrap |
| G 97 | Napier | Fairfield Shipbuilding | 22-May-1940 | 11-Dec-1940 |
26-Oct-1945 |
26-Oct-1945 Returned
to Royal Navy Jan-1956 Sold for Scrap |
|
|
|
|
| LENGTH | 109.00m |
| BEAM | |
| DISPLACEMENT | 1690 tonnes |
| ARMAMENT | 6 / 4.7" guns (II x 3) 1 / 4" AA gun 4 / 2pdr AA (IV x 1) 5 / 21" torpedo tubes (V x 1) |
| MACHINERY | geared turbines; 2 props; 40000 shp |
| SPEED | 36 knots |
| RANGE | |
| CREW | 183 |
| COMMENTS |
ANZAC CLASS FRIGATES
| Hull No. | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | De-Commissioned | Comments |
| 150 | Anzac | Tenix, Williamstown | 16 Sep 1994 | 18 May 1996 | ||
| 151 | Arunta | Tenix, Williamstown | 28 Jun 1996 | 12 Dec 1998 | ||
| 152 | Warramunga | Tenix, Williamstown | 23 May 1998 | 31 Mar 2001 | ||
| 153 | Stuart | Tenix, Williamstown | 17 Apr 1999 | 17 Aug 2002 | ||
| 154 | Parramatta | Tenix, Williamstown | 17 Jun 2000 | 4 Oct 2003 | ||
| 155 | Ballarat | Tenix, Williamstown | 22 May 2002 | 26 Jun 2004 | ||
| 156 | Toowoomba | Tenix, Williamstown | 16 May 2003 | 8 Oct 2005 | ||
| 157 | Perth | Tenix, Williamstown | 20 Mar 2004 | 26 Aug 2006 |
|
|
||||
 Anzac |
 Arunta |
 Warramunga Photo: Lucas |
 Stuart |
|
 Parramatta |
 Ballarat |
 Toowoomba Photo: Anthony Mercer |
 Perth |
|
| LENGTH | 118 m |
| BEAM | 14.8m |
| DISPLACEMENT | 3600 tonnes |
| ARMAMENT | 1/5 inch Mk45 Mod 2 Automatic RFG Sea Sparrow anti-air missile system 6/324mm Mk32 ASW torpedo tubes (IIIx2) 6/12.7mm (.50 cal) machine guns |
| MACHINERY | 1/GE LM2500 gas turbine; 2/MTU diesels; 2 CP props |
| SPEED | 27 knots |
| RANGE | |
| COMPLEMENT | 164 |
| AIRCRAFT | 1/SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite helicopter |
| COMMENTS |
FFG-7 (ADELAIDE) CLASS FRIGATES
| Hull No. | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | De-Commissioned | Comments |
| 01 | Adelaide | Todd Shipyard, Seattle | 21-Jun-1978 | 6-Nov-1980 |
19 Jan 2008 |
|
| 02 | Canberra | Todd Shipyard, Seattle | 1-Dec-1978 | 21-Mar-1981 |
12 Nov 2005 |
|
| 03 | Sydney | Todd Shipyard, Seattle | 26-Sep-1980 | 29-Jan-1983 | ||
| 04 | Darwin | Todd Shipyard, Seattle | 26-Mar-1982 | 21-Jul-1984 | ||
| 05 | Melbourne | AMECON, Melbourne | 5-May-1989 | 15-Feb-1992 | ||
| 06 | Newcastle | AMECON, Melbourne | 21-Feb-1992 | 11-Dec-1993 |
 HMAS Newcastle - drawing by MConrads |
||||
|
|
 Canberra |
 Sydney |
||
 Darwin |
 Melbourne |
 Newcastle |
||
| LENGTH | 138.8m |
| BEAM | 13.72m |
| DISPLACEMENT | 3073 tons / 3962 fully laden |
| ARMAMENT | 1/Mk 13 Mod 4 missile launcher for
Standard SM-1A SAM and Harpoon missiles 1/76mm OTO Melara Compact Gun 1/20mm Mk 15 CIWS 6/324-mm ASW Torpedo Tubes for Mk 46 Torpedoes |
| MACHINERY | 2 General Electric LM-2500 Gas Turbines; CP prop; 41000 shp |
| SPEED | 29 knots |
| RANGE | 4200/20, 5000/18 |
| CREW | 192 |
| AIRCRAFT | 2 x S70B2 Seahawk Helicopters |
| COMMENTS |
river CLASS destroyer escortS
| Hull No. | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | De-Commissioned | Comments |
| 45 | Yarra | Williamstown Naval Dockyard | 30-Sep-1958 | 27-Jul-1961 | 22-Nov-1985 | Sold for scrap Aug-1991 |
| 46 | Parramatta | Cockatoo Dockyard & Eng. Co. | 31-Jan-1959 | 4-Jul-1961 | 11-Jan-1991 | Sold for scrap Aug-1991 |
| 48 | Stuart | Cockatoo Dockyard & Eng. Co. | 8-Apr-1961 | 28-Jun-1963 | 26-Jun-1991 | Sold for Scrap |
| 49 | Derwent | Williamstown Naval Dockyard | 17-Apr-1961 | 30-Apr-1964 | 8-Aug-1994 | Sunk as artificial reef |
| 50 | Swan | Williamstown Naval Dockyard | 16-Dec-1967 | 20-Jan-1970 | 13-Sep-1996 | Sunk as artificial reef |
| 53 | Torrens | Cockatoo Dockyard & Eng. Co. | 28-Sep-1968 | 19-Jan-1971 | 11-Sep-1998 | Sunk as target |
 Yarra |
 Yarra |
|
 Stuart |
 Stuart |
 Derwent |
 Swan |
 Torrens |
| LENGTH | 112.75m |
| BEAM | 12.50m |
| DISPLACEMENT | 2100 tons / 2750 tons (fl) |
| ARMAMENT | 2/114mm DP Mk 6 2/12.7mm (.50 cal) 1/Ikara ASW missile launcher (removed 1991) 1/SeaCat SAM missile system, 24 missiles (removed 1991) 6/324mm Mk 32 ASW Torpedo Tubes |
| MACHINERY | 2 sets geared turbines; 2 props; 34000 shp |
| SPEED | 30 knots |
| RANGE | 4500 / 12 |
| COMPLEMENT | 232 |
| COMMENTS |
RIVER CLASS FRIGATES
| Hull No. | Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | De-Commissioned | Comments |
| K 354 | Gascoyne | Morts Dock & Engineering Co. Ltd., Sydney | 20-Feb-1943 | 18-Nov-1943 |
1-Feb-1966 |
1959 - Converted to
Survey Ship 1-Feb-1966 Decommissioned 15-Feb-1972 Sold for Scrap |
| K 363 | Hawkesbury | Morts Dock & Engineering Co. Ltd., Sydney | 24-Jul-1943 | 5-Jul-1944 |
14-Feb-1955 |
14-Feb-1955
Reserve 15-Feb-1972 Sold for Scrap |
| K 364 | Lachlan | Morts Dock & Engineering Co. Ltd., Sydney | 25-Mar-1944 | 14-Feb-1945 |
5-Oct-1949 |
5-Oct-1949
Transferred to New Zealand Feb-1975 Decommissioned and Scrapped |
| K 375 | Barcoo | Cockatoo Dockyard | 26-Aug-1943 | 17-Jan-1944 |
21-Feb-1964 |
21-Feb-1964 Reserve 15-Feb-1972 Sold for Scrap |
| K 376 | Burdekin | Walkers Ltd., Maryborough | *** | 27-Jun-1944 |
18-Apr-1946 |
18-Apr-1946 Reserve 21-Sep-1961 Sold for Scrap |
| K 377 | Diamantina | Walkers Ltd., Maryborough | 6-Apr-1944 | 27-Apr-1945 |
21-Feb-1980 |
1959 - Converted to
Survey Ship 21-Feb-1980 Decommissioned Preserved as Museum Ship, Brisbane |
| K 406 | Barwon | Cockatoo Dockyard | 3-Aug-1944 | 12-Jan-1946 |
31-Mar-1947 |
17-Aug-1962 Sold for Scrap |
| K 408 | Culgoa | Williamstown Naval Dockyard | 22-Sep-1944 | 1-Apr-1947 |
15-Apr-1954 |
15-Feb-1972 Sold for Scrap |
| K 442 | Murchison | Evans Deakin
Ltd., Brisbane |
31-Oct-1944 | 17-Dec-1945 |
*** |
Sep-1961 Sold for Scrap |
| K 532 | Macquarie | Morts Dock & Engineering Co. Ltd., Sydney | 3-Mar-1945 | 7-Dec-1945 |
*** |
5-Jul-1972 Sold for Scrap |
| K 535 | Shoalhaven | Walkers Ltd., Maryborough | 14-Dec-1944 | 2-May-1946 |
19-Dec-1954 |
19-Dec-1954 Reserve Jan-1962 Sold for Scrap |
| K 698 | Condamine | New South Wales State Dockyard, Newcastle | 4-Nov-1944 | 22-Feb-1946 |
2-Dec-1955 |
2-Dec-1955 Reserve 21-Sep-1961 Sold for Scrap |
|
|
|
|
| LENGTH | 301' |
| BEAM | 36'6" |
| DISPLACEMENT | 1560 tons / 2100 tons (fl) |
| ARMAMENT | 4 / 4" guns 3 / 40mm AA 4 / 20mm AA 1 / Hedgehog |
| MACHINERY | |
| SPEED | 20 knots |
| RANGE | |
| CREW | 175 |
| COMMENTS |
This page was last updated on: 19th January 2008
Major Warships :: Submarines :: Minor Warships :: Support Ships
