Class overview | |
---|---|
Builders | Williamstown Dockyard, Williamstown, Victoria |
Operators | Royal Australian Navy/ Defence Maritime Services |
Built | January 1970 – April 1971 |
Active | None |
Retired | 3 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Torpedo Recovery Vessel |
Displacement | 94 long tons (96 t) full load |
Length | 26.8 metres (88 ft) |
Beam | 6.1 metres (20 ft) |
Draught | 1.1 metres (3 ft 7 in) |
Propulsion | 3 x V8 GM diesels, 890 horsepower (660 kW), 3 shafts |
Speed | 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph) |
Endurance | 63 hours at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) |
Crew | 9 |
Sensors and processing systems | I-band navigational radar |
The Fish class was a ship class of three torpedo recovery vessels previously operated by Defence Maritime Services (DMS).
The class was ordered in 1969 as replacements for World War II-era torpedo recovery vessels. [1]
The vessels each had a full load displacement of 94 long tons (96 t), a length of 26.8 metres (88 ft), a beam of 6.1 metres (20 ft), and a draught of 1.1 metres (3 ft 7 in). [2] Propulsion machinery consisted of three GM V8 diesels, which supplied 890 horsepower (660 kW) to the three propeller shafts. [2] [1] Top speed was 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph), and the vessels had an endurance of 63 hours at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). [1] [2] Each Fish-class vessel could recover up to eight torpedoes via a watertight stern gate. [2] [1] They were unarmed, and their sensor suite was limited to an I-band navigational radar. [2] Nine personnel made up the crew. [2]
All three vessels were built at Williamstown Dockyard for the Royal Australian Navy between January 1970 and April 1971. [3] [2]
Originally identified only by the numbers 253–255, the vessels were named in 1983 and renumbered 801–803. [1]
On entering service, TRV 253 was assigned to the target range at Jervis Bay, while the other two vessels were attached to HMAS Waterhen in Sydney. [1] In addition to torpedo recovery, the boats were used as dive tenders and as training vessels for the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. [1]
In 1988, the three vessels were sold[ citation needed] to DMS. [4] As part of the company's role in providing maritime support for the RAN, the vessels were assigned to various bases: Tuna to nearby HMAS Creswell, Trevally remaining at Waterhen, while Tailor sailed to HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. [3]
As of 2012, only Tailor remained in service. [2]
As of 2018, Tailor was decommissioned and put up for sale to the public effectively ending the service of this class [5]