River class destroyer escort
Encyclopedia
The River class was a class of six destroyer escort
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
s (originally designated anti-submarine frigates) operated by the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
(RAN). Plans to acquire four vessels, based on the British Type 12M (or Rothesay class
Rothesay class frigate
The Rothesay class, or Type 12M frigates were a class of frigates serving with the Royal Navy, South African Navy and the New Zealand Navy....
) frigate, began in the 1950s. The first two vessels had some slight modifications to the design, while the next two underwent further changes. Two more ships were ordered in 1964, following the Melbourne-Voyager collision
Melbourne-Voyager collision
The Melbourne-Voyager collision, also referred to as the "Melbourne-Voyager incident" or simply the "Voyager incident", was a collision between two warships of the Royal Australian Navy ; the aircraft carrier and the destroyer...
; these were based on the Type 12I (or Leander class
Leander class frigate
The Leander class, or Type 12I frigates, comprising twenty-six vessels, was among the most numerous and long-lived classes of frigate in the Royal Navy's modern history. The class was built in three batches between 1959 and 1973...
) frigate.
By the 1990s, all six ships had left service. Two were sunk as part of tests, and a third was scutted as an artificial reef, while the other three ships were scrapped.
Design and construction
In Augut 1950, the Australian government announced plans to acquire a new class of anti-submarine warfare frigates, based on the British Type 12M (or Rothesay classRothesay class frigate
The Rothesay class, or Type 12M frigates were a class of frigates serving with the Royal Navy, South African Navy and the New Zealand Navy....
) frigate design. Originally six were planned, with construction to be split between Cockatoo Island Dockyard in Sydney and Williamstown Naval Dockyard in Melbourne, but only four were approved. The first two ships, and , were based directly on the Rothesay class, with changes to fire control system, air warning radar, and habitability to meet RAN operating conditions. The second pair, and , were modified to carry a variable-depth sonar over the stern. Although originally classified as frigates, the ships' designation was later changed to destroyer escort
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
.
In 1964, the aircraft carrier collided with
Melbourne-Voyager collision
The Melbourne-Voyager collision, also referred to as the "Melbourne-Voyager incident" or simply the "Voyager incident", was a collision between two warships of the Royal Australian Navy ; the aircraft carrier and the destroyer...
the destroyer , resulting in the destroyer's sinking. In order to replace the lost capability, the Australian government ordered another two River class ships, and . Unlike the previous four, the new ships were based on the more advanced Type 12I (or Leander class
Leander class frigate
The Leander class, or Type 12I frigates, comprising twenty-six vessels, was among the most numerous and long-lived classes of frigate in the Royal Navy's modern history. The class was built in three batches between 1959 and 1973...
) design.
The ships had a displacement of 2,100 tons at standard load and 2,700 tons at full load. They were 370 feet (112.8 m) long, had a beam of 41 feet (12.5 m), and a draught of 12 feet (3.7 m). Propulsion was provided by two double-reduction gearded turbines, which supplied 30000 shp to two propeller shafts, allowing the vessels to reach 30 knots (16.3 m/s). Maximum range was 3400 nautical miles (6,296.8 km) at 12 knots (6.5 m/s). The ship's company consisted of 250 personnel.
Weapons fit for the first four ships at commissioning consisted of two 4.5 inch Mark 6 guns in a single twin turret, two 40 mm Boforss in a twin mount, and two Limbo
Limbo (weapon)
Limbo, or Anti Submarine Mortar Mark 10 , was the final British development of a forward-throwing anti-submarine weapon originally designed during the Second World War. Limbo, a three-barreled mortar similar to the earlier Squid that it superseded, was developed by the Admiralty Underwater Weapons...
anti-submarine mortars. During the 1960s, a quadruple Sea Cat anti-aircraft missile launcher was fitted in place of the Bofors, and one of the Limbo mortars was removed in favour of an Ikara missile
Ikara (missile)
The Ikara missile was an Australian ship-launched anti-submarine missile, named after an Australian Aboriginal word for "throwing stick". It launched an acoustic torpedo to a range of , allowing fast-reaction attacks against submarines at ranges that would otherwise require the launching ship to...
launcher. Stuart was the first RAN ship fitted with Ikara, and Derwent the first to carry Sea Cat. In the early 1990s, the missile systems were removed from all active Rivers, with an Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
RBS 70
RBS 70
RBS 70 is a man-portable air-defense system designed for anti-aircraft warfare in all climate zones and with little to no support from other forces. Originally designed and manufactured by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
unit available for use if required.
Operational history
During their careers, the River class ships spent most of their time in Australian waters or on multinational exercises, but were regularly deployed to the Far East Strategic ReserveFar East Strategic Reserve
The British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve was a joint military force of the British, Australian, and New Zealand armed forces...
, and saw service during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation
Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation during 1962–1966 was Indonesia’s political and armed opposition to the creation of Malaysia. It is also known by its Indonesian/Malay name Konfrontasi...
.
During 1967 and 1968, Stuart and Yarra were used to escort the troop transport on voyages to Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
During the mid-1970s, Yarra underwent a half-life refit, which included the removal of her remaining Limbo, and installation of a Mulloka sonar. Parramatta underwent a more extensive modernisation during the late 1970s, with a new fire control system, modification of the boilers and electrical system, and habitability improvements. Stuart and Derwent underwent similar modernisations between 1979 and 1985. Moderniation was planned for Swan and Torrens during the mid-1980s, but a lack of funding meant that the ships only underwent a half-life refit.
At the start of 1984, Stuart became the first RAN vessel permanently assigned to , the new base in Western Australia.
In 1992, reports of sexual harrasment aboard Swan prompted investigations by the Australian Defence Force and a Senate committee review.
Decommissioning and fate
Yarra was decommissioned on 22 November 1985. There were plans to keep her in service as a training vessel, but the decision was to keep active in this role, and Yarra was placed in reserve. The other ships of the class were decommissioned during the 1990s.Derwent was sunk during explosives testing in 1994. Swan was scuttled as an artificial reef in 1997. Torrens was torpedoed by the Collins class submarine during a weapons test in 1999. The other three ships were broken up for scrap.
Specifications
Note: although these ships are grouped together as a single class, there were many significant differences between the first four units (Type 12) and the final two (Leander).| Type 12 | Leander | |
| Displacement | 2,560 tons | 2,700 tons |
| Dimensions | 113 metres (370.7 ft) (length) 12.49 metres (41 ft) (beam) 5.18 metres (17 ft) (draught) |
107 metres (351 ft) (length) 12.49 metres (41 ft) (beam) 4.57 metres (15 ft) (draught) |
| Armament | 2 x 4.5 inch (113 mm) Mark 6 guns 2 x Limbo anti-submarine mortars Limbo (weapon) Limbo, or Anti Submarine Mortar Mark 10 , was the final British development of a forward-throwing anti-submarine weapon originally designed during the Second World War. Limbo, a three-barreled mortar similar to the earlier Squid that it superseded, was developed by the Admiralty Underwater Weapons... |
2 x 4.5 inch (113 mm) Mark 6 guns 1 x quad Seacat SAM launcher 1 x Limbo mortar 1 x Ikara Ikara (missile) The Ikara missile was an Australian ship-launched anti-submarine missile, named after an Australian Aboriginal word for "throwing stick". It launched an acoustic torpedo to a range of , allowing fast-reaction attacks against submarines at ranges that would otherwise require the launching ship to... ASW system |
| Propulsion | 2 x English Electric English Electric English Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers... steam turbines; 2 shaft; 30,000 shp |
2 x English Electric English Electric English Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers... steam turbines; 2 shaft; 30,000 shp |
| Speed | 31.9 knots | 30 knots |
Sea Cat missile
Sea Cat was a British short-range surface to air missile system intended to replace the ubiquitous Bofors 40 mm gun aboard warships of all sizes. It was the world's first operational shipboard point-defence missile system and was designed so that the Bofors guns could be replaced with minimum...
and Ikara
Ikara (missile)
The Ikara missile was an Australian ship-launched anti-submarine missile, named after an Australian Aboriginal word for "throwing stick". It launched an acoustic torpedo to a range of , allowing fast-reaction attacks against submarines at ranges that would otherwise require the launching ship to...
missile systems, replacing 40 mm AA guns and Limbo mortars, and later Mark 32 torpedo tubes
Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes
The Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes system is a torpedo launching system designed for the United States Navy. The Mark 32 has been the standard anti-submarine torpedo launching system aboard United States Navy surface vessels since its introduction in 1960, and in use aboard the warships of...
were added.
Ships
| Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cockatoo Island Shipyard, Sydney | 31 January 1959 | 14 July 1961 | 11 November 1991 | Broken Up | |
| Williamstown Naval Dockyard, Melbourne | 30 September 1958 | 27 July 1961 | 22 November 1985 | Broken Up | |
| Cockatoo Island | 8 April 1961 | 28 June 1963 | 26 July 1991 | Broken Up | |
| Williamstown Naval Dockyard | 17 April 1961 | 30 April 1964 | 8 August 1994 | Sunk during explosives test | |
| Williamstown Naval Dockyard | 16 December 1967 | 20 January 1970 | 13 September 1996 | Sunk as artificial reef | |
| Cockatoo Island | 28 September 1968 | 19 January 1971 | 1998 | Sunk as target | |