NAVYPEDIA

Photo

  Gympie 1946

Ships

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)

Technical data

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

Standard scale images

Graphics

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.