HMAS Kookaburra

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Career (Australia (RAN)) RAN Ensign
Builder: Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Co.
Laid down: 4 July 1938
Launched: 29 October 1938
Commissioned: 28 February 1939
Decommissioned: 15 January 1946
Career
Recommissioned: November 1950
Decommissioned: November 1950
Career
Recommissioned: 11 May 1956
Decommissioned: 3 December 1958
Fate: Sold in August 1965, scuttled in March 1970
General characteristics
Type: Boom Defence Vessel
Displacement: 530 tonnes
Length: 160 feet (49 m)
Beam: 26 feet 6 inches (8.08 m)
Draught: 10 feet 3 inches (3.12 m)
Propulsion: Triple-expansion steam engine
Speed: 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h)
Armament: 1 x 3-inch anti-aircraft gun, 2 x .303-inch machine guns

HMAS Kookaburra (A331) was a boom defence vessel of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), which served during World War II.

Construction

Kookaburra was of three ships ordered by the Royal Australian Navy for use as boom-net defence vessels.[1] She was laid down by Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Co. in Sydney on 4 April 1938, launched on 29 October 1938, and commissioned into the RAN on 28 February 1939.[2]

Operational history

Originally used as boom defence ship and anti-submarine training vessel in Sydney, Kookaburra was transferred to Darwin in April 1940.[2] The ship served as a boom defense and examination vessel in Darwin, and remained there until the end of World War II, with the exception of a refit in Brisbane between September 1942 and February 1943.[2]

On 15 January 1946, Kookaburra was paid off into reserve, was briefly recommissioned for a voyage to Sydney in 1950, and underwent conversion to a "Special Duties Vessel".[2] Kookaburra was recommissioned again on 11 May 1956 as a survey and general duties ship.[2]

In July 1952, the ship visited Brisbane.[2] During this visit, a paperboy delivering to the ship fell overboard and was rescued by two personnel from Kookaburra.[2]

Decommisioning and fate

Kookaburra was decommissioned for the final time on 3 December 1958.[2] She was marked for disposal on 24 June 1965,[2] sold in August 1965, and scuttled in March 1970.

References

  1. David Stevens (2005). A Critical Vulnerability, pg 103
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Royal Australian Navy, HMAS Kookaburra (I)