HMAS Kookaburra
| Career (Australia (RAN)) |  |
|---|---|
| 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
- Stevens, David (2005). A Critical Vulnerability: the impact of the submarine threat on Australia's maritime defense 1915-1954. Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs (No. 15). Canberra: Sea Power Centre Australia. ISBN 0-642-29625-1. http://www.navy.gov.au/Publication:Papers_in_Australian_Maritime_Affairs_No._15.
- "HMAS Kookaburra (I)". Royal Australian Navy. http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Kookaburra_%28I%29. Retrieved 7 December 2008.
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