HMAS Anzac (G90)

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For other ships with the same name, see HMAS Anzac.

HMAS "Anzac", Port Jackson, Sydney, c. 1925
History
United Kingdom
NamesakeThe Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
OrderedDecember 1915
BuilderWilliam Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton
Laid down31 January 1916
Launched11 January 1917
Commissioned24 April 1917
DecommissionedMarch 1919
IdentificationPennant number: F61, G60, G50 then G70
FateTransferred to RAN
Australia
AcquiredMarch 1919
Commissioned27 January 1920
Decommissioned30 July 1931
IdentificationPennant number: G90
FateSunk as target 7 May 1936
General characteristics
Class and type
leader
Displacement1,660 tons
Length
  • 327 ft 7 in (99.85 m) length overall
  • 314 ft 11.25 in (95.9930 m)
    between perpendiculars
Beam31 ft 10 in (9.70 m)
Draught13 ft 9.75 in (4.2101 m) maximum
Propulsion4 × Yarrow boilers, Brown-Curtis geared turbines, 37,060 shp, 3 propellers
Speed34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) (designed)
Range3,360 nautical miles (6,220 km; 3,870 mi) at 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Complement122
Armament
  • 4 × single
    QF 4-inch Mark IV guns
  • 2 × 2-pounder "pom-pom" guns
  • 1 × .303-inch
    Maxim machine gun
  • 4 × .303-inch
    Lewis machine guns
    (2 single, 1 twin-mount)
  • 2 × twin
    21 inch (533 mm)
    torpedo tube sets
  • 2 × depth charge throwers
  • 4 × depth charge chutes

HMAS Anzac was a

Parker-class destroyer leader that served in the Royal Navy (as HMS Anzac) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Launched in early 1917 and commissioned into the Royal Navy, Anzac led the 14th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet during the First World War. In 1919, she and five other destroyers were transferred to the RAN, with Anzac commissioning as an Australian warship in 1920. Except for three visits to New Guinea and one to the Solomon Islands, Anzac remained in southern and eastern Australian waters for her entire career. The destroyer was decommissioned in 1931, sold for scrapping four years later, stripped for parts, then towed outside Sydney Heads and sunk as a target ship
in 1936.

Design and construction

Anzac was a

between perpendiculars, had a beam of 31 feet 10 inches (9.70 m), and a draught of 13 feet 9+3⁄4 inches (4.21 m) at maximum load.[1] Propulsion was provided by four Yarrow boilers providing steam to Brown-Curtis geared turbines, which delivered 37,060 shaft horsepower to the destroyer's three propellers.[2] The ship was designed to reach 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph), but could only achieve an average of 32.9 knots (60.9 km/h; 37.9 mph) during full-power trials.[1] Maximum range was 3,360 nautical miles (6,220 km; 3,870 mi) at 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph).[2] The ship's company consisted of 8 officers and 114 sailors.[2]

The primary armament for Anzac consisted of four single

21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tube sets, two depth charge throwers, and four depth charge chutes.[3]

The order to build Anzac was placed with

penant numbers during her British service; although assigned the pennant F6 during construction, this was changed three days before launch to G80, then became G50 at the start of 1918, before changing again to G70 in April.[1]

Operational history

Royal Navy

On entering service, Anzac was assigned to lead the 14th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet, based at Scapa Flow.[2] Anzac served in the North Sea and the English Channel during the First World War.[4] On 26 June 1917, Anzac went to the assistance of the submarine K1, which had run aground.[5] In August 1918, Anzac was damaged in a heavy storm, requiring the replacement of her exhaust funnels and several of the ship's boats.[4]

After the war ended, Anzac was placed into reserve at Portsmouth.

Bombay, Colombo, Singapore, Surabaya, and Thursday Island en route.[4]

Royal Australian Navy

Anzac spent most of her early RAN career operating off the southern and eastern coasts of Australia.[4] In December 1922, the change of commanding officer aboard the ship saw the captain relieved by his twin brother.[4] Visits were made to New Guinea in June and July 1924, and in May 1926.[4]

The destroyer was decommissioned on 4 August 1926, then recommissioned on 10 January 1928.[4] During 1928, Anzac was on standby as a rescue ship for two of Charles Kingsford Smith's pioneering flights: in June as Southern Cross approached Brisbane on the last leg of the first trans-Pacific flight, then in September off Sydney for Kingsford Smith's departure on the first successful trans-Tasman flight.[4] The ship continued operating in Australian waters, except for a visit to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in September 1930.[4]

Decommissioning and fate

Anzac paid off for disposal on 30 July 1931.

hulk, then towed outside Sydney Heads on 7 May 1936 and sunk as a target ship.[2]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d Cassells, The Destroyers, p. 5
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cassells, The Destroyers p. 6
  3. ^ Cassells, The Destroyers, pp. 5–6
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Perryman & Djokovic, Ships Named Anzac
  5. ^ English 2019, p. 21.

References

Further reading

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