HMAS Quickmatch (G92)

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HMAS Quickmatch in 1955
History
Australia
NamesakeThe
quick match, a fast burning match used for lighting cannon
Builder
J. Samuel White and Company
Laid down6 February 1941
Launched11 April 1942
Commissioned14 September 1942
Decommissioned15 May 1950
Recommissioned23 September 1955
Decommissioned26 April 1963
ReclassifiedAnti-submarine frigate (1955)
Motto"Swift to Strike"
Honours and
awards
FateUsed as barracks ship until 1972, when she was sold for scrap
General characteristics (as launched)
Class and typeQ-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 1,750 tons standard
  • 2,420 tons deep load
Length
  • 358 ft 3 in (109.19 m) length overall
  • 339 ft 6 in (103.48 m)
    between perpendiculars
Beam35 ft 8 in (10.87 m)
Propulsion2
Admiralty 3-drum boilers
, Parsons Impulse turbines, 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
Speed31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph)
Complement220
Armament
  • 4 ×
    QF 4.7 inch Mk IX
    guns
  • 1 × quadruple
    2-pounder pom-pom
  • 6 ×
    20 mm Oerlikon
    guns
  • 4 × Depth charge throwers
  • 2 × quadruple
    21 inch (533 mm)
    torpedo tube sets

HMAS Quickmatch (G92/D21/D292/F04) was a

British Eastern Fleet and British Pacific Fleet during World War II. In the 1950s, the destroyer was converted into an anti-submarine frigate. In 1957, Quickmatch operated in support of Malaya during the Malayan Emergency. The ship remained in service until 1963, and after use as an accommodation ship, was sold for scrap
in 1972.

Design and construction

Main article: Q and R-class destroyer

Quickmatch was one of eight Q-class destroyers constructed as a flotilla under the

Admiralty 3-drum boilers connected to Parsons Impulse turbines, which generated 40,000 shaft horsepower (30,000 kW) for the propeller shafts.[2] Quickmatch had a maximum speed of 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph).[1] The ship's company consisted of 220 officers and sailors.[2]

The ship's main armament consisted of four

21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tube sets were fitted, although a maximum of eight torpedoes were carried.[3]

The ship was laid down by

quick match, a fast burning match used for lighting cannon.[1]

Operational history

World War II

From October 1942, Quickmatch operated as a convoy escort vessel; initially in British waters, then in the South Atlantic, then in the Indian Ocean. In July 1943, the ship rescued survivors from

British Eastern Fleet.[2] Shortly after, the destroyer formed part of the carrier screen during Operation Transom, an air raid on Japanese-held Surabaya.[2] This role was repeated in June during an air attack on the Andaman Islands.[2]

In October, Quickmatch arrived in Australia for a refit.[2] After this, she remained in Australian waters until March 1945, when she was reassigned to the British Pacific Fleet.[2] As part of this force, Quickmatch took part in operations in support of the American seizure of Okinawa and attacks on the Japanese home islands.[2] The ship received six battle honours for her wartime service: "English Channel 1942", "Atlantic 1943", "Indian Ocean 1943–44", "Sabang 1944", "Pacific 1944–45", and "Okinawa 1945".[4][5]

Post-war and frigate conversion

Over the following years, Quickmatch made several deployments to Japanese and Korean waters, with the rest of her time spent operating around Australia.[2] On 15 May 1950, Quickmatch paid off for a major refit in which she was converted to an anti-submarine frigate at Williamstown Naval Dockyard in Victoria. She was recommissioned on 23 September 1955.[2] Afterwards, she was deployed to Singapore as part of Australia's contribution to the Far East Strategic Reserve.[6] In 1957, Quickmatch operated in support of British Commonwealth forces deployed during the Malayan Emergency, for which she was later awarded her seventh battle honour, "Malaya 1957".[4][5]

Quickmatch, along with HMS Cavendish rescued survivors when the stores vessel HMAS Woomera exploded and sank off Sydney Heads on 11 October 1960.[7]

On 10 November 1960 Quickmatch rescued the crew of an Indonesian Proa with failed engines near Singapore.[8]

Decommissioning and fate

Quickmatch performed routine duties until she paid off to reserve at Williamstown on 26 April 1963. After paying off she served as an accommodation ship until she was sold for scrap to the Fujita Salvage Company Limited of Osaka in Japan on 15 February 1972. The ship departed Melbourne for Japan under tow on 6 July 1972.[9]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Cassells, The Destroyers, p. 100
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Cassells, The Destroyers, p. 101
  3. ^ a b Cassells, The Destroyers, p. 87
  4. ^ a b "Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours". Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours" (PDF). Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  6. ^ Gillett & Graham, Warships of Australia, p. 182
  7. ^ John Gorton, Minister for the Navy (11 October 1960). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: Senate. p. 977.
  8. ^ "Frigate in Rescue Work". Navy News. January 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  9. ^ Gillett & Graham, Warships of Australia, pp. 182–183

References

External links

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