HMAS Kookaburra
HMAS Kookaburra (A331) was a Net-class boom defence vessel of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), which served during World War II.
| class="infobox" style="width:25.5em;border-spacing:2px;" |  HMAS Kookaburra docked at Garden Island | |
| History | ||
|---|---|---|
 Australia | ||
| Builder | Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Company | |
| Laid down | 4 July 1938 | |
| Launched | 29 October 1938 | |
| Commissioned | 28 February 1939 | |
| Decommissioned | 15 January 1946 | |
| Recommissioned | November 1950 | |
| Decommissioned | November 1950 | |
| Recommissioned | 11 May 1956 | |
| Decommissioned | 3 December 1958 | |
| Honours and awards |
| |
| Fate | Sold in August 1965, scuttled in March 1970 | |
| General characteristics | ||
| Class and type | Net-class Boom Defence Vessel | |
| Displacement | 530 tonnes | |
| Length | 160 ft (49 m) | |
| Beam | 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m) | |
| Draught | 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) | |
| Propulsion | Triple-expansion steam engine | |
| Speed | 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph) | |
| Armament | 1 × 3-inch anti-aircraft gun, 2 × Vickers machine guns | |
Construction
Kookaburra was one of three ships ordered by the Royal Australian Navy for use as boom-net defence vessels.[1] She was laid down by the Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Company at Cockatoo Island Dockyard 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] Kookaburra received the battle honour "Darwin 1942-43" for her wartime service.[3][4]
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]
Decommissioning 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
- David Stevens (2005). A Critical Vulnerability, pg 103
- Royal Australian Navy, HMAS Kookaburra (I)
- "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.
- "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.
- Stevens, David (2005). A Critical Vulnerability: the impact of the submarine threat on Australia's maritime defense 1915-1954. Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs. Vol. No. 15. Canberra: Sea Power Centre Australia. ISBN 0-642-29625-1. ISSN 1327-5658. OCLC 62548623. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
- "HMAS Kookaburra (I)". Royal Australian Navy. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2008.
