Active 1 (DMS service) | ||
Builders Williamstown Dockyard, Williamstown, Victoria Operators Royal Australian Navy/Defence Maritime Services Built January 1970 – April 1971 Type Torpedo Recovery Vessel Displacement 94 long tons (96 t) full load | ||
The Fish class is a ship class of three torpedo recovery vessels operated by Defence Maritime Services (DMS).
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Design and construction
The class was ordered in 1969 as replacements for World War II-era torpedo recovery vessels.
The vessels each have a full load displacement of 94 long tons (96 t), a length of 26.8 metres (88 ft), a beam of 6.1 metres (20 ft), and a draught of 1.1 metres (3 ft 7 in). Propulsion machinery consists of three GM V8 diesels, which supply 890 horsepower (660 kW) to the three propeller shafts. Top speed is 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph), and the vessels have an endurance of 63 hours at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). Each Fish-class vessel can recover up to eight torpedoes via a watertight stern gate. They are unarmed, and their sensor suite is limited to an I-band navigational radar. Nine personnel make up the crew.
All three vessels were built at Williamstown Dockyard for the Royal Australian Navy between January 1970 and April 1971. All three vessels were built at Williamstown Dockyard for the Royal Australian Navy between January 1970 and April 1971.
Operational history
Originally identified only by the numbers 253–255, the vessels were named in 1983 and renumbered 801–803.
On entering service, TRV 253 was assigned to the target range at Jervis Bay, while the other two vessels were attached to HMAS Waterhen in Sydney. In addition to torpedo recovery, the boats were used as dive tenders and as training vessels for the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.
In 1988, the three vessels were sold to DMS. As part of the company's role in providing maritime support for the RAN, the vessels were assigned to various bases: Tuna to nearby HMAS Creswell, Trevally remaining at Waterhen, while Tailor sailed to HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.
As of 2012, only Tailor remains in service.