.jpg) HMAS Latrobe
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | |
| Operators | World War II
Post-war |
| Succeeded by | Ton-class minesweeper (RAN) |
| Cost | A£250,000 per vessel |
| Built | 1940–1942 |
| In commission | 1940–1960 (RAN) |
| Completed | 60 |
| Cancelled | 3, plus a 1938 prototype |
| Lost | 5 |
| Preserved | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Australian minesweeper (corvette) |
| Displacement | 1,025 tons (full war load) |
| Length | 186 ft (57 m) |
| Beam | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| Draught | 8.5 ft (2.6 m) |
| Propulsion | Triple expansion, 2 shafts. 2,000 hp |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | Normally 85 |
| Sensors and processing systems | Type 128 asdic |
| Armament |
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| Notes | Characteristics varied between vessels, see individual ships for details |
The Bathurst-class corvettes were a class of general purpose vessels designed and built in Australia during World War II. Originally classified as minesweepers, but widely referred to as corvettes, the Bathurst-class vessels fulfilled a broad anti-submarine, anti-mine, and convoy escort role.
A total of 60 Bathurst-class corvettes were built, at eight Australian shipyards: 36 were paid for by the Australian government and 24 were built on British Admiralty orders. Of these UK-owned vessels, 20 were officially commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and manned by RAN personnel, while four served in the Royal Indian Navy; none of the UK-owned vessels was commissioned into the Royal Navy. An order for three more Bathursts, to be constructed in India, was cancelled before they were laid down.
Although the Bathursts were designed for the anti-submarine and anti-mine roles, they also served as troop and supply transports, provided air defence for convoys and disabled ships, participated in shore bombardments, and undertook hydrographic surveys. Three ships were lost during the war: one to an air attack and two to collisions with friendly merchant ships. (Following the war, a fourth vessel sank after hitting a mine while sweeping the Great Barrier Reef.)
After the war, the Admiralty ships were sold to the Turkish Navy, Royal Netherlands Navy, and civilian operators, while several RAN-owned vessels were transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy, temporarily reactivated to facilitate National Service Training, or sold to civilians. Four of the Dutch Bathursts were transferred to the Indonesian Navy; one of these was destroyed in 1956 by anti-government rebels. The rest of the RAN and Admiralty ships were sold for scrap to help fund other projects. Two vessels are preserved as museum ships.