HMAS Anzac (D59)

HMAS Anzac
History
Australia
NamesakeThe Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
BuilderWilliamstown Naval Dockyard
Laid down23 September 1946
Launched20 August 1948
Completed22 March 1951
Commissioned14 March 1951
Decommissioned4 October 1974
ReclassifiedTraining ship (1961)
Motto"United We Stand"
Honours and
awards
FateSold for scrap, 24 November 1975
General characteristics
Class and typeBattle-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 2,436 tons (as destroyer)
  • 3,450 tons (as training ship)
Length
  • 379 ft (116 m) overall
  • 355 ft (108 m) between perpendiculars
Beam41 ft (12 m)
Draught21 ft 11.5 in (6.693 m)
Propulsion2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, Parsons geared turbines, 50,000 shp, 2 shafts
Speed31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph)
Complement
  • 320 as destroyer
  • 169 + 109 trainees as training ship
Armament

HMAS Anzac (D59) was a Battle-class destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Named after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the destroyer was commissioned in 1951. The ship served on two tours of duty during the Korean War, and attempts to distinguish herself from British ships led to the practice of red kangaroo symbols on Australian warships. During 1956, Anzac served during the Malayan Emergency. In 1960, a malfunction in the destroyer's gun direction equipment caused Anzac to fire directly on sister ship HMAS Tobruk during a gunnery exercise, with Tobruk left unrepairable. In 1961, the destroyer was reclassified as a training vessel. Anzac remained in service until 1974, and was sold for breaking a year later.