Bathurst-class corvette

HMAS Latrobe
HMAS Latrobe
Class overview
Builders
OperatorsWorld War II
 Royal Australian Navy
 Royal Indian Navy

Post-war

 Indian Navy
 Indonesian Navy
 Royal New Zealand Navy
 Royal Netherlands Navy
 Turkish Naval Forces
 People's Liberation Army Navy
 Pakistan Navy[citation needed]
Succeeded byTon-class minesweeper (RAN)
Cost250,000 per vessel
Built1940–1942
In commission1940–1960 (RAN)
Completed60
Cancelled3, plus a 1938 prototype
Lost5
Preserved2
General characteristics
TypeAustralian minesweeper (corvette)
Displacement1,025 tons (full war load)
Length186 ft (57 m)
Beam31 ft (9.4 m)
Draught8.5 ft (2.6 m)
PropulsionTriple expansion, 2 shafts. 2,000 hp
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
ComplementNormally 85
Sensors and
processing systems
Type 128 asdic
Armament
NotesCharacteristics 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.