HMASCurlew
43°02′58″S147°16′08″E/ 43.0494718°S 147.2689018°E
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Chediston |
| Builder | Montrose Shipyard,Scotland |
| Launched | 6 October 1953 |
| Commissioned | 28 September 1954 |
| Fate | Sold to Australia |
 Australia | |
| Name | Curlew |
| Acquired | 1961 |
| Commissioned | 12 August 1962 |
| Decommissioned | 30 April 1990 |
| Honours and awards |
|
| Fate | Undergoing conservation |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Ton-classminesweeper |
| Displacement | 440 tons |
| Length | 152 ft (46 m) |
| Beam | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
| Draught | 8 ft (2.4 m) |
| Propulsion | OriginallyMirrlees diesel,laterNapier Deltic,producing 3,000 shp (2,200 kW) on each of two shafts |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 33 |
| Armament | |
HMASCurlew(M 1121)was aTon-classminesweeperoperated by theRoyal Navy(asHMSChediston) from 1953 to 1961, and theRoyal Australian Navyfrom 1962 to 1991. During her Australian service, the ship operated off Malaysia during theIndonesia–Malaysia confrontationduring the mid-1960s, then was modified for use as aminehunter.Delays in bringing a replacement class into service keptCurlewoperational until 1990, and she was sold into civilian service in 1991.
Construction[edit]
The minesweeper was built by theMontrose Shipyardin Scotland,launchedon 6 October 1953, andcommissionedinto theRoyal Navyon 28 September 1954 as HMSChediston.[1]
Operational history[edit]
[edit]
Between August 1955 and October 1957, the ship was attached to Tay Division of theRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve.[1]After October 1957, the ship was placed in storage.[1]
[edit]
The ship was one of six sold to theRoyal Australian NavyforA£5.5 million in 1961.[2]Chedistonwas modified for tropical conditions, and commissioned on 12 August 1962 as HMASCurlew.[1][2]
During the mid-1960s,Curlewwas one of several ships operating in support of the Malaysian government during theIndonesia-Malaysia Confrontation.This service was later recognised with thebattle honour"Malaysia 1964–66".[3][4]
In the late 1960s,Curlewand sister shipSnipewere modified for use asminehunters.[5]
Divers fromCurlewinspected the wreck ofJapanese submarineI-124.[6]
Decommissioning and fate[edit]
The delay in bringing theBay class minehuntersinto service keptCurlewoperational until 1990.[5]Curlewpaid offon 30 April 1990 and was sold on 17 June 1991.[1]In the late 1990s she appeared in the moviesParadise RoadandThe Thin Red Line.[7]
As of mid-2003,Curlewwas operating out ofPort Huon,Tasmaniaas a fishing vessel.[8]The ship was later used for accommodation at Port Huon.[7]
In April 2018 she was purchased for $1. Her new owner intends to use the ship as a floating backpacker hostel inBrisbane.[7]
Citations[edit]
- ^abcdeRoyal Australian Navy,HMAS Curlew
- ^abSpurling, in Stevens,The Royal Australian Navy,p. 189
- ^"Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours".Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 13 June 2011.Retrieved23 December2012.
- ^"Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours"(PDF).Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 14 June 2011.Retrieved23 December2012.
- ^abJones, in Stevens,The Royal Australian Navy,p. 222
- ^Fulton,The Fujita Plan
- ^abcBevin, Edith (22 July 2018)."Ex-Navy minesweeper HMAS Curlew's new mission as floating backpacker hostel".ABC News.Retrieved22 July2018.
- ^Australian Sea Heritage,Old ships find a new life
References[edit]
Books[edit]
- Felton, Mark (7 December 2006).The Fujita Plan.Pen and Sword.ISBN1473819334.
- Stevens, David, ed. (2001).The Royal Australian Navy.The Australian Centenary History of Defence (vol III). South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press.ISBN0-19-555542-2.OCLC50418095.
- Jones, Peter. "Towards Self Reliance".The Royal Australian Navy.
- Spurling, Kathryn. "The Era of Defence Reform".The Royal Australian Navy.
Journal articles[edit]
- "Old ships find a new life".Australian Sea Heritage(75). Australian Heritage Fleet: 6. Winter 2003.ISSN0813-0523.
Websites[edit]
- "HMAS Curlew".Royal Australian Navy.Retrieved20 August2014.
